Internal forum links

[karl33]

The forum I'm building is actually a community bulletin board.

springdale.freeforums.net/

There is a category called "Resident Listing" with a board called "The Directory" and a suboard called "Changes and Corrections"

The Directory is just that, a listing of names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.

The suboard is where members post Changes and Corrections that I subsequently make to the data base.

At present I post a message to The Directory with a PDF file attachment. As it is, the post requires a "Subject" and then the user has to click again on the attachmet to view the directory.

Is it possible for users to click on the board "The Directory" and go directly to the directory. i.e, could "The Directory" board title be made a link to the directory that I put somewhere else hidden?

Hope that all makes sense?

[Scott]

karl33, I think I followed you up to the end. Just to clarify, are you wanting it so when the member clicks on the board it opens the PDF or the thread containing the PDF?

[karl33]

The PDF

[Retread]

May 29, 2018 8:59:17 GMT -8 karl33 said:

The forum I'm building is actually a community bulletin board.

springdale.freeforums.net/

There is a category called "Resident Listing" with a board called "The Directory" and a suboard called "Changes and Corrections"

The Directory is just that, a listing of names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.

The suboard is where members post Changes and Corrections that I subsequently make to the data base.

At present I post a message to The Directory with a PDF file attachment. As it is, the post requires a "Subject" and then the user has to click again on the attachmet to view the directory.

Is it possible for users to click on the board "The Directory" and go directly to the directory. i.e, could "The Directory" board title be made a link to the directory that I put somewhere else hidden?

Hope that all makes sense?

Yes karl33 , that's possible and that part won't require any fancy coding. Just put the destination URL in the field for 'Redirect URL' on the settings tab for the board named 'The Directory'.



support.proboards.com/thread/460242/creating-managing-categories-boards


CAUTION:
Any contents within 'The Directory' will not be accessible when you use a redirect.
That means all threads and posts, and I *think* that includes subboards nested under that board.

So you will probably want to drag the subboard for Changes and Comments out from underneath 'The Directory' so it stands as a regular board rather than being subordinate.

Where to redirect? I reckon a Custom Page might be a good choice. With a modest amount of coding a PDF can be displayed directly on a Custom Page.

[Retread]

May 29, 2018 10:36:21 GMT -8 karl33 said:

The PDF

Will you be hosting the PDF on an external file host or uploading it as an attachment on a post on your forum?

[Scott]

karl33, what you would need to do is make another board that is hidden and contains the thread that holds the PDF attachment. It cannot be a sub-board of the directory board you are using to redirect.

Next go to the post with the attachment and right click on the attachment and choose "copy link address"

Then go to Admin > Structure > Categories & Boards, and then the edit board properties for the directory board that is being used to redirect. On the settings tab under the Redirect URL field you put the PDF link address you copied from the previous step. It'll look something like
http://springdale.freeforums.net/attachment/download/##  
The hashtags will be the number of the attachment.
Save Changes.

[karl33]

Thanks Scott. I don't have a lot of time to devote to this and I'm just learning. So if I don't reply in a timely fashion please understand. I will go through these steps and get back to you. I did learn one thing though...I cannot upload a file as I would say to Photobucket, rather I have to use attachments to posts to a hidden board.

As time goes on I will no doubt have other such files.

One last question.... "make another board that is hidden" means, structurally, that I have to have another category as well that is hidden, where I post those attachments correct? 

[Scott]

Hi karl33 ,

The only thing that differentiates a hidden board from a non-hidden board is that it is not visible on the forum. A user would need to know the exact URL to access the board or get to that board from a link. Other than that it functions like any other board. 

I cannot upload a file as I would say to Photobucket, rather I have to use attachments to posts to a hidden board.

Not quite sure what this means. On any board you can embed images with a link from a 3rd party host or use the attachment feature.

One last question.... "make another board that is hidden" means, structurally, that I have to have another category as well that is hidden, where I post those attachments correct?

No you would not have to make another category. You can just make another board in the same category so long as it's on the same "level" as the board that is redirecting. You just can't have the hidden board as a sub-board of the board that is redirecting. (Hope this makes sense?)