Make forum "read only" to guests.

[dandare2050]

Forum URL: humanisminau.freeforums.net

It seems the options are that guests can not see the forum at all, or they can read and write in the forum as guests. Is there a way to allow guests to read the forums but not be able to edit them? Then some categories that are for members or staff only will not be visible.

[Nscalerr 🐺]

Hi dandare2050

If you go to Admin Home > Structure > Categories & Boards and click on the gearwheel at the righthand end of each board, (when you hover over the board you wish to change). then go to the Permissions tab, you can set the permissions to how you want things for each board. Don't forget to click save.

[dandare2050]

Thanks, however that does not resolve my needs.

I can decide who has "access", but that access appears to be both read and write.

How do I differentiate between access to read only, and access to both read and edit?

[Michael]

Hi,

"Create Threads" and "Reply to threads" are the options that you are looking for. If you set those to Members and Staff only members and staff will be allowed to create new threads and reply to existing threads, preventing guest posting.

You'll want to allow both "Access" and "View" to Everyone if you want guests to be able to read the content in the board.

[Retread]

Feb 8, 2021 17:26:38 GMT -8 dandare2050 said:

Thanks, however that does not resolve my needs.

I can decide who has "access", but that access appears to be both read and write.

How do I differentiate between access to read only, and access to both read and edit?

Hi dandare2050

It sounds like you're talking about the Category Properties.

If ALL boards in a Category are to be hidden from everyone who is not staff (for instance the stock Moderators category), select Staff in the dropdown. There is no reason for anyone who is not Staff to even see that this category exists.

If ALL boards in a Category are to be hidden from everyone who is not a member, select Members and Staff in the dropdown.

If ANY board(s) in a Category should be viewable by Guests, select Everyone in the dropdown.

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Then click on Edit Properties for each Board and use the Permissions tab to set the Permissions as desired.

Use the recommendations provided by Michael , there.

view refers to who will see the Board in the listing on the home page.

access refers to who can read the threads and posts that exist in that Board.

create threads, reply to threads, and create polls are fairly self-explanatory.

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Does that explain it well enough? We can continue the discussion if necessary.

[dandare2050]

Thanks Retread that is exactly what I was after. I didn't notice that board settings were so much more detailed than category. It's a little funky in that there are still reply buttons, pressing them gives a whole new page saying Oops, Not Allowed.

I suggest your answer could become the foundation of a help page with a title "Making Boards Read Only And Other Settings".

[Michael]

Hi,

The help guide already exists, with an article explaining everything. support.proboards.com/thread/460242/creating-managing-categories-boards

[dandare2050]

Cheers Michael.

Might want to expand the section that says "Set who can view the board, access the board, create threads within the board, reply to existing threads within the board, and create polls on the board. You can also restrict certain member groups from using any of these features on the board." Its a bit easy to glance over without realising its importance.

Maybe just a reformat:

Set who can

• view the board
• access the board
• create threads within the board
• reply to existing threads within the board
  
• create polls on the board
  

You can also restrict certain member groups from using any of these features on the board.

Maybe also add a strategy tip. I have made it so that newly registered members now become part of a New Folks group, and use that to limit their abilities on the forum until admin or mods deem them eligible to have the membership removed. (I have only been doing this since I solved the issue above so no experience yet about if this is workable)