Home / User Guide / Introduction to Topics / Topic Operations

Topic Operations

Zoho Discussions offers a rich set of operations on a topic. These operations can be classified thus:

Content Operations

Listed below are the content operations available in Zoho Discussions:

Edit Post

In Zoho Discussions, you can modify or update the content of a post, even after publishing it to the community.

Note: Unless you are a moderator or admin, the edit option is available only for the posts, responses and comments published by you. And yes, you need to be logged in to do edit content.

To edit a post
  1. Select a topic from Recent Topics and go to its Full thread view or Quick View.
  2. Click on Edit link available in the required post.
     The post is now displayed in edit mode.
  3. Modify the content according to your requirement.
  4. Click on Update. The changes gets updated in the selected post.
    Note: You can also preview your changes before updating using the "Preview" button

Respond to a Topic

You can respond to a post in two ways - a regular response / answer / solution or a comment to an existing response. You can respond to a post from both a Full thread view and the Topic list (quick view) modes. However, comments can only be made from the Full thread view.

To reply, click on the Quick Replyor Reply to the topic buttons.

Note: Depending on the Topic type, the button will sport either a Reply to this Question or Reply to this Topic or Reply to this Problem or Reply to this Idea.
 

Comment a Response

When you want to express your opinion about a particular response, then you can comment on it. You can make a comment only from Full Thread View. Zoho Discussions does not support a comment to a comment feature since nested commenting could quickly deviate from the core topic and disrupt the reading experience.

To post a comment
  1. Select a topic and go to its Full Thread view.
  2. Click on Comment link available in the required response.
    The response editor gets displayed.
  3. Enter your comment in the content area.
  4. Click on Publish. Your comment is now posted.
Note: Users can vote on a comment too

Tag a Topic

Tags are keywords assigned for the topics which helps you in finding the topic easier.  With the help of tags, you can:  
  • Group one or more topic.
  • Enter the specific tag as a search criteria and find the associated topics.
You can add tags while creating a new topic or even after publishing it to the community.
Note: Each tag has its own URL, thus facilitating embedding a specific group of posts

To tag a new topic:
  1. Click on "New Topic" button.
  2. Enter the topic "Title" and "Content"  in the corresponding fields.
  3. Specify the tag name in "Tag this Post" text-box
  4. Click on Save.
    The created topic is tagged with the specified keyword.

To tag an existing topic:

  1.  Select the topic that you have posted.
  2. Scroll down to the "Tags for the post " section in right-side panel
  3. Click on "here" link and specify the tag name.
  4. Click on "Add" button.
    The selected topic is tagged with the specified keyword.

Private Response

Private response keep your views and responses confident to the topic author. When you post a private response, the corresponding message will be viewed only by the topic author and the person who posted it.

To post a private response:

  1. Select a topic from Recent Topics and go to its Full thread view.
  2. In the Post Actions section, click on Private Response (right-side menu). 
  3. In the Response editor, enter your message and click on Publish.
    Your private response gets posted and can be viewed by the author.
 
Note: In addition, a chat feed and a mail notification will be sent to the topic author's mailbox. 

 

Social operations

Listed below are the social operations performed to stay connected with your community:

Follow Topic / Author

Zoho Discussions helps you in following your interested forums, sub forums, topics and authors. This helps you to get keep track of the updates and responses made to the watch items via Chat feed and Email. i.e., When someone respond to a specific topic that you follow, a chat feed and an email notification is sent to your mailbox to update you about the post.

To follow a topic
  1. Select a topic from Recent Topics and go to its Full thread view.
  2. In the Post Actions section, click on Follow this Topic.
    The selected topic gets added to your watch list.     A chat feed and email notification will be sent when someone post a response for the selected topic.
 Note: You can also find the "follow" link in the corresponding topic's quick view.

To follow author
  1. Click on Recent Topics.
  2. Hover the mouse on the Profile Image of the user whom you want to follow.
  3. Click on Follow <Author Name>.
    The selected author gets added to your watch list .     A chat feed and email notification will be sent when the author
Note: You can also find the "Follow User" link in the corresponding user's profile page

To follow a forum
  1. Click on All Forums tab.
  2. Go through the forum list and select a forum to follow.
  3. Click on Follow Forum link from the right-panel.
    The selected forum gets added to your watch list. A chat feed and email notification will be sent when someone post a topic in the selected forum. 
Note: You can also find the "Follow Forum" link next to the forum name in All Forums page.

To follow a specific sub forum
  1. Click on All Forums tab.
  2. Select the required forum to view its associated sub forum .
  3. Now, select a Sub forum that you want to follow from the right panel.
  4. In the Sub Forums Actions section, click on Follow <Sub-Forum Name> (right-panel ).
    The selected sub forum gets added to your watch list. A chat feed and email notification will be sent when someone post a topic in the selected sub forum..
To view the followed topics
  1. Click on My Area tab
  2. Select Watch list from the left-side menu.
  3. Click on the required tab (Example: Topics, Users, Forum, Sub forums) to view its information.
    You can view the details available under the corresponding tab.

Bookmark Topics

Bookmarking helps to store your favourite topics in your profile for future reference. These topics can be viewed from the My Area page, whenever required.

To bookmark a topic
  1. Select a topic from Recent Topics and go to its Full thread view.
  2. Click on Bookmark this Topic link from Post Actions (right-side menu).
    The corresponding topic gets added to your bookmarks.
To view the bookmarked topics
  1. Click on My Area tab.
  2. Select Bookmarks from the left-side menu.
  3. Choose the required topic from bookmark list to view its information.
To remove bookmarks 
  1. Click on My Area tab.
  2. Select Bookmarks from the left-side menu.
  3. Click on Remove link available in the selected topic.
    The corresponding topic is removed from your bookmarks list.

Vote

Voting helps you to measure the value of the post published. It helps you to express your choice and nail down the discussion in finding a best answer, solution etc. Zoho Discussions allows you to vote for a topic, reply or comment.
The different voting options available in each topic type are:

  • I find this discussion Useful: Select this option when you find the discussion has useful information.
  • I too have this question: Select this option when you have the same question in your mind.
  • This answers the question: Select this option when you feel that the post answers the question.
  • I like this idea: Select this option when you like the proposal made.
  • This adds value to the idea: Select this option when the response /comment adds value to the proposal made.
  • I too have this problem: Select this option when you would like to report the same problem posted.
  • This solves the problem: Select this option when the response/comment solves the issue.
The below table provides the availability of the voting option in each topic type:

Post
 Topic Type
Discussion Question Idea Problem
Topic
Response
Comment


To vote for a post:
  1. Select a topic from Recent Topics and go to its Full thread view or Quick view mode.
  2. Click on the Vote button available in the corresponding post.
    Your vote gets added and will help the author to find out a best post.

Flag Inappropriate Topic

In Zoho Discussions, you can flag a topic as inappropriate post in the below scenarios:
  • When the content is objectionable from general forum viewing
  • When the subject is not relevant to the topic title
  • When the topic is not associated to the selected forum or sub forum.
To  flag a topic:
  1. Select a topic from Recent Topics and go to its Full thread view.
  2. Click on Inappropriate button available in the corresponding post.

Topic Administration

Listed below are the operations performed to manage your topics in a better way:

Delete Post

You can delete topics from Zoho Discussions, whenever required. The deleted topics will be temporarily stored in Trash Bin and it can be restored only with the permissions of administrator or moderator of the specific portal.

To delete a post

  1. Select the required post to be deleted from Recent Topics tab.
  2. Click on Delete link.
    The deleted post will be moved to "Trash" items.

Change Topic Type

Zoho Discussions gives a way to change the topic type relevant to the subject, even after posting it to your community. For Example: You can change a Question to a Problem, or change an Idea to a Question etc., according to the subject posted.

To change topic type:
  1. Select a topic that you have posted from the List View.
  2. In the Post Actions section, click on Change Topic Type (right-side menu).
  3. In the Change Topic type dialog, select required Topic Type from the drop-down.
    The topic gets changed acording to the     selected topic type.

Move Topic

In Zoho Discussions, you can move a topic from one forum to another even after publishing. This helps you to place the topic in the appropriate forum, which is relevant to the subject. While moving a topic, you must also choose the associated sub forum.

Note: This action can be performed only by the Topic Author, Administrator and Moderator.

To move a topic
  1. Go to the full thread view of the required topic.
  2. Click on "Move this topic"link from Post Actions (right-side menu).
  3. Choose the appropriate forum and associated sub forum from the corresponding drop-down.
    The topic gets moved to the selected forum.

Link Topic

Linking allows you to associate topics with related subject. In Zoho Discussions, you can link a topic with another topic to avoid repeated discussions on the same subject. When you link a topic, all active discussions will be terminated in the current topic and users can continue their discussions in the other topic, that is been linked to. In addition, you can also remove the link and continue your discussions further, whenever required.

Note: This action can be performed only by the Administrator/ Moderator.

To link topic
  1. Go to the full thread view of the required topic.
  2. Click on "Link this Topic"link from Post Actions.
  3. Specify the URL of the appropriate topic which you want to link. (Refer: Permalink, to learn how to get topic URL)
    The corresponding topic will be linked to the specified topic.

Sticky Post

Zoho Discussions facilitates you to stick significant topics in widgets permanently. This makes you community to be aware of the important information. Sticky topics are displayed in both Portal and Forum widgets under "Sticky Posts" section. In addition, they are also marked with a "sticky " icon to identify easily from the recent topics list.

Note: This action can be performed only by the Administrator/ Moderator.

To mark a topic as sticky
  1. Go to the full thread view of the required topic.
  2. Click on the "Mark this as sticky" link from Post Actions section (right-side menu).
    The selected topic is now marked as sticky and displayed under "Sticky Post" in your widgets.
To remove sticky mark
  1. Go to the full thread view of the sticky topic.
  2. Click on the "Remove sticky" link from Post Actions section (right-side menu).
    The sticky mark gets removed and the corresponding topic also gets removed from the widget.

Lock Topic

Locking helps to end all active discussions that happens in a specific topic. When a topic is locked, users will not be able to post any responses, comments or do any further actions in the corresponding topic. This helps you to end up the discussions with the best answer, solution etc., based on the topic type.

Note: This action can be performed only by the Administrator/ Moderator.

To lock a topic
  1. Go to the full thread view of the required topic.
  2. Click on "Lock this topic"link from Post Actions (right-side menu).
    The selected topic gets locked and any further posts cannot be made. You can also unlock the topic using the "Unlock this Topic", whenever required.

Utility Operations

Listed below are the utitlity operations in Zoho Discussions:


Email Topic

Zoho Discussions provides you an easy way to email topics to anyone in your community. This helps you to share the significant topics with your friends and make them aware of the information.

Note: To view the topic, the recipient must be a member of the specific portal.

To Email a Topic

  1. Select a topic from Recent Topics and go to its Full thread view.
  2. In the Post Actions section, click on Email Topic (right-side menu).
  3. In Email this Topic dialog-box, specify the following:
    • To: Enter the Email ID of the recipient to whom you would like to send the topic (Example: rajaram@zohocorp.com).
    • Subject: By default, the Topic Title is displayed and you can modify it accordingly.
    • Content: Enter the Description of the post.
  4. Click on Send. The Topic link is now sent to the receipient mail box.

Note: The Email Topic option is also available under More drop-down in Quick View mode of the selected topic.

Permalink 

In Zoho Discussions, Permalinks displays the permanent URL of a topic. You can the use this URL to  

  • To email the topic to your friends.
  • To bookmark the topic in your web browser.
To get the permalink
  1. Select a topic from Recent Topics and go to its Full thread view.
  2. Click on "Pemalink" from Post Actions section (right-side menu).
  3. Copy the topic URL displayed in the Permalink dialog-box.
    Now, you can send the copied URL to your community.

 

Notify on Response

This option helps you to receive notifications when someone post a response/comment to your topic. You will be receiving a email notification and a chat feed for the responses.

To enable notification
  1. Choose a topic that you have posted from Recent Topics tab
  2. Select the Notify me on response check-box.
    Notification is now sent when someone post a response.

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