panFora Forums - Create New Forum

Create New Forum	panFora
panFora Sys Admin

	Only panFora System Administrator has access to this Forum Maintenance Tool.

	Other Maintenance Admin Tools that require this high-level security, include Delete Forums, Show Software Versions, and View Database Content.

	If you have not already done so, please login as panFora System Administrator.

Login as a panFora System Administrator

	Click the button located on the [User title bar] in the Menu Frame.
	The panFora System Administrator Login window pops up.
	Shortcut:
	Select Create New Forum under [Maintenance] in the Menu Frame
	The Editing Frame updates to display the panFora System Administrator Login form.

To Create a New Forum

  1.Enter New Forum ID

  Forum ID is case sensitive.

  Forum ID needs to be unique (different than any previously created Forum).

  Only Letters and numbers, with no spaces or special characters, are allowed.

  Usually this is an abbreviated version of the Full Forum Name.

  Example: "WCON2000" for "Web Conference 2000".

  2.Choose whether you want to load setting from any existing Forum from the Load Settings pull-down menu

  When creating the first Forum, [None] is the only choice available.

  [None] is selected by default.

  It will load panFora default settings to the new Forum.

  This is to ensure that all the necessary directories are created in a correct structure and your Forum runs properly.

  Choose to load defaults from an existing Forum to copy all specially customized directory settings from the existing Forum

  Please refer to Advanced Mode for information on changing the default settings.

  Tip: Select the [None] option, unless you are an advanced user.

  3.Click

  The Creating Forum form is displayed in the Editing Frame.

  Important:

    It is not enough to click the Submit button to create a new forum.

    You need to complete the [Adding Forum] form in the Editing Frame

    and click the Submit button in order to Create a new Forum.

This form has many editing options. Please make sure to click the Submit button once you are done with your edits.

Loading panFora default settings [None]

  1.Edit Forum Title by retyping into the Forum Title text field.

  You must enter a Forum Title.

  Forums will not be created if the field is left blank.

  However, the title does not need to be unique.

  All the Forum's directory structure is pre-entered by default.

  2.To edit any of these defaults, check the [Advanced Mode] checkbox.

  The Form updates to allow editing.

  Please refer to the Advanced Mode editing.

  Important:

    Do not make any edits unless you are an advanced user familiar with your server configuration.

Loading settings from Existing Forum [Advanced Mode]

  Review and modify, as needed, any of the pre-filled Forum configuration information.

    Do not make any edits unless you are an advanced user familiar with your server configuration.

Forum Title

  1.Edit Forum Title by retyping into the Forum Title text field.

  You must enter a Forum Title.

  Forums will not be created if the field is left blank.

  However, the title does not need to be unique.

Forum Directory (absolute) and Top Level URL (absolute)

  1.Edit the directory paths by retyping into their respective text fields.

  [Forum Directory] (absolute) is the directory path where the Forum's data will be stored on the server.

  [Top Level URL] (absolute) is its respective URL that corresponds to the location within the web document root space as accessed through the web server.

  Important:

  As panFora System Admin, you must be sure that the web server process (with its associated user/group id) has write privileges to create the directory specified in [Forum Directory] (absolute) .

Photo Directory (absolute) and Photo URL (absolute)

  1.Edit the directory paths by retyping into their respective text fields.

  [Photo Directory] (absolute) is the directory path where the Forum's user photos will be stored on the server.

  [Photo URL] (absolute) is its respective URL that corresponds to the location within the web document root space as accessed through the web server.

  For most installations [Photo Directory] and [Photo URL] are subdirectories of [Forum Directory] and [Top Level URL], respectively, with the name [Photo].

Mailing List Directory (absolute)

  1.Edit the directory path by retyping into their respective text fields.

  [Mailing List Directory] is the directory path where the Forum's mailing list files will be stored.

  Mailing list files are generated from the email address data collected from user data in the Forum, aggregated by Forum groups.

  These mailing list files are used in posting notifications and announcements, and are compatible with the sendmail program.

Authentication Method

  1.Select the appropriate User Authentication Method.

  Choose one of the two user access authentication methods below:

  a. [Cookies]: The default, and most flexible authentication method available.

  panFora uses HTTP protocol cookies to save and validate user login information.

  panFora, itself, manages all aspects of user login/logout and Forum access.

  b. [Apache/NCSA]: The "basic" authentication as implemented by the Apache or NCSA web servers.

  The web server software, external to panFora, performs user validation for access control.

  Note: panFora will create and manage the ".htaccess", ".htpasswd" and ".htgroup" files.

  These files are located in the Forum Directory (absolute).

Forum Default Type

  1.Select the appropriate Forum Default Type.

  Choose one of the three types below:

  a. [Private]: The default and most restrictive type, denies Guest Access,

  denies Anonymous Posting and denies User Self Registration.

  b. [Public - Read Only]: Allows Guest Access but denies Guest Posting.

  allows Anonymous Posting and allows User Self Registration.

  c. [Public]: The most open type, allows Guest Access and posting,

  allows Anonymous Posting and allows User Self Registration.

  Note:

  Selecting a Forum type, automatically sets the above user access attributes for the new Forum.

  You may later edit any of these settings, in the Forum General Configuration.

Assign a Forum Administrator

  As part of the Forum setup, you must assign a Forum Administrator.

  The Forum Administrator operates all Admin features from within the Forum Administrator web interface.

  The Forum Administrator

Edits Forum Configuration, Color Scheme and Layout

Defines Users and Moderators' capabilities

Defines user group memberships, and discussion topic organization.

  The default permissions for this user are Read, Write, Moderator and Admin.

  By default, he is also the Primary Forum Administrator.

  In addition to the responsibilities above, the Primary Forum Administrator

Is the main contact to the Forum.

  Important:

  By default, the form is pre-filled with the panFora System Administrator information.

  Please make the appropriate changes, if necessary.

  By submitting the information below, the first user is entered into the Forum User Database

  Forum Administrator Basic Data

  1.Enter/Edit UserID

  2.Enter/Edit New User Password

  3.Enter/Edit User Email Address

  4.Enter/Edit User First Name

  5.Enter/Edit User Last Name

  6.Click to submit your changes.

  A confirmation message will be displayed stating that the new forum was created successfully.

  The primary Forum Administrator will receive an email

  with his account information (UserID and password),

  the Forum's URL and the Administrative Interface URL.

The Next Step

  You may now continue to create new forums or proceed to Edit the newly created Forum attributes.

Edit Newly Created Forum Attributes

  You may proceed to editing a forum immediately after its creation.

  Important: You must be the Primary Forum Administrator.

  1.Login as the Primary Forum Administrator.

  Enter your Forum Adminstrator UserId and Password.

  2.Click

  The Task Frame updates to display the various steps necessary to prepare the New Forum to be populated and used effectively.

  When editing a newly created Forum, please complete all of the following steps sequentially.

  Click on any of the links below for detailed information on the individual steps.

  1.Define Forum General Parameters.

  Include Use Access, and User and Moderators Capabilities.

  2.Customize Forum Look and Feel.

  Include Forum Display, Color Scheme, and Pagination defaults.

  3.Add Moderators.

  4.Create Forum Groups.

  Create new groups and assign to each group a Lead Moderator.

  5.Email Notification List.

  Define the email notification list that will be available to all users when posting messages to the Forum.

	To Create a New Forum
	1.Enter New Forum ID
	Forum ID is case sensitive.
	Forum ID needs to be unique (different than any previously created Forum).
	Only Letters and numbers, with no spaces or special characters, are allowed.
	Usually this is an abbreviated version of the Full Forum Name.
	Example: "WCON2000" for "Web Conference 2000".
	2.Choose whether you want to load setting from any existing Forum from the Load Settings pull-down menu
	When creating the first Forum, [None] is the only choice available.
	[None] is selected by default.
	It will load panFora default settings to the new Forum.
	This is to ensure that all the necessary directories are created in a correct structure and your Forum runs properly.
	Choose to load defaults from an existing Forum to copy all specially customized directory settings from the existing Forum
	Please refer to Advanced Mode for information on changing the default settings.
	Tip: Select the [None] option, unless you are an advanced user.
	3.Click
	The Creating Forum form is displayed in the Editing Frame.

	Important:
	It is not enough to click the Submit button to create a new forum.
	You need to complete the [Adding Forum] form in the Editing Frame
	and click the Submit button in order to Create a new Forum.

	Loading panFora default settings [None]
	1.Edit Forum Title by retyping into the Forum Title text field.
	You must enter a Forum Title.
	Forums will not be created if the field is left blank.
	However, the title does not need to be unique.
	All the Forum's directory structure is pre-entered by default.
	2.To edit any of these defaults, check the [Advanced Mode] checkbox.
	The Form updates to allow editing.
	Please refer to the Advanced Mode editing.

	Important:
	Do not make any edits unless you are an advanced user familiar with your server configuration.

	Loading settings from Existing Forum [Advanced Mode]
	Review and modify, as needed, any of the pre-filled Forum configuration information.
	Do not make any edits unless you are an advanced user familiar with your server configuration.

	Forum Title
	1.Edit Forum Title by retyping into the Forum Title text field.
	You must enter a Forum Title.
	Forums will not be created if the field is left blank.
	However, the title does not need to be unique.

	Forum Directory (absolute) and Top Level URL (absolute)
	1.Edit the directory paths by retyping into their respective text fields.
	[Forum Directory] (absolute) is the directory path where the Forum's data will be stored on the server.
	[Top Level URL] (absolute) is its respective URL that corresponds to the location within the web document root space as accessed through the web server.
	Important:
	As panFora System Admin, you must be sure that the web server process (with its associated user/group id) has write privileges to create the directory specified in [Forum Directory] (absolute) .

	Photo Directory (absolute) and Photo URL (absolute)
	1.Edit the directory paths by retyping into their respective text fields.
	[Photo Directory] (absolute) is the directory path where the Forum's user photos will be stored on the server.
	[Photo URL] (absolute) is its respective URL that corresponds to the location within the web document root space as accessed through the web server.
	For most installations [Photo Directory] and [Photo URL] are subdirectories of [Forum Directory] and [Top Level URL], respectively, with the name [Photo].

	Mailing List Directory (absolute)
	1.Edit the directory path by retyping into their respective text fields.
	[Mailing List Directory] is the directory path where the Forum's mailing list files will be stored.
	Mailing list files are generated from the email address data collected from user data in the Forum, aggregated by Forum groups.
	These mailing list files are used in posting notifications and announcements, and are compatible with the sendmail program.

	Authentication Method
	1.Select the appropriate User Authentication Method.
	Choose one of the two user access authentication methods below:
	a. [Cookies]: The default, and most flexible authentication method available.
	panFora uses HTTP protocol cookies to save and validate user login information.
	panFora, itself, manages all aspects of user login/logout and Forum access.
	b. [Apache/NCSA]: The "basic" authentication as implemented by the Apache or NCSA web servers.
	The web server software, external to panFora, performs user validation for access control.
	Note: panFora will create and manage the ".htaccess", ".htpasswd" and ".htgroup" files.
	These files are located in the Forum Directory (absolute).

	Forum Default Type
	1.Select the appropriate Forum Default Type.
	Choose one of the three types below:
	a. [Private]: The default and most restrictive type, denies Guest Access,
	denies Anonymous Posting and denies User Self Registration.
	b. [Public - Read Only]: Allows Guest Access but denies Guest Posting.
	allows Anonymous Posting and allows User Self Registration.
	c. [Public]: The most open type, allows Guest Access and posting,
	allows Anonymous Posting and allows User Self Registration.
	Note:
	Selecting a Forum type, automatically sets the above user access attributes for the new Forum.
	You may later edit any of these settings, in the Forum General Configuration.

	Assign a Forum Administrator
	As part of the Forum setup, you must assign a Forum Administrator.
	The Forum Administrator operates all Admin features from within the Forum Administrator web interface.
	The Forum Administrator
	Edits Forum Configuration, Color Scheme and Layout
	Defines Users and Moderators' capabilities
	Defines user group memberships, and discussion topic organization.
	The default permissions for this user are Read, Write, Moderator and Admin.
	By default, he is also the Primary Forum Administrator.
	In addition to the responsibilities above, the Primary Forum Administrator
	Is the main contact to the Forum.

	Important:
	By default, the form is pre-filled with the panFora System Administrator information.
	Please make the appropriate changes, if necessary.
	By submitting the information below, the first user is entered into the Forum User Database

	Forum Administrator Basic Data
	1.Enter/Edit UserID
	2.Enter/Edit New User Password
	3.Enter/Edit User Email Address
	4.Enter/Edit User First Name
	5.Enter/Edit User Last Name
	6.Click to submit your changes.

	A confirmation message will be displayed stating that the new forum was created successfully.
	The primary Forum Administrator will receive an email
	with his account information (UserID and password),
	the Forum's URL and the Administrative Interface URL.

	The Next Step
	You may now continue to create new forums or proceed to Edit the newly created Forum attributes.

	Edit Newly Created Forum Attributes
	You may proceed to editing a forum immediately after its creation.
	Important: You must be the Primary Forum Administrator.
	1.Login as the Primary Forum Administrator.
	Enter your Forum Adminstrator UserId and Password.
	2.Click
	The Task Frame updates to display the various steps necessary to prepare the New Forum to be populated and used effectively.

	When editing a newly created Forum, please complete all of the following steps sequentially.
	Click on any of the links below for detailed information on the individual steps.
	1.Define Forum General Parameters.
	Include Use Access, and User and Moderators Capabilities.
	2.Customize Forum Look and Feel.
	Include Forum Display, Color Scheme, and Pagination defaults.
	3.Add Moderators.
	4.Create Forum Groups.
	Create new groups and assign to each group a Lead Moderator.
	5.Email Notification List.
	Define the email notification list that will be available to all users when posting messages to the Forum.