Discussions (Application View)

A discussion provides a virtual forum where project users can hold online conversations on subjects of interest. Since discussions are related to individual projects The common workspace for members working together on a project., members of a project team can view and participate in discussions directly related to their work.

Depending on your permissions, you can participate in discussions by:

Posting a new message
Replying to any message
Creating a new discussion for messages on a different subject
Subscribing to a discussion to receive a notification e-mail when a new message is added (you can reply to the message directly in e-mail)
Editing a message that has already been posted

Project leaders can create moderated discussions where new messages must be approved by assigned moderators before they are posted on the discussion.

This topic discusses:

Common Actions
Discussions Banner
Discussions Table Pane
Table View
Explorer Action Bar
Moderator Action Bar
Details Pane Action Bar for the Root Folder
Details Pane Action Bar for Discussions
Details Pane Action Bar for Messages

Common Actions

Like other explorers in the application view, the Discussions explorer has a hierarchical navigation tree A tree of subfolders in the navigation pane of the application view. To view the contents of the navigation tree on the table pane, click on a node or folder in the navigation tree., a common tool bar with buttons that change according to the permission level of the user, a table pane Upper right section of the application view. The table pane displays all objects contained in the node you selected in the navigation tree. You can also view detailed information about the objects in the table pane by selecting the check box next to the item. Detailed information appears on the details pane., and a details pane Lower right section of the application view. You can view details and descriptions (if provided) of items selected in the table pane. You can also perform various actions, such as notifying others about the document you uploaded or subscribing to a discussion..

If you have a limited permission level, you cannot see all the buttons in the action bar. In addition, only buttons that apply to the object you have selected are enabled; until you have selected an object, many buttons are grayed out and disabled.

Buttons with are context-sensitive and have submenus. What these buttons do depends on what object you have selected in the explorer.

For more information about the components of the explorer, see Navigating the Explorers; for more information on permission levels, see the Permission Matrix.

To apply an action to a discussion, such as beginning a new subject thread, deleting a discussion, or exporting the discussion, select the discussion in the navigation tree A tree of subfolders in the navigation pane of the application view. To view the contents of the navigation tree on the table pane, click on a node or folder in the navigation tree. first.
To apply actions to a specific message, such as replying to or deleting a message, select the discussion in the navigation tree then select the message in the table pane Upper right section of the application view. The table pane displays all objects contained in the node you selected in the navigation tree. You can also view detailed information about the objects in the table pane by selecting the check box next to the item. Detailed information appears on the details pane. first. If you do not select a message, the buttons in the action bar remains grayed out.
To unselect a message, clear the check box to the left of the message.

For more information about the components of the explorer, see Navigating the Explorers.

Discussions Banner

Click	To
Manage Project	Project Leaders Only. Select one of the following: Project Settings: Edit the project's general settings. For more information, see General Settings. Project Recycle Bin: Manage the project's recycle bin. For more information, see Project Recycle Bin.
Project Search	Search for a project. Type a search string into the text box and click the Search button. For more information about the results of the search, see Search Results.
Choose Project	Select either a project or Project Explorer. The project you selected is loaded into the application view or you are taken to Project Explorer.

Discussions Table Pane

You can view the status of discussions.

Column	Description
Discussion Name	Name of the discussion. Clicking a discussion displays all its messages. The icons of the discussion indicates the discussion format. The icons are: moderated discussion, unmoderated discussion, and closed discussion.
Created By	Name of the user who created the discussion. To see the user profile of the creator of the discussion, click the user name. If the instant messaging feature is enabled, you can click the online presence indicator to chat online with the creator of the discussion.
Messages	Number of messages contained in the discussion.
Date Modified	The date of the last posted message.

Discussion Message Table Pane

You can view messages.

Column	Description
Subject	Subject of a discussion thread.
Created By	Name of the user who posted the message. To see the user profile of the author of the message, click the user name. If the instant messaging feature is enabled, you can click the online presence indicator to chat online with the author.
Date Modified	The date of the last posted message in the subject thread.

Explorer Action Bar

If a button is disabled, you either do not have permission to perform the action or the action does not apply to your file. For more information on permission levels, see the Permission Matrix.

Click	To
New	Create a new discussion. Click the project name (the top node) in the navigation tree first. For step-by-step instructions on how to create a discussion, see Creating Discussions. Post a new message in a discussion. Select a discussion in the navigation tree or table pane Upper right section of the application view. The table pane displays all objects contained in the node you selected in the navigation tree. You can also view detailed information about the objects in the table pane by selecting the check box next to the item. Detailed information appears on the details pane. first. Clicking displays the submenu.
New Discussion (New submenu)	Start a new discussion. Configure the settings in the New Discussion Properties page and click Finish.
New Message (New submenu)	Post a new message in a discussion.
Reply	Respond to a message.
Edit	Edit the properties of a discussion. Click a discussion in the navigation tree first. Change the content of a message you posted. First select a discussion and a message. Moderators can edit messages posted in discussions assigned to them. Only users with Admin access rights can edit any message. The panel above the details pane action bar for messages displays the user name of the user who most recently edited the message, if that user did not post the original message.
	Project Leaders only. Delete a discussion. Click a discussion in the navigation tree first. Delete a message you posted. First select a discussion and a message. Moderators can delete messages posted in discussions assigned to them. Only users with Admin access rights can delete any message.
QuickLinks	Add a My QuickLink A My QuickLink is a bookmark that you can create to a Collaboration object. Collaboration places this link in the object's associated My Tasks, My Documents or My Discussions portlet. To view only the objects that are accessible by My QuickLinks, click View \| QuickLinks in the My Tasks, My Documents or My Discussions portlets. or Community QuickLink A Community QuickLink is a bookmark that a Community Manager can create to a Collaboration object. Collaboration places this link in the object's associated Community Tasks, Community Documents or Community Discussions portlet. To view only the objects that are accessible by Community QuickLinks, click View\| QuickLinks in the Community Tasks, Community Documents or Community Discussions portlets. to a discussion or message to make the discussion or message easily accessible from the My Discussions or Community Discussions portlets.
Add to My QuickLinks (QuickLinks submenu)	Add the discussion or message to the list of QuickLinks on the My Discussions portlet.
Add to Community QuickLinks (QuickLinks submenu)	Community Managers only. Add the discussion or message to the list of QuickLinks on the Community Discussions portlet.
Remove from My QuickLinks (QuickLinks submenu)	Remove the discussion or message from the list of QuickLinks on the My Discussions portlet.
Remove from Community QuickLinks (QuickLinks submenu)	Community Managers only. Remove the discussion or message from the list of QuickLinks on the Community Discussions portlet.

Moderator Action Bar

The buttons in the moderator action bar are available to moderators only. Project Leaders can assign moderators to discussions in the Discussion Properties page.

Click	To
Export Discussion	Available to users with Edit access to the discussion. Archive a current snapshot of the discussion. For more information, see Export Discussion.
Approve	Allow the message to be posted on the discussion.
Reject	Forbid the message from being posted on the discussion.
	Preview the first part of each message in the table pane. Click again to hide the message contents.
	Available to Project Leaders. Select the columns that you want to be visible in the table pane to project users, using the Customize View Editor.

Details Pane Action Bar for the Root Folder

After you click on the root folder (project icon) in the navigation tree, you can use these buttons to subscribe yourself or others to receive notification e-mails when discussions are created in the project.

Click	To
Subscribe	Subscribe to all discussions in the project. You will receive an e-mail notification when a discussion is created in the project.
Unsubscribe	Unsubscribe from all discussions in the project, and stop receiving e-mail notifications when discussions are created in the project.
Subscribe Others	Available to Project Leaders only. Subscribe others to all discussions in the project using the Subscribe Others Editor. Users will be notified of any discussions created in the project.

Details Pane Action Bar for Discussions

The buttons in the action bar of the details pane lets you subscribe yourself or others to the discussion and attach files to the discussions. In the navigation tree, select a discussion.

Click	To
Subscribe to Discussion	Subscribe to the discussion to receive a notification e-mail when a new message is posted; you can reply to the message directly in e-mail.
Subscribe Others	Available to Project Leaders only. Subscribe others to the discussion using the Subscribe Others Editor. Users will be notified of any new messages posted in the discussion.
Unsubscribe	Unsubscribe from the discussion, and stop receiving notification e-mails whenever a new message is posted.
Notify	Send an e-mail inviting other users to view, subscribe to, or participate in the discussion. For more information about notification, see About Notification.
Attach Task Lists	Edit access level required. Attach task lists to the discussion. When the Choose Task Lists dialog box appears, select the task lists you want to attach, then click Finish.
Attach Documents	Edit access level required. Attach documents and files to the discussion. When the Choose Documents dialog box appears, select the files you want to attach and click Finish. Note: You need to have uploaded the file to Collaboration before you can select it.
	Delete attached files or task lists.
Discussion e-mail	Your groupware e-mail address must be included in your user profile. The e-mail address in your user profile must exactly match your Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes e-mail address; this is case-sensitive. Send an e-mail to the discussion using your personal computer's e-mail client, such as Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes. The e-mail is posted as a message in a new subject thread. Files that you attach to the e-mail are uploaded to the project and attached to the message. After you e-mail the discussion, you receive messages from the discussion in your e-mail client and can reply directly from your e-mail client. Tip: This is the unique e-mail address of this discussion. You can save this e-mail address in your e-mail client's address book to contribute to the discussion anytime without having to click on this link. For step-by-step instructions on how to e-mail a message to a discussion, see E-mailing a Message to a Discussion.

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Details Pane Action Bar for Messages

The buttons in the action bar of the details pane lets you subscribe yourself or others to a message, attach files to a message and expand a message to view its full text and replies. In the table pane, select a message.

For step-by-step instructions on how to reply to a message, see Replying to Messages.

The panel above the action bar displays the user name of the user who most recently edited the message, if that user did not post the original message.

Click	To
Subscribe to Message	Subscribe to the message to receive a notification e-mail when a reply to the message is posted; you can reply to the message directly in e-mail.
Subscribe Others	Available to Project Leaders only. Subscribe others to the message using the Subscribe Others Editor. Users will be notified of any replies posted to the message.
Unsubscribe	Unsubscribe from the message, and stop receiving notification e-mails whenever a reply to the message is posted.
Attach Documents	Edit access level required. Attach documents and files to the message. When the Choose Documents dialog box appears, select the files you want to attach and click Finish. Note: You need to have uploaded the file to Collaboration before you can select it.
Expand	View the entire message and all replies to it.
	Delete attached files.

Related Topics:

To display the page associated with this help topic:

Select a project in the My Projects or Community Projects portlet.
Click the Discussions tab in the application view.

Discussions (Application View)

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