In order to change the privacy options of a forum you need to get to the forum admin page. There are two ways in which you can do this. Both require that you are already logged in. If you are not already click the Sign In link in the utility bar at the top of the screen.

Then either click on the Forum Administration link on the forum's page or, if you are not already at the forum, you can click on the Admin tab at the top of the screen, find the forum whose description you wish to change and click on the link provided.

You will then be shown the Forum Administration screen. Click the privacy options link:

Change existing permissions

On the left hand side of the page you will see a list of all users with permissions for the forum. This list is divided into View, Reply, New Topic, Moderate and Admin permissions.

If you wish to remove any of the permissions listed, click on the Remove button . You can also change the membership status of individual members that are listed by clicking on the Member checkbox. There are also options to change the membership status and remove permissions of a set of users by using the checkboxes beneath the permissions list:

If you wish to remove a set of users click the appropriate checkboxes and click the Remove button.

Add permission

On the right hand side you will a box where you can add permissions. This is where you can set privacy options as to who can view or post to the forum. 

To add a permission:

1. Select a group of users by clicking on the appropriate radio button of add a specific user or group by typing in the User or group textbox.
2. Select the type of permission to add by using the drop-down box. The different permissions are:
   • View - the ability to read the messages in the forum
   • Reply - the ability to reply to existing messages
   • New Topic - the ability to start new topics
   • Privileged - the ability to post un-moderated messages
   • Moderate - the ability to moderate other users' messages
3. If you wish to you can add the user as a forum member by clicking in the tickbox provided.
4. To apply the permission you have specified click on the tick button .

Note: If an individual or group has a particular permission, they automatically have all the lower permissions.

Example: For an open forum that the wider public may read, select "Any user, whether signed in or not."

Posting by anonymous e-mail

You change whether users can post by anonymous email to this forum. This means that all posts that are submitted by email will be accepted, regardless of the permissions that have already been set. These permissions will still apply to posts made in all other ways.

If you wish to allow anonymous e-mail posting click on the checkbox then click on the Change button.

Limitations on forum access

You can further limit who can join the forum and for how long. There is the option to add a password to the forum to limit access. If you set a password, then users who wish to access the forum must not only have view permission but must also supply the password before they are allowed to access it. To add a password type it in the textbox provided and click on the change button underneath.

You may also require that users become members of the forum before they are permitted to view or post messages or you may specify that they are automatically made members when they first access it. If you specify that users should become members of the forum in order to view it, they will be prompted to become members when attempting to access it and will be denied access if they decline. To add one of these requirements select the appropriate radio button and click on the change button underneath.

You can also set a subscription limit such that anyone who becomes a member of the forum will automatically be un-subscribed after this number of days. To set a subscription limit type the number of days into the textbox and click the change button.

Take me to related FAQs:

How do I access Forum Administration?