• XML/RSS Content Feeds -- Allow visitors to subscribe to a content feed of the 10 latest postings
  
  
• Search -- Fast keyword searches are performed across the full-text of postings, including the message subject and author name.
  
  
• Closed or Open -- Forums can be open to all visitors or only available to those with an account in your community. You also control who can sign up for your community.
  
  
• Replies -- Visitors can reply to postings, thus creating a 'threaded forum'. An example of a threaded forum is the FreePint Bar. [If you prefer to disallow replies (a 'blog forum'), please view the Willco News Module.]
  
  
• Send to a friend -- An option for visitors to email an interesting posting to themselves or a colleague.
  
  
• Moderation -- Administrators have full control over postings, allowing them to Edit, Delete or Orphan (start a new thread from a reply). You are also emailed a copy of postings as soon as they are made.
  
  
• Categories -- Administrators maintain a list of categories which posters can link individual postings to, enabling subject (rather than chronological) browsing.
  
  
• Digests -- In association with the Lists Module, administrators choose which days of the week to send a digest of the latest postings. Administrators moderate digests before they are circulated.
  
  
• Customisation -- Digest and forum 'headers' can be edited to give special messages and guidance.
  
  
• Access Control -- Sign-ups to the forum can be controlled so that only existing members or administrator-added members can access the forum. The "auto-login" option means that visitors will only ever have to enter their password once to access a forum. Also, you can load a list of people who have access to certain forums.
  
  

> Now return to the Forums Module.