Each forum has two independent controls: who can see and interact with it (Access Type), and whether posting is currently open (Visibility). Understanding how these work together helps you set up forums that are open to the right audience.
Access Type
The Access Type setting controls the minimum member account level required to see and participate in a forum. The available options are drawn from your community's account-level list (for example: All Members, Residents, Administrators). Members below the selected level cannot see the forum at all.
Note: The Access Type for a forum overrides the global default set in Settings. If you want all forums to require the same level, set it once in Settings and leave each forum at the default.
Visibility
The Visibility setting has three states:
- Hidden — The forum is not shown to members. Use this to prepare a new forum before making it public, or to temporarily suspend a forum without deleting it.
- Visible — Posting Allowed — The forum is shown to members who meet the Access Type requirement, and they can create new posts and replies.
- Visible — Posting Not Allowed — The forum is shown to members who meet the Access Type requirement, but members cannot post or reply. Existing content is readable. Use this to archive an old discussion or lock a forum while a decision is being made.
Message Approval
In addition to visibility, each forum has a Message Approval setting that determines what happens when a member submits a post:
- Immediately — Posts go live as soon as the member submits them.
- After Admin Approval — Posts are held in Pending status until an administrator reviews and approves them from the Messages tab.
Tip: Use After Admin Approval for any forum where you want to prevent inappropriate content from appearing publicly before you have a chance to review it.