ArcGIS Hub discussion boards allow participants to share comments, ideas, and feedback on pre-defined topics. Contributors can add posts, respond or react to posts, and @mention other participants. Discussion boards can be used in map, grid, or list formats. Boards are tools to communicate and collaborate, similar to group-based discussions about content.
License:
Discussion boards are available with an ArcGIS Hub Premium license.Create and edit a board
Signed in organization members with the privilege to create items can create and manage discussion boards. Boards include a title, prompt, location, and other details and can be open to groups, an organization, or the public. Discussion boards are map-based by default and contributors can choose a map, list, or grid view. Locations added to posts in map view must be inside the geographic area defined by the board editor.
The discussion workspace is customized for editing and managing a board. In the workspace, board editors can update details and settings, preview changes, and see a summary of board usage.
- Create a discussion board from the catalog, your user profile, or the live site view. Select the New button and Discussion board.
- Enter a title and prompt, and select Create.
- If not already in the discussion workspace, select the board in your user profile and select edit.
- On the Details pane, add or edit board details. Select Save.
- On the Dashboard pane, you can view a summary of engagement activity such as Pageviews over time. Learn more about the dashboard.
- On the Participation pane, choose Who can view the board. If viewing is set to Public, anyone with an account can participate. If set to My organization, all members with an account can participate. If set to Private, select Add view groups to allow members of those groups to view the board. Under Who can edit, select Add edit groups to allow members of those groups to edit board information (details, settings, etc.) in the workspace.
- Under Who can participate and who can moderate, choose who can add, view, and moderate posts by setting the channel. Browse and select an existing channel (one is required), or create a new one. For new channels, enter a name and select participants. If Participants is set to Public, at bottom of section choose whether to allow anonymous posting.
Note:
Use existing channels when possible; avoid creating duplicate channels. Only organization administrators can create channels for organization or public access. Other user types can create channels consisting of groups. Read the What are channels blog post to learn more. - On the Settings pane, board owners can open or close a board for discussion (allowed or not allowed), or delete a board. Select Save.
- To share discussion boards that have Public or Organization channels, select the Sharing level button (top right) and choose Public or Organization to match the setting on the Participation pane.
- Select View discussion (top right) to see a live view of the board (select settings
to return to the workspace). At the top is also a button that shows board sharing.
Moderate a board
Discussion board moderators are members of channel groups who are owners or managers of those groups. Organization administrators can also be moderators. Moderators can define a list of block words or phrases (at a channel level) that are not allowed to be used in a post. Posts that contain blocked words will be hidden automatically. Moderators can review posts and hide as needed.
- Find and select the board in the catalog.
- Go to edit mode and the discussion workspace.
- On the Participation pane, enter any Blocked words as a comma-separated list.
Display a board
Site editors can display discussion boards on a Hub site in various ways. Visitors can discover boards on the site layout, header, catalog (if board is shared with site content group). and in their profiles (if shared with the member or group).
- Open a site or page in edit mode.
- To add a discussion board to the items below, follow steps to add existing content:
- To a gallery card
- To the header as a link
- To the catalog
- To a group or member profile; select the Content tab to see linked boards and add any as needed
Contribute to a board
Signed in Hub users can contribute to a discussion board, while everyone can view a public board. The primary ways to participate are to add posts and replies. Users can draw on the map to add locations to posts, and send notifications to (@mention) others in the organization within a post or reply. Participants can also add a reaction to a post.
- To create a new post, enter your idea in the post window and select Add post.
Note:
To post anonymously, you must be signed in but your name and details will not appear on posts or replies. You will not be able to edit or delete the post, and others will not be able to mention you.
- To reply to an existing post, select Reply and enter your response in the reply window.
- To add one or more locations to a post, select the Add location button
on the post or reply window. Draw location(s); select Add to reply, Done, and Create reply. - Select the Add reaction button
to add an emoji reaction to a post or reply. Select the Plus sign 
to choose from an expanded set of reactions.
Note:
Those with board access can search and sort posts, even if a board is closed.
Read the Discussion boards are ready in ArcGIS Hub blog post to learn more.