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, and are similar to content-based discussions.
License:
Discussion boards are available with an ArcGIS Hub Premium license.Create a discussion board
Signed in organization members with the privilege to create items can create a discussion board from the global navigation header (if enabled) and from the relevant workspace within a configured catalog (if a member of a group configured in the catalog). For more information, refer to Configure roles and privileges. Discussion boards are map-based by default and contributors can choose a map, list, or grid view.
To create a discussion board, complete the following steps:
- Sign in to ArcGIS Hub.
- From the global navigation header, select the Create button and choose Discussion board.
- To create a discussion board and add it directly to a configured catalog, navigate to the workspace of the site, initiative, or project (open the live view and select the Manage button
). Select the Catalog, Content pane, select the Add content button, and select Discussion board. - To create a discussion board and add it directly to the configured catalog of an initiative or project, go to the initiative or project view. Select the Content tab, select the Add content button, and select Discussion board.
- Provide a name for the discussion board in the Title field and a prompt in the Prompt field; select Next.
- Select a group to connect to the discussion board.
Group selection is optional if creating from the Create button (global navigation). Group selection is required if creating and adding directly to a configured catalog.
- Select Create.
Manage a discussion board
Channels control who can participate on the board (post, reply, and react), and also control who can moderate when you set blocked words. Channels can be open to groups, an organization, or the public; they are not groups but can contain them. A channel can be applied to multiple discussions.
Tip:
Set an allowed channel to keep the discussion focused.
Editing permissions for a discussion board are separate from editing permissions for a channel. This means a user may be able to edit information about a discussion board in the board workspace but not have edit access to a channel connected to the board. To learn more, read the Improved control over discussion participation blog.
In the workspace, select the Save button to save changes made on each pane before browsing to a different pane.
To manage a discussion board, complete the following steps:
- Sign in to ArcGIS Hub.
- In your user workspace, select the Content pane.
If needed, select your user profile and select View workspace to open your user workspace.
- Select the Manage button next to a discussion board to open the board workspace.
Note:
Alternatively, from the live view of a board, select the Manage discussion
button. - Select the Details pane and add or edit the following information to appear in the board view (except discoverability information).
- Title
- Summary
- Thumbnail—This image displays in search and galleries and in ArcGIS Online.
- Select Add additional details to add a Description.
- Select Increase discoverability to add Tags and Categories.
- Location—Locations added to posts in map view must be inside the geographic area defined..
- Discussion details—Edit the prompt for the discussion.
You can also edit some of these details in ArcGIS Online.
- Select Catalog and select the Content pane or the Events pane to configure a catalog of content or events.
- Select Settings and select the General pane to configure Map settings. Board owners can prevent accidental deletion of the board or delete the board.
- Select Settings and select the Sharing pane to set the Sharing level (who can view the board). Select Public, My organization, or Private. Choose Select groups under Edit access to allow the people in
these groups to edit board information in the workspace. Choose Select groups under View access to allow the people in
these groups to search and view this item. Choose groups and select Add.
Learn more about using groups and access and sharing.
- Select Settings and select the
Discussions pane to allow or block the
discussion. Select Browse channels to choose one or more channels whose members
are allowed to participate. The Access filter shows only channels
with the sharing level selected. Choose channels and select Add.
Note:
For focused participation, set a single allowed channel to be applied when participants are adding a post. If any channels or many channels are allowed, participants must first select a channel (audience) before participating.
- Select Create channel to create a channel. Enter a name for Title, choose whether to allow Private posting, and enter a list of words or phrases that are not allowed to be used in a post to this channel under Blocked
words. Under Permissions, configure how the public, the organization, and groups can participate in a discussion board (as described below). Set channel permissions for public participants (anonymous and authenticated) and for members and
managers of an organization and groups added.
Use existing channels when possible and avoid creating duplicate channels. Only organization administrators can create channels for organization or public access. Other user types can create channels consisting of groups.
- View—read posts only
- Post—add posts only (cannot read other's posts unless they are a moderator)
- Participate—view and post
- Moderators—view, post, update blocked words, and moderate posts
- Managers—view, post, update blocked words, moderate posts, and add other moderators
- Owners—view, post, update blocked words, moderate posts, add other moderators, and delete channel
Note:
Moderators can review posts and hide as needed.
- Select View board to see a live view of the board (select settings to return to the workspace).
Tip:
To download a discussion, select the More actions button
and select Download discussion
(CSV).
Display a discussion board
Site editors can display discussion boards on a Hub site in various ways. Visitors can discover boards on the site layout, header, catalogs, and in their user workspace.
Participate in a discussion board
Signed in Hub users can contribute to a discussion board by adding posts and replies. Participants can draw on the map to add locations to posts and replies, send notifications to (@mention) others in the organization within a post or reply, and add a reaction to a post or reply.
To contribute to a discussion board, complete the following steps:
- Use one of the options below to create a post:
Channels allow you to view and add posts. Learn more about discussion channels.
- To create a post on a board with one channel set, select Add a post.
- To create a post on a board with multiple channels set, select Add a post. Select a channel as the audience for this post from the Allowed channels list.
- To create a post on a board with no allowed channels set, select Add a post. Select a channel as the audience for this 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.
- Enter your comment in the post window and select Create post.
- To add one or more locations, select the Add location button
on the post or reply window. Draw location(s); select Add to reply, Done, and Create reply or Create post. - 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. You can add one reaction to each post or reply. - To reply to a post, select Reply and enter your response in the reply window.
Note:
Those with board access can search and sort posts, even if a board is closed.