Use discussion boards

ArcGIS Hub discussion boards allow participants to share comments, ideas, and feedback on predefined 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:

1. Sign in to ArcGIS Hub.
   • From the global navigation header, click 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 click the Manage button ). Click the Catalog, Content pane, click the Add content button, and click 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. Click the Content tab, click the Add content button, and click Discussion board.
2. Provide a name for the discussion board in the Title field and a prompt in the Prompt field; click Next.
3. 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.

Members of view-only groups can view the discussion board, while members of shared update groups can edit board information.
4. Click 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 article.

In the workspace, click the Save button to save changes made in each pane before browsing to a different pane.

To manage a discussion board, complete the following steps:

1. Sign in to ArcGIS Hub.

   Your workspace appears in the Overview pane.

   Note:

   If you are already signed in, click your username in the upper corner and select View workspace to open your user workspace.

2. On the overview table, click the Discussions tab.

   This allows you to view your recently modified discussions in a table.

3. In the table, find the discussion you want to manage and click the Manage button .

   If the discussion is not listed in the table, use the following steps to find additional discussions to manage:

   1. Below the table, click View all discussions.

      Your workspace's Content pane appears with the filter for discussions configured.

   2. Click the Manage button .
4. Click 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.
   • Click Add additional details to add a description.
   • Click 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.

5. Click Catalog and click the Content pane or the Events pane to configure a catalog of content or events.
6. Click Settings and click the General pane to configure Map settings. Board owners can prevent accidental deletion of the board or delete the board.
7. Click Settings and click the Sharing pane to set the Sharing level (who can view the board). Click 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 click Add.

   Learn more about using groups and access and sharing.

8. Click Settings and click the Discussions pane to allow or block the discussion. Click 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 click 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.

9. Click 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—Vew, 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.

10. Click View board to see a live view of the board (click Manage discussion to return to the workspace).

    Tip:

    To download a discussion, click the More actions button and click 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.

1. Open a site or page in edit mode.
2. To add a discussion board to the items below, follow the steps to add existing content:
   • To a gallery card
   • To the header as a link
   • To a catalog

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:

1. 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, click the Add a post button .
   • To create a post on a board with multiple channels set, click the Add a post button . 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, click the Add a post button . 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.

2. Enter your comment in the post window and click Create post.
3. To add one or more locations, click the Add location button on the post or reply window. Draw a location or locations; click Add to reply, Done, and Create reply or Create post.
4. Click the Add reaction button to add an emoji reaction to a post or reply. Click the plus sign to choose from an expanded set of reactions. You can add one reaction to each post or reply.
5. To reply to a post, click 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.

Subscribe to discussions

Signed-in Hub users can subscribe to discussions to receive weekly emails on new activity. Users can receive updates on discussion thread activity such as new posts and replies. Depending on their role, users can also subscribe to other activity types. Discussions can have one or many channels, and your subscription options to that discussion are dependent on your role within each channel. Users can manage their subscription options, such as unsubscribing, at any time.

Note:

Subscriber email updates are currently only available in English.

To subscribe to discussions, complete the following steps:

1. Open a discussion board and sign in to ArcGIS Hub if necessary.
2. In the discussion pane, click the Subscribe button .

   The Subscribe settings appear.

   The Discussion activity section displays subscription options for all channels you have access to within the board. It will display each channel’s name and your role in the channel.

3. Select the discussion activity you want to subscribe to.

   Your options are dependent on your role within each channel.

   Optionally, you can click the Subscribe to all option to select all available options.

4. Click Save.

Once you have subscribed to a discussion, you can reconfigure your subscription settings by clicking the Manage subscription button in the discussion pane.

Manage discussions in a site

You can show or hide the discussions side panel for users on your site. This would show or hide the discussions side panel for any discussion board and its related channels for users.

1. Follow the steps to open your workspace and manage a site if necessary.
2. Click the Settings tab and click Discussions.
3. For Discussion allowed?, choose one of the following options:
   • Yes, discussion allowed—The discussion side panel will be visible.
   • No, discussion blocked—The discussion side panel will be hidden.