The following sections describe the different types of conferences you can
select for your WebBoard. Bear in mind that you can also combine some of
these types of conferences. For example, you can create a private, moderated
conference requiring message verification. Or you could define a private,
read-only conference.
Public Conferences
Public WebBoard conferences are open to all users of the board on which
they reside. All participants can read any posted message, and registered
users can post messages to the conference, respond privately to a posted
message, and otherwise freely participate in conversation and collaboration
through WebBoard. In a public conference there is no restriction on who can
see messages, and all messages that are posted appear immediately. The only
restriction in public conferences is on guest users, who can only read,
but not post messages.
Moderated Conferences
The trait all moderated conferences have in common is that they have one or
more moderator assigned to them. These WebBoard users (selected by the
administrator, a board manager, or another moderator of the conference) can
exercise editorial control over message content posted in a conference and
administer the conference. Some moderated conferences may require that
messages be verified before they’re posted for others to read. Users in a
conference requiring message verification can post messages (both to new
and existing topics), but the moderator decides whether to post the message,
discuss the matter with the user personally, or request that the user
rephrase the message. Moderators have administrative privileges within
their conferences, but cannot create a new conference. Remember that you,
as administrator, can also delegate responsibility and distribute the
workload by granting manager or moderator status to other board participants,
making them responsible for their own conferences.
Private Conferences
A private (closed) conference is limited to specific WebBoard users. For
example, an upcoming product release might be a good subject for a private
conference whose audience includes product engineers, marketing specialists,
and other team members. WebBoard lets them communicate and collaborate freely
both directly on the board or by email if the conference has a mailing list,
yet the subject is not open to unwelcome eyes. In fact, users who are
excluded from private conferences won’t even see the name of a private
conference in the list of Conferences. The administrator, manager, or
moderator can select participants from the list of registered users.
Read-Only Conferences
Anyone can read the messages in a read-only conference, although only the
WebBoard administrator, manager, or moderator can post messages to it.
Read-only conferences are a good way to distribute one-way information,
such as memos, newsletters, and bulletins that come from a central source
to be read by many people. You might, for instance, use a read-only
conference to post new policies developed by your human resources department,
a list of upcoming events, or to post a list of bug fixes to a product
undergoing initial development. Having a mailing list for a read-only board
(and encouraging users to subscribe or subscribing them yourself) is a good
way to make sure everyone receives important messages. And, of course,
nonauthorized users can’t post to a read-only message by email.
Administrators and board managers can add conferences to WebBoard by filling
in the Add Conference form. Note that moderators can’t create conferences.
To add a conference, click Add Conference on the management menu.
Editing a Conference
A conference may be edited by an Administrator, Manager or by a Moderator of
the conference being edited. All the fields for editing a conference are the
same as adding a new conference. To edit a conference follow these steps:
- On the More Options menu, click Administrator, Manager, or Moderator; the option available to you
depends on your authority level. The Administrator or Manager menu appears
for these two levels. If you’re a moderator, you’ll be presented with a list of
conferences for which you have these privileges; skip to Step 3.
- Click Manage Conferences. The Manage Conferences page appears.
- In the Select column, click edit. This will open the Edit Conference form.
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