Moderating discussions and approving messages

If a topic requires message approval, when messages are posted they are only visible to users with permission to approve messages. To make these messages visible to all users, you must manually approve them. (Messages posted by users with permission to approve messages are automatically approved.)

You can turn message approval on or off from the Properties tab when creating or editing a Forum or Topic.

If a message is not appropriate for the topic and you do not want to approve it, you can do any of the following:

• Leave the message unapproved
• Edit the message before approving it
• Delete the message

Table of contents

• Finding messages that require approval
• Approving messages
• Editing other users' discussion messages
• Viewing a discussion message’s history

Finding messages that require approval

You can find unapproved messages in the following ways:

• On the main discussions page, the number of unapproved messages is displayed beneath the topic’s name. To see only topics that contain unapproved messages, select “Topics with Unapproved” from the Display drop-down list at the top of the page.
• Inside a topic, if you have the Discussions List turned on, the number of unapproved messages is the second number displayed in parentheses beside each topic. E.g. a topic that read “First Test Questions (5) (3)” would have three unapproved messages.
• In the message list inside a topic, unapproved messages are indicated by the Message Requires Approval icon. To see only messages that require approval, select “Unapproved Only” from the View drop-down list at the top left of the page.

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Approving messages

Approve a message

If you are using the Grid Style message list, do one of the following:

• Open the message and click Approve on the action bar.
• Select one or more messages from the message list and click the Approve icon at the top or bottom of the list.

If you are using the Reading Style message list, click the Approve link below the message header.

Unapprove a previously approved message

Do one of the following:

• In the Grid Style message list, open the message and click Unapprove on the action bar.
• In the Reading Style message list, click the More actions link below the message header, then click Unapprove on the action bar above the message.

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Editing other users' discussion messages

Editing a message allows you to change the subject or message text, add or remove attachments, or change whether the message is pinned. You cannot make a message anonymous or change the name of the message author—the original author’s name remains even after a message has been edited. Users who have edited a message are listed in the message’s history.

Edited messages are indicated by the Last Edited icon in the message header.

Edit a message

1. Do one of the following:
2. • If you are using the Grid Style message list, open the message and click Edit Message on the top tool menu.
   • If you are using the Reading Style message list, click the More Actions link below the message header, then click Edit on the action bar at the top of the message.
3. Make the changes you want.
4. Click Save.

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Viewing a discussion message’s history

If a message has been edited, the message history records all previous versions of the message, who edited it, and when it was approved. Edited messages are indicated by the Last Edited icon in the message header.

View a message’s history

Do one of the following:

• If you are using the Grid Style message list, open the message and click History on the top tool menu.
• If you are using the Reading Style message list, click the More actions link below the message header, then click History on the action bar at the top of the message.