How to Set Up the Forum Page

[Peter Moorman]

How do I set up the forum page on my site to look like the Ning Creator's forum site?

I like how they have popular contributors and forum topics on the left sidebar, videos on the right sidebar, and the forum topics in the middle with the most recent titles shown.

Thanks so much,
Peter

[Jen]

Excellent question, just had this asked on my site and was searching for the answer. I thought I had mine set like this, but did not.

I call it the grid view. Add this to a new tab on your network:
/forum/category/list?pageSize=100

[Peter Moorman]

Jen,
I have it set up correctly now.
Peter

[Jen]

Great. I actually thought there was a way to do this via the Manage panel. But, I couldn't find it. I guess as long as it works, that's what matters. Maybe someone else will step in and tell us if there's a way, outside of the special link method.
;-)

[Marilynn]

Jen - so when you have the forum tab, you link to this?

Sorry if being dumb, just not quite getting it :(

[Peter Moorman]

You can change the setting for how the forum page appears under the manage tab.

Go to Manage: Discussion Forum: then select Discussion style flat and on the main forum page show latest discussion by category and click save.

[Keith Davis]

cool, made it look far better Ta!!
Keith

[Marilynn]

Thanks Peter, I have done this now...http://friends.mumsontop.co.nz/forum

BUT - it doesn't have the list of categories to the side like it does here? In your image above...and with popular contributors and all :)

[Jen]

Hi Marilynn,
Here's a full explanation. Robert & Peter helped me out on the Manage Panel method.

Instructions: If you go the Manage Panel route, your regular forum tab will access the special layout (like on Creators), but, read on.

Manage Panel Method for Special Layout:
Go to Manage/Discussion Forum
Under: Main Forum Page Style
Select Latest Discussions by Category.

And, you could offer both layouts, by using the special link, and not changing your original layout, via the Manage panel - - if that makes sense.

For Both Layouts:
Flat View (don't change anything): http://yourning.ning.com/forum
Grid View (like here on Creators - - add new tab with this link): http://yourning.ning.com/forum/category/list?pageSize=100

Again, keep in mind, if you want one view, and you want that view to look like the layout on Creators, use the Manage Panel method.

Hope that clears it up,
Jen

[Marilynn]

You legend!!!!

Looks great, thanks so much for your help :) http://friends.mumsontop.co.nz/forum

It would be great to have that right hand side, including the popular contributors to be able to be on the home page somehow.

[Jen]

Hi Marilynn,
LOL, not quite. Glad it helped, and it does look great!

Yeah, I agree with the popular contributors or other elements going on home page. We need to add to Deborah's Discussion, and maybe the Ning Development Team will consider this.
http://creators.ning.com/forum/topics/i-would-like-to-see-this-on

Best,
Jen

[Colin Ming]

Thanks for the hint Marilynn, it works for me.

http://gaffers-canada.ning.com/

[Jen]

Thanks Peter!