Forum Moderation Explained
I have used the default vB skin for this tutorial to assist the majority of boards. How things look may be slightly based on your forum’s skin/theme.
Thread Tools:
When viewing an individual board you’ll see a menu option called Thread Tools. Click it with your mouse and it will magickally transform into a drop down menu with various options. These options deal with the entire thread rather then the individual posts within that thread. If you are wanting to moderate threads, then please scroll down to that section.
Close Thread (Open Thread)
This is an automated function. Check this option then CLICK ‘perform action’ and the thread closes. When/If you re-enter the “Thread Tools” it will change to Open Thread, and the procedure for this is exactly the same.
Move / Copy Thread
You chose which forum you want the thread to be moved to in the drop down menu. You then get three options.
- Move thread to destination forum
Moves the thread WITHOUT a redirect.
- Move thread and leave redirect in previous forum
Moves the thread WITH redirect (this option is default).
- Copy thread to destination forum
Created a duplicate thread in desired Forum.
Edit Thread
This option will show you the Moderator History of the thread as well as gives a few options in the form of check boxes.To see the history scroll down past all of the edit info, and if the thread has been edited in the past it should show when/what there.
- Thread is open: Users can post in this thread
When checked this thread is OPEN for posting.
- Thread is sticky: Thread remains at top of list thread listings.
Toggles the STICKY option (See Sticky Options).
- Thread is visible: Un-check this box to send this thread to the moderation queue.
The threads “soft delete” status (see DELETE options).
Delete Thread:
This gives you the Options for Deletion.
- ‘Soft’ delete it – Leave “Deleted” Message ( [_]Keep Attachments):
This will delete the thread but still allow us (the mods) to see it. This is the standard (default) option. You can ignore the attachments option as attachments are NOT an option
- Physically remove it:
This deletes the thread from the server and once done is FOREVER. This function should be used with extreme caution as you can not undo it! (NOTE: This is disabled on our forum)
- Reason for Deletion (optional):
This gives you a chance to write why you removed it from view.
Stick Thread:
This option will automatically make the thread sticky and will return you to the page you are at.
Merge Threads:
This has three boxes to fill in. The first is the Title of the thread and can be changed if you desire. The second box is rather tricky…
If you want to Merge two threads pick the thread that you want to leave and chose the Merge Threads Option. In the SECOND box put the address of the thread you want to be merged into the first. This will DELETE the second thread and place all of it’s posts within the first one. It can get REALLY confusing as they are placed on a date-for-date placement. If both threads are rather old then you may find that it is IMPOSSIBLE to follow when reading it from start to finish. (see my thread index in ChM). This Option is nice if you find a Duplicate thread that fits within an older thread. If it’s got only one or two posts that are new they will go in chronological order within the new thread. This lets the discussion continue rather then simply locking the duplicate. If you have questions about this option feel free to ask me.
The third option is for Redirects.
- Leave no redirect
In most cases you will want to check this option, it will leave no indication that the thread was moved.
- Leave Permanent Redirect
This option will cause the thread to have a link in the original forum (marked with an 
) that links to it’s new location. You can then edit additional options later (see redirects). Use this option sparingly.
- Leave Expiring Redirect
This gives date options to allow a redirect to automatically expire. This is handy for a thread that is posted in the wrong section but has some conversation going. It will allow the readers to know that it’s moved and where to look.
Remove Redirects:
This option goes hand in hand with the previous one. By picking this option it will remove all redirects.
Moderation (Threads):
This is the second method for editing posts on the thread level. These options are seen in the lower right corner of each board, just below the page listings.
These options are pretty much the same as seen in the Thread Tools options, but can be done through the board index rather then going into the individual threads. These options are nice when moderating on a grand scale (of two or more threads at once).
These come in handy when you are searching for posts by a problem member. You can search for all the posts or threads by the individual and then handle them all at once rather then individually.
I will cover the ‘Approve Threads’ and ‘Unapprove Threads’ in a post dedicated to the Moderation Queue.
Moderation (Posts):
While a thread is open there are two ways to change things. The first has been covered a few posts ago, the other method is through the Moderation Box that is found in the lower right hand side of the thread (between the last post and the quick reply box).
Merge Posts:
Move Posts:
With things like Multi-Quote and the ability to edit ones posts there is often little need to have multiple posts in a row. When such things are seen the posts can often be merged for the ease of use for all involved.
- Thread:
This first option is not changeable as it is the thread title itself. If that needs to be changed then there are other methods for it.
- Posts:
This will list all the posts to be merged. It is advised to check to make sure you do not accidentally have a stowaway post in there. A quicker method of checking is to read the edit info box below that lists the number of posts/threads involved in this change.
- Title
This only changes the post title and not the thread title.
- Reason
Please give a reason for moderation. It’s just good form.
Once you’ve filled all these out, click “Merge Posts” and the multiple posts will become one.
IMPORTANT: Once merged it is a real bother to get them split, and if you are merging multiple member posts (which should really NEVER be done) then that can never be un-done. Make sure you do this right the FIRST time.
Copy Posts:
There are two places to put copied posts.
- Copy Posts to New Thread
Here you will need to pick the board you want the new posts to be put at, then pick a new thread title. This will effectively create a new thread.
- Copy Posts to Existing Thread
Here place the URL (note the name!) of the thread you want the posts to be. This option is nice if you have a tangent in a thread that would best be in another topic.
IMPORTANT: When putting threads in a new place they will be posted in chronological order. Which in some cases can make an existing thread look rather odd as you insert one conversation into the middle of another.
Delete / Undelete Posts:
This gives you the Options for Deletion.
- ‘Soft’ delete it – Leave “Deleted” Message ( [_]Keep Attachments):
This will delete the thread but still allow us (the mods) to see it. This is the standard (default) option. You can ignore the attachments option as attachments are NOT an option
- Physically remove it:
This deletes the thread from the server and once done is FOREVER. This function should be used with extreme caution as you can not undo it!
Important: Once this is done, it can not be undone!
NOTE: This is disabled on the forum I wrote this for, so that part is missing from the image.
- Reason for Deletion (optional):
This gives you a chance to write why you removed it from view.
Approve / Unapprove posts:
Please see the post on the Moderation Queue for this.
Approve / Unapprove Attachments:
There is an option that can place any attachments into the moderation Queue. When that is turned on, then this option allows the moderator to approve the attachment so that other members can see it (or in the case of Unapprove, then make it so members can not see it).
Moderation Queue:
In some cases threads and/or posts may be placed in the Moderation Queue. You will know which posts these are by the small icon of a little person (
for Threads, 
for individual posts). You can approve the thread/post by one of two methods.
Method One: (Moderated Threads)
Tick the check box to the right of the thread, then scroll down to the Moderation Box. There select “Approve Threads” and then click GO.
Once this is done, the thread SHOULD be viewable by all members. On the off chance that the little icon is still shown from the index, then you will need to open the thread and follow the instructions there to ‘approve’ all the moderated posts within the thread.
Method Two: (moderated posts)
It’s important to note here, that if you post in a moderated thread, your post will also be moderated. So be sure to approve the thread before making a post yourself.
To approve individual posts, click the little box in the upper right corner of the post(s) and then in the Moderation Box at the bottom click “Approve Posts” and then GO.
A few tips and tricks:
QUICK LOCK
You can quickly lock a thread from a board index by double clicking on the thread icon.
Title Change
You can quickly edit a thread title by double clicking in near the thread title (Note NOT the title itself, that’ll just open the thread).
it should show a list of several items.
is the spokesman for the Queue and you’ll see the little icon in several places (like in searches, or in posts/threads that are moderated. Only the mod team can see them and they are there to let us know something has been moderated. If you are reading a thread and happen across something in the queue, you can approve it just like I explained above. Click the checkbox in the top corner of the post, scroll down to the Moderation Menus and approve/delete it as needed.
