If checked, posts by registered users and moderators are placed after the full name on the post to indicate that the post was made by a registered user or moderator. If unchecked, this is not performed (this allows forgery by public users if you have public posting enabled).

If checked, users will be able to change their passwords. Moderators will always be able to change their passwords, and the superuser or moderators will always be able to change the passwords of users for them.

If checked, users will be able to edit their own posts within the number of minutes that you specify. The default is that this option is checked and allows editing within 30 minutes, which is a sufficient "grace period" to make minor changes to the message, but does not allow users to come back many days later and alter the conversation. If unchecked, user post editing is disabled. If you want to allow users to edit their posts any time, check the box and set the time limit to a large number like 999999.

One of the most unique features to Discus is image upload (and in-line display). Discus Pro also allows upload of attachments (non-image files, such as documents). Although incredibly useful, this feature has the potential to be misused, by uploading inappropriate images or very large files.

If the "Image uploading and attachment uploading enabled" box is checked, image uploading and attachment uploading are permitted. This is the default option. If unchecked, image uploading and attachment uploading will not be allowed at all on the discussion board.

You can also set file size limits for the uploaded images or attachments, distinguished by the privileges of the poster (public vs. registered user). The file size limit is entered in kilobytes, and a value of "0" indicates no limit. Setting a file size restriction of -1 effectively disables uploading, as there are no files that are less than -1000 bytes in length! File size limits also apply to pictures uploaded with registered user profiles in Discus Pro.

IP banning is offered in Discus Pro to deny all access to all scripts from the domains you specify. This is useful in two contexts: to ban abusive users or those who repeatedly attempt to break into your system, or to completely shut down a board that is no longer used.

To add a host name, IP number, or wildcard pattern to the list, type that information into the empty text box in the IP banning session, and save your settings. To remove a host name, IP number, or wildcard pattern from the list, uncheck the box next to the existing entry and save your settings.

Because the message files are ordinary HTML files, your IP banning settings will not affect whether or not a person can read messages on your board. However, IP banning will prevent someone from posting messages, registering for an account, accessing private topics, or accessing administration.

Warning: It is possible to lock yourself out if you enter your own host name into the blank, or you enter a wildcard pattern that your host name will match. This can be repaired only by using FTP or telnet access to remove that configuration setting from the Discus system. Thus, use caution when specifying your settings! If you type just "*" into the blank, all hosts (including yourself) will be banned from accessing the scripts.

You can generate a mailing list of all registered users on your system, all moderators on your system, or a combination list of all registered users and all moderators on your system, if the need arises to send out a mass-mailing. The list that is generated lists each unique e-mail address only once, regardless of how many user accounts or moderator accounts have that e-mail address. To generate a list, click the appropriate link for the mailing list you wish to generate. You can then select the list of e-mail addresses that is produced and copy/paste it to another program.

With this option, you can put a maximum limit on the number of characters that a poster can use in their message. This option is intended to be used to prevent abuse. Note that most browsers have a size limit of about 32,000 characters in the text box. Message size limits can be distinguished by the privileges of the poster (public vs. registered user). The message size limit is entered in kilobytes, and a value of "0" indicates no limit. Note that 1,000 characters = 1 kilobyte.

With this option, you can configure the order of items (subtopics and messages) that users add or post through the user interface. The "normal" order, applied when all boxes are unchecked, is that new subtopics are added to the bottom of the list, and new messages are added to the bottom of the list. You can reverse this order, meaning that new subtopics will be added to the top of the list, and new messages will be added to the top of the list. You can also choose to alphabetize the subtopics. (Choosing both to alphabetize and to reverse the subtopic order will result in the subtopic order being sorted from Z to A.)

The superuser controls the information that is requested from a user for that user's profile, as well as some options related to those information fields. To access the profile field editor, click the "Define profile fields" link.

Profile fields have five main attributes, described here.

• Shown

  Defines whether the field is ever shown to the public. For example, you might require each user to keep their Social Security number on file, but you don't want the public ever to be able to see that information. This would be an instance where you would not want the field shown to the public. In most cases, you will want the fields shown.

• Field Description

  This is the text that is displayed next to the user's answer. In effect, this is the question that is asked of the user.

• Type

  The type can either be plain text (most cases), but can also be a URL or an e-mail address. URLs are automatically displayed as hyperlinks, and e-mail addresses are displayed with a mailto link.

• Size

  This controls how many rows are occupied by the field. One row is generally sufficient, but you might want to use the 3 row or the 5 row option for items such as personal quotes. The user can exceed the number of rows if you use the 3 row or 5 row option; all input must fit on the same line of you use the 1 row option.

• Required

  If a field is required, it is displayed to everyone who looks at the user's profile, and the user is not permitted to delete any text that is already in that field.

To add a new field, type a field description into the blank text box at the bottom of the list, and set the attributes of that text box. Then click the "Save Profile Fields" button. To delete a field, highlight and delete all text in that field's description box, and then click the "Save Profile Fields" button.

This option is useful if your server is located in a different part of the world from a majority of your users. Entering a number, positive or negative, will offset the time displayed by the program for all operations (message time stamps, utilities) by the number of hours you select. For example, if your site is hosted in California but your users are all in New York (3 hours ahead), you could type "3" for the time zone offset, which would add 3 hours to California time to give New York time.