Post and Reply on SharePoint 2010 Discussion Boards

Unlike other lists in SharePoint 2010, discussion boards have two levels of list items. A new subject is actually a folder, whereas replies (messages) are items in those folders. This allows for the replies to be contained within the original subject in the various views that are available in discussion boards.

To create a new subject in a discussion board, follow these steps:

1. Browse to your discussion list.

   
   



2. Click the New Item button and choose Discussion on the Items tab in the Ribbon.

   
   

   The New Item dialog box appears.

   
   



3. In the New Item dialog box, type a subject for the new discussion in the Subject field.

   
   

   This needs to be a short phrase that teammates can relate to as a topic.

   
   



4. Type the detail of your post in the Body field.

   
   

   You have all the editing options of Rich HTML in this area. Use the Editing tools to format your text with the toolbar and styles, as well as insert tables, images, and links. You can upload files using the Insert tab.

   
   

   You also have spell checker in this dialog box!

   
   



5. When you're finished with your post, click the Save button on the Edit tab.

   
   

   Your subject post appears in the Subject view and shows the subject title, who created it, the amount of replies, and when it was updated last.

   
   

   Of course, the site owner can modify this view. In fact, you may find it helpful to add columns, such as the Reply column, to the view so users don’t have to open the subject to reply.

   
   

To reply to a subject or another reply, follow these steps:

1. Click the Subject Title link in your discussion list.

   
   

   The subject appears in Flat view with a Reply button.

   
   



2. Click the Reply button.

   
   

   If your site owner has added a Reply button to the Subject view, you can click the Reply button there.

   
   

   The Reply dialog box appears. By default, the Reply dialog box shows only a Body field with the creator, date, and body of the original subject copied into this text area. You can delete the original post when typing your reply; otherwise, SharePoint nicely hides it in your post as a Show Quoted Messages link that users can click if they wish.

   
   



3. Add your reply using the Rich HTML features.

   
   

   Remember you can attach files, upload files, and add all sorts of text formatting.

   
   



4. When you’re finished with your reply, click the Save button.

   
   

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