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In a world where personal information and data privacy are increasingly important, and where site policies play a growing role in everyday online interactions, it’s essential to be able to clearly present key information on your site. This is often required not only to meet legal obligations in certain countries, but also to satisfy the requirements of many third-party integrations. The Invision Community Suite is designed to give you the tools needed to manage these requirements with ease, allowing you to handle policies, disclosures, and compliance-related information efficiently—so you can focus on the day-to-day running of your community. GuidelinesYou can add guidelines explaining how you expect members to use your site from the following location in the Admin CP System → Settings → Terms & Privacy Policy From here, you can enter text directly into the editor, which will automatically appear on the site’s guidelines page. Alternatively, you can choose to disable the built-in guidelines entirely or link to guidelines hosted elsewhere, such as on a separate page or external website. Adding Site Guidelines Once you’ve added your guidelines, you can make them easily accessible by adding a link through the built-in Guidelines option in the Menu Manager. This allows members to quickly find and review your community rules from your site navigation. Privacy PolicyHaving a clear and well-defined privacy policy on your site is not only important to your members, but is also a requirement for many third-party integrations. For example, services such as Facebook and Twitter login require you to provide a valid link to your privacy policy before they can be enabled. To set up or manage your site’s privacy policy, visit the following location in the Admin CP Adding a Privacy Policy From this section, you can enter your full privacy policy directly, or provide a link to an externally hosted policy, in much the same way as the terms section discussed earlier. You’ll also notice an option to include third-party information, which is covered in the next section. Once configured, a link to your privacy policy will appear in the footer of your site, and members will be required to accept it during registration. If you later make changes to your privacy policy or registration terms, you’ll be prompted to decide whether existing members should be required to accept the updated version. This helps ensure that all members remain informed and up to date with your policies. Force Acceptance of New Privacy Policy Third Party InformationYour site may make use of a number of third-party services, such as reCAPTCHA, spam defense tools, Google Maps, and others. These services may process data including email addresses, IP addresses, and cookies, making it important that this information is clearly documented within your privacy policy. By enabling the Add third-party information option within the privacy policy settings, the system will automatically include relevant details for the third-party services you have enabled on your site. An example of how this information is displayed can be seen in the image below. Showing Addition of Third Party Information Registration Terms & RulesYou can define guidelines outlining how you expect members to use your site from the following location in the Admin CP: System → Settings → Terms & Privacy Policy These guidelines are presented to users during registration and must be accepted before an account can be created. As with other policy-related settings, the content can be entered directly, linked to an external page, or disabled entirely if you prefer. Guest OptionsWithin the Guest Options section, you can configure a terms of service confirmation bar that is displayed to visitors who are browsing your site as guests. This works in a similar way to the cookie consent banners commonly seen on many websites. You can access this feature from the following location in the Admin CP: System → Settings → Terms & Privacy Policy → Guest Options From here, you can control the content shown in the guest bar and customize the message as needed. You’ll also see a list of available placeholders, such as {cookies} and {terms}, which automatically insert relevant text and links related to cookies and your terms of service. Guest Options Settings - Admin CP In the example above, the {cookies} placeholder has been added. This automatically displays information to guests about the site’s use of cookies, along with the relevant links for further details. You can see how this appears to visitors in the image below. Guest Bar Showing Other OptionsBulk Mail Opt InIn some regions, most notably the EU, it’s important that members actively opt in to receive emails, rather than being automatically subscribed with a pre-selected checkbox. You can control whether newsletter subscriptions are opt-in or opt-out from the following location in the Admin CP Members → Member Settings → Notifications → Newsletter Setting Up Newsletter Defaults In addition to this, members are given an easy way to sign up for newsletters at a later time if they choose not to opt in during registration. This is handled by adding the Newsletter Signup widget from the System section of the page editor menu Using this block allows members to subscribe at their own convenience, helping ensure compliance with opt-in requirements while still giving you opportunities to grow your mailing list over time. Newsletter Signup Widget Removing IP AddressesIP addresses play an important role in how the internet functions and are recorded alongside content each time a member posts on your site. By default, these IP addresses are stored indefinitely. If you would prefer to periodically remove stored IP address information—for example, to better align with privacy policies or data retention requirements—you can configure this behavior from the following location in the Admin CP System → Settings → Posting & Editor→ Content Removing IP Addresses On Schedule Personal Information RequestsFrom time to time, members may request a copy of the personally identifiable information (PII) stored on their account. This can be easily provided directly from the member’s account within the Admin CP To do this, navigate to: Members → Members → {Member Name} From the member’s account page, select Account Functions, then choose Download Personal Information to generate and provide the requested data. Downloading PI Members can also request a copy of their personal information themselves from their account settings, under the Security and Privacy section.

Increasing the security of your site beyond the standard login process can be an important consideration, whether for all members or specifically to protect sensitive areas such as administrative sections. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring an additional form of verification during login. This might include methods such as security questions or text message authentication, helping ensure that only authorized users can access their accounts, even if login credentials are compromised. Two Factor AuthenticationAll two-factor authentication settings can be managed from the following location in the Admin CP System → Settings → Two-Factor Authentication Invision Community supports three different two-factor authentication methods, each of which is outlined below. When a member enables one of these methods, they will be prompted for the additional verification step after successfully logging in with their username and password. Google Authentication Members can configure two-factor authentication options from their Security Settings, which are found under Account Settings → Security and Privacy on the front end of the site. From this area, users can see which security methods are already enabled. In the example shown, security questions have been set up. These can be edited using the available option, or additional authentication methods can be enabled if they are available. Setting Up Two-factor-Authentication as a Member When setting up a two-factor authentication method, the system will prompt the user for any information required to complete the setup. In the example shown here, the user is asked to provide answers to three security questions. Setting Up Questions Authentication TypesIn the default platform setup, there are three different two-factor authentication methods available. You can choose to allow these methods, or even require members to use them, depending on your security needs. These options can be managed from the following location in the Admin CP, where each method can be enabled by selecting the icon next to it: System → Settings → Two-Factor Authentication Currently available authentication types include Google Authenticator A free system that will show a code on an app on the user's smartphone app which they will then need to enter. Security Questions The user will provide answers to security questions. Verify A paid service that will send a code by text message, phone call or Whatsapp for the user to enter. Set up of these items vary, based on the item. For example, google verify requires keys from your verify account, whereas security questions you would just enter the questions you wish for the member to be able to use. You set these up by selecting the cog icon next to the item in question. SettingsOn the Two-Factor Authentication settings tab, you’ll find a range of options that control how two-factor authentication operates across your site. These settings include the ability to require two-factor authentication for specific member groups. This can be an important security measure for groups with elevated permissions. For example, you may choose to make two-factor authentication mandatory for members of the Administrators group to help protect sensitive areas of the site. Admin CP - Two-Factor-Authentication Settings PasswordsEmail addresses and passwords are the primary security credentials your members use to access your site. Because of this, it’s important that they are created securely and continue to be protected once stored. To help with this, Invision Community allows you to define password strength requirements, ensuring members choose strong, secure passwords. These settings can be found in the following location System → Settings → Login & Registration->Account Management Password Settings There may be occasions where you need to require members to change their password, such as after a security concern or policy update. This can be done from the members section of the admin CP by selecting the Force Password Reset button at the top of the page, which will prompt affected users to set a new password the next time they log in. If you need to do this only for an individual member, you can do this by selecting "Edit Password" then clicking the link provided within the password reset page for that member

Permissions are a powerful way to control who can see and interact with different areas of your site. By using permissions effectively, you can tailor the experience for different types of users across your community. For example, you may want to create a private staff area that only moderators can access, or a premium section that is available only to paying members. Permissions give you the flexibility to do all of this, and more. Permissions OverviewWithin the Invision Community platform, there are several ways to control what users can access, both from a staff management perspective and from a regular member’s point of view. In this section, we’ll focus primarily on member-facing permissions, which are managed through member groups and modules, while also providing a brief overview of other permission-related controls you may encounter throughout the suite. Group PermissionsMost member access permissions within the platform are controlled using Member Groups. If you’re not already familiar with how groups work, we recommend reviewing the Member Groups guide before continuing. Permissions can be accessed in two main ways: From the list of member groups, using the lock icon, to manage all node permissions for a specific group From the node (forum for example), using the lock icon, to manage all member group permissions for a specific node Which method you use will depend on what you’re trying to achieve. If you want to configure all permissions for a specific group, navigate to: Members → Groups From here, select the lock icon next to the group you want to edit. (In some areas, this option may appear in a dropdown menu on the right.) This view allows you to define everything that members of this group can see and do across the site. Node Permissions By Member Group Alternatively, you can manage permissions directly from within an applications nodes, such as: Community → Forums Gallery Downloads Selecting the lock icon next to a forum, category, or section will display a permissions grid showing all member groups and their access to that specific area. This approach is especially useful when: Creating a new forum or category Quickly setting access rules for multiple groups at once Member Group Permissions By Node Permission Fundamentals It’s important to note that permissions are additive. If a member belongs to multiple groups, they will receive any permission that is granted by any one of those groups. For example, if one group allows access to a forum and another does not, the member will have access. Module PermissionsThere may be times when you want to restrict access to an entire application, or even a specific module within an application, rather than controlling access at the content level. Examples include: Completely removing private messaging for a group Removing the contact form Preventing guests from using search In these cases, module permissions are the appropriate tool. To manage module-level permissions, go to: System → Site Features → Applications Expanding any application will show the list of modules it contains. Application Modules Unlike standard permissions, module permissions can completely remove functionality, making it appear as though the feature does not exist for the affected users. Selecting the lock icon next to a module allows you to choose which member groups are allowed access. For example, if you remove access to the Search module for guests, search functionality will be entirely unavailable to users who are not logged in. Module Access Permissions Other Permission ControlsIn various areas of the Admin CP, you’ll also find additional permission-related options, including: Custom permission error messages - useful if you want to guide users toward an action (such as subscribing or registering) when they try to access restricted content Global limits - such as upload sizes or posting restrictions Other area-specific controls - apply regardless of group membership These options allow you to fine-tune how access is handled and how restrictions are communicated to your members. Other Specific Permissions

The warning system allows you to formally warn members for unwanted behavior and apply consequences either automatically through predefined rules or manually by moderators. This helps ensure moderation is consistent, transparent, and scalable as your community grows. The Warning SystemThe warning system consists of three main areas: Reasons, Actions, and Settings. These are managed from the following location in the Admin CP Members → Content Moderation → Warnings Each section is outlined in detail below. ReasonsWhen you first enter the warnings area, you’ll be shown the Reasons tab. This contains a list of all predefined reasons that moderators can select when issuing a warning. Reason List in Admin Cp Each reason defines: The reason name (e.g. Spam, Abusive Language) The number of warning points assigned Whether the warning points expire, and after how long Whether or not achievment points are also deducted Moderator override abilities Notes which are automatically filled in for a member You can create a new reason using the Create New button in the top-right corner, or edit an existing reason using the pencil icon next to it. Editing an Existing Reason From the Experts You can also copy or delete existing reasons using the icons beside each entry, which is useful when creating variations of similar rules. ActionsActions work alongside warning reasons and define what happens when a member reaches a certain number of warning points. These are managed from the Actions tab and allow you to automatically apply restrictions such as: Moderating a member’s content Preventing posting or messaging Temporarily banning the member Applying permanent restrictions List of Existing Actions For example, you might configure an action that places a member’s content into moderation for 1 day once they reach 10 warning points. When creating or editing an action, you can also choose whether moderators are allowed to override the automatic action when issuing a warning. Creating a New Action Warning SettingsThe Settings tab controls the overall behavior of the warning system. From here you can: Enable or disable the warning system entirely Exclude specific member groups from receiving warnings Control whether members can see their own warning points and reasons Control whether members must acknowledge warnings before continuing to use the site Warning Settings The 'User must acknowledge' option is particularly important and is explained further below. Issuing WarningsWarnings can be issued directly from a member’s profile, either: From the mini-profile (member card), or From the full profile view Warning a Member from the Member Card When viewing a member’s full profile, you can also see a list of any existing warnings they have received, as shown below Warnings Showing Within Member Profiles When issuing a warning, moderators are presented with a dialog where they can: Select one of the predefined warning reasons Assign a custom reason (if permissions allow) Add a note for moderators (internal only) Add a note for the member (visible to the member) Apply a specific penalty Moderator notes are only visible to staff, while member notes are shown to the warned user as part of the warning notification. Warning a Member After issuing the warning, moderators can review its details and, if necessary, revoke it at a later time. If your settings require members to acknowledge warnings, they will see a prominent notification bar at the top of the site after receiving one. The member must click the notification, review the warning details, and acknowledge it before they can continue using the community normally. This ensures members are fully aware of the warning and the reason it was issued. Member Warning Acknowledgement Manual ActionsIn some cases, automatic actions may not be sufficient. Administrators can manually apply restrictions or bans directly from a member’s account, by looking up the member and clicking the pencil icon to edit that member in the Admin CP Members → Members Within a member’s account, the Warnings & Restrictions section shows: Current warning level Any active restrictions Warnings & Restrictions Location By selecting Edit, administrators can manually apply or remove restrictions such as: Preventing posting Restricting status updates Limiting messaging These controls provide fine-grained moderation for individual cases. Editing Warnings & Restrictions in the Admin CP Banning & Ban FiltersAs a last resort, members can be banned from the site. This can be done directly from the Warnings & Restrictions section of a member’s account. When banning a member, you can: Specify the duration of the ban Optionally ban the associated IP address Move the member to another group if required Banning a User When IP banning is enabled, the IP address is added to your ban filters, which are managed from: Members → Member Settings → Ban Settings From here, you can restrict: IP addresses Email domains Specific usernames or patterns This is useful for blocking disposable email services or preventing usernames containing reserved terms such as admin or mod. Wildcard characters (*) can be used to match partial values. For example, *admin* would prevent usernames like I_am_admin_user from being registered. Ban Settings Showing an IP Ban

Live Topics allow you to host real-time chat and question-and-answer events directly within your community. Once the session ends, the live discussion is automatically converted into a regular forum topic. This combines the energy and interaction of a live event with the long-term value of a permanent discussion, enabling conversations to continue well after the event has finished. This guide walks you through how to set up and use Live Topics on your community. PermissionsLive Topics can be used by any moderator who has the appropriate moderator permissions enabled. These permissions can be configured from the following location in the Admin CP: Members → Staff → Moderators Edit the moderator in question, navigate to the Live Topics tab, and enable the relevant option. Quick Tip If a moderator is set to Unrestricted, they will already have permission to use Live Topics. Moderation Permission Creating Live TopicsCreating a Live Topic is simple. Just visit your Moderator CP and navigate to the Live Topics section, as shown in the image below. Moderator CP - Live Topics Once you select Schedule New Live Topic, you’ll be able to configure the following options: Duration – This sets the planned length of the event as displayed to attendees. It helps manage expectations around how long the live session will run. Add To Events – Creates a corresponding Calendar Event within your community. This allows the Live Topic to be discoverable, viewable, and promoted just like other events. Live Video URL – Enter the URL of a YouTube embed to display video alongside the session. This can also be added after the live event has started if needed. Attendees – Determines who can participate in the Live Topic. Leaving this set to Recommended allows any registered member to attend. Staff – Staff members moderate incoming user-generated content during the session. By default, all groups with Live Topic moderation permissions are included. This can be adjusted in the Admin CP via moderator permissions. Additional Hosts – Hosts have the highest level of control during the event. They can create and manage questions, update the video URL, and guide the discussion. When you schedule the Live Topic, you are automatically assigned as a host, but you can add others to assist. All hosts receive reminder notifications shortly before the event begins. Require Approval for question replies/chat messages – Allows you to moderate incoming content before it appears publicly. This can help manage high activity levels, particularly for questions. Chat message creation can also be locked during the session if necessary. Hosting a Live TopicTo start a Live Topic, open it from your Moderator CP. If the session was added to the Calendar as an event, you can also access it directly from there. Once inside, simply click Start. It’s that easy. Attendees will see a waiting screen with a countdown until the session begins. Start a Live Topic It’s important to note that a Live Topic has the following limitations: Cannot run without a host present – If all hosts leave the session, it will automatically end within a few minutes. Cannot run longer than 6 hours – Live Topics are designed to support short-term live events rather than ongoing discussions. If the session reaches the 6-hour limit, it will automatically end. Once a Live Topic has started, the screen is divided into two main areas: 'Main Questions' and 'Chat'. Any embedded video stream appears in the top-right corner and begins playing automatically. Live Session Main Questions/RepliesOn the left-hand side, you’ll see the Main Questions area. These are questions either created directly by staff or moved into this section from the chat channel. Things to Note Main Questions and their replies are preserved when the Live Topic is converted into a regular forum topic at the end of the session. For each question, you can control whether replies are unlocked, locked to all members, or locked to non-staff only. When a question is locked, no new replies can be added. Chat ChannelsEach Live Topic includes two chat channels: General Chat and Staff Chat. Non-staff members will only see the Chat area, while staff members can switch between both channels using the channel selector tabs. When a non-staff attendee posts a chat message, they can mark it as a question. This signals to the host that the message is intended for a response rather than general discussion. If needed, a host can convert that chat message into a Main Question, moving it into the Main Questions area so it will be preserved when the Live Topic is converted into a regular forum topic. Converting a Message to a Question Live Stream ToolsHosts can mark the exact moment a Main Question was answered by selecting the appropriate time on the video and clicking the Use current player time button. This adds a timestamp to the question, allowing viewers to jump directly to that point in the video playback. Creating a Timestamp You can change the video embed at any time mid-session if required. Moderation ToolsStaff members can hide or delete questions, chat messages, and replies as needed. Additionally, both the reply and chat feeds can be configured to automatically hide new items upon creation, allowing moderators to review content before it becomes visible. Non-staff attendees can report content just as they would elsewhere in the community, ensuring consistent moderation tools across the platform. Reporting Content Reports submitted during a Live Topic appear within the Staff Chat area instead of the main Reports section. This ensures they can be reviewed and addressed quickly while the live session is still in progress. Live Chat View

The Moderator Control Panel, knowns as the Moderator CP, provides a central hub for moderators to manage items that require attention, along with access to a range of useful moderation tools designed to help keep your community running smoothly. From here you can manage content such as deleted and hidden items, featured content, and assignments. Manage members by adding alerts to the system, view warnings, and find information about specific members, and create announcements and live topics for your community. Accessing the Moderator CP Managing ContentThe manage content area consists of the following items. Some of which we will discuss in more detail where needed Hidden Content - From here you can unhide one of more items of content, or delete them entirely Featured Content - Viewing and managing currently featured items. Approval Queue - Viewing a list of items which have been flagged for approval. From here you can delete, hide, or approve the items Hidden Content List Deleted ContentDeleted content will appear here, provided your site is not configured to permanently delete items immediately. By default, Invision Community retains deleted content for 30 days before it is permanently removed from the system. This retention period can be adjusted from the following location in the Admin CP: System → Settings → Posting & Editor Keeping deleted content for a period of time can be helpful if items need to be reviewed or restored before they are permanently removed. Reported ContentThe reported content section displays any items that have been reported by members across your site. From here, you can open individual reports to review the details and context, or select multiple reports at once for bulk processing and moderation actions. Reported Content List Selecting any reported item will take you to the report screen for that specific report. From here, you can see which members have reported the content, view any moderator notes, and take action on the report, such as marking it as completed or rejected. Managing Reported Content AssignmentsAssigning a topic to a specific moderator or a team of moderators helps ensure each topic receives the appropriate attention, regardless of where it was posted within the community. Topic assignments allow issues to be handled more quickly by clearly identifying who is responsible for managing the discussion. They also help keep the moderation team accountable by making it possible to track workload and measure response times. These insights, in turn, enable community leads to assess performance and maintain consistent quality standards across the team. You can assign an item to a person or team, using the actions menu. Assignment Notifications will be sent to any member of an assignment group who has notifications enabled. These assignments will also appear in the Open Assignments section of the Mod CP, allowing staff to quickly see which items require attention. A direct link to Open Assignments is available in the navigation bar for easy access. Assignments List in Moderator CP Notifications will be sent to any member of an assignment group who has notifications enabled. These assignments will also appear in the Open Assignments section of the Mod CP, allowing staff to quickly see which items require attention. A direct link to Open Assignments is available in the navigation bar for easy access. Admin CP Assignments In addition to assigning topics to individual moderators or moderator groups, you can also create your own custom assignment groups. For example, you might set up a dedicated testing team for a specific product or feature. These custom assignment groups can be created and managed from the following location in the Admin CP Members → Content Moderation → Assignments Manage MembersYou can quickly manage members from within the Moderator CP using the Manage Members section. Each of the options available in this area is explained below. AlertsAlerts allow you to quickly bring important information to the attention of users on your site. They can be sent to individual members or entire groups, making them useful in situations where a private message or warning may not be appropriate. For example, alerts can be used to share quick information with new members, notify a staff member immediately, or send a promotional message to a specific group. Alert in Action Selecting the Alerts section will show a full list of alerts that are already configured on the system. From here, moderators can review existing alerts, see who they apply to, and manage or update them as needed. Alert List in Moderator CP Select Create Alert to add a new alert to the system. From here, you can define the criteria that determine who the alert is shown to, as illustrated in the example below. IP Address ToolsThe IP Address tools allow you to view site-related information associated with a specific IP address. To use this feature, simply enter an IP address into the provided field and select Continue. Alternatively, you can choose to view all IP addresses that have been used by a particular member on the site, by entering their name. This can be helpful when investigating account activity, identifying potential abuse, or reviewing login patterns during moderation or security checks. IP Address Tools In the example below, a local IP address has been entered. As shown, the results display a range of information about how that IP address has been used on the site, along with any available location details. Looking Up an IP Address Top Tip This tool can be particularly useful when investigating problematic behavior on your site. If you notice an IP address associated with a user who is causing issues, you can use this feature to check whether there are other members or related content linked to the same IP address. Member Managementou can quickly manage members from within the Moderator CP using the Member Management section. By entering a member’s name, moderators can locate and edit that account, subject to the permissions they have been granted. Below the search area, you’ll also find helpful lists showing members who are currently banned, restricted, queued for moderation, or banned from chat, allowing for quick access to these users. If the moderator has permission to view email addresses, they can also search for members by email from this section. Editing a Member Recent WarningsSelecting the Recent Warnings section will display a list of the most recent warnings issued across the site, allowing moderators to quickly see which members have been warned and review recent moderation activity. Showing Warnings Selecting any warning will show you more detailed information about it and provide the option to revoke the warning if needed. Other ToolsAnnouncementsThis section of the Moderator CP allows moderators to create and manage announcements that are attached to specific areas of the site. Active announcements are clearly indicated using status flags, making it easy to see at a glance which announcements are currently in use. To create a new announcement, simply select the Add Announcement button. Creating Announcements Announcements can be displayed in several locations across the site, depending on how you want them to be seen: At the top of the page Above the main page content Within the sidebar Example of an Announcement in the Header Each announcement location offers slightly different behavior. For example, announcements shown at the top of the page can be dismissed by members if they no longer wish to see them. In contrast, announcements displayed above the page content or within the sidebar are always visible and cannot be dismissed. For each announcement, you can also choose which applications and specific pages it should appear on, as well as which member groups are able to see it. In addition, you can select a color for the announcement to help it stand out or match the importance of the message. Live TopicsLive Topic can be created within this area, by selecting the "Schedule Live Topic" button provided, along with a list of current and past live topics Live Topics in Moderator CP You can read more about live topics within our guide for this area here {Add A Link Here}

Creating a staff directory for your community can be useful for a variety of reasons. It may simply allow members to quickly see who the staff are, or, in the case of gaming communities, represent staff members who also hold in-game roles. Whatever the purpose, Invision Community makes it easy to create and manage a staff directory directly from the Admin CP Creating a Directory A staff directory can be created from the following location in the Admin CP Members → Staff → Staff Directory By default, you will see the Administrators and Moderators groups already added. Expanding these groups will show the members currently included in each section of the directory. Staff Directory Listing You can add either entire groups or individual members to a category by selecting the plus (+) icon next to the relevant category. To create a brand new category, select 'Create Category'. When adding an item to a category, you’ll be presented with one of two options depending on what you choose to add. If you’re adding a group, you simply select the group from the list. If you’re adding an individual member, additional options will be available, allowing you to configure how that member is displayed within the staff directory. Creating a New Directory Entry When adding an individual member to the staff directory, you’ll notice that you can customize how their details are displayed. This is particularly useful if you want to show a real name or an alternative display name for clarity. For example, you might have a member whose username is X2201, but choose to display them as Dave (X2201) so it’s clear who they are. The same applies to the user title—while a member’s default title might be something like Happy Guy, you could instead display a role-specific title such as Clan Leader. Directory DisplayYou can change how the staff directory is displayed by editing the settings for each category. To do this, select the pencil icon on the right-hand side of any category in the list. Once selected, you’ll be presented with a screen similar to the one shown below, where you can adjust how that category appears in the staff directory. Switching the Category Layout You can choose from a range of built-in layouts, making it quick and easy to select a design that best suits the style and needs of your site. Switching between layouts allows you to refresh the look of your staff directory with minimal effort, helping it fit seamlessly into your community’s overall design. Staff Directory Front End

Administrator and Moderator logs can be an important part of the IPS Community Suite. They allow you to track who performed specific actions within your community, such as hiding a post or deleting a member, providing transparency and accountability for moderation and administrative activity. Finding Admin/Moderator LogsYou can access both moderator and administrator logs by navigating to the following area of the Admin CP Members → Staff and then selecting either Moderators or Administrators. Within each of these sections, you’ll find a Logs button in the top-left corner of the page, which allows you to view a detailed record of actions performed by staff members. Location Of Moderator Logs Logs for front end activity will be shown in the moderator logs section. Logs for admin side activity would be shown in the admin logs section Example of Moderator Logs By default, moderator and admin logs are always kept. However if you wish to have these periodically prune, you can do this by selecting the 'Prune Settings' optoin at the top of the logs

Invision Community includes a Saved Actions feature that allows community staff to perform multiple moderation actions on one or more topics at the same time. For example, you might apply a title prefix, move a topic, and add a reply in a single step. This is ideal for handling common, repeatable actions. While saved actions work well for “canned” responses, they are less flexible when you want to personalize a reply. Stock replies solve this by allowing you to create full replies, partial responses, or reply templates. These can then be quickly inserted and edited as needed, giving moderators the speed of pre-written responses while still allowing for a personal touch. Saved ActionsSaved Actions offer many time-saving options, allowing moderators to quickly apply common combinations of actions without repeating the same steps each time. A wide range of actions can be selected and combined to suit your moderation workflows. Creating Saved ActionsSaved Actions can be set up from the following location in the Admin CP Community → Forums → Saved Actions Saved Actions List Below is an example showing a saved action that has been created to quickly lock a topic, apply a “Locked by staff” prefix, and add a short message to the topic explaining the action. New Saved Action Setup Using Saved ActionsOnce created, saved actions can be used by selecting the the relevant action in the 'Action' menu, within a topic on the community Selecting Your Action Stock RepliesStock replies are pre-defined response snippets that can be inserted directly into the editor. They’re particularly useful for repetitive replies or as starting points for partial responses that you can then personalize. For example, you might create a stock reply containing instructions on how to contact your support team. Using stock replies in this way helps save time while ensuring consistent, accurate information is shared across the community. Creating Stock RepliesSaved Actions can be set up from the following location in the Admin CP Customization → Editor → Stock Replies Stock Creation List Creating a new stock reply works in much the same way as creating other types of content. Once the reply has been saved, you can choose which member groups are allowed to use it. If needed, these permissions can be adjusted at any time by selecting the lock icon in the stock replies list. New Stock Reply Creation Using Stock RepliesOnce created, stock replies can be inserted directly from the editor. Selecting a Stock Reply In the example below, the same stock reply has been used to quickly add on to a response to a member’s comment. Using Stock Replies to Add to Replies

When moderating content, it’s often helpful to add a note to a conversation for context or clarity. These 'staff notes' can be used to leave information for other staff members, or, if appropriate, to share a note that is visible to members. Staff notes provide a useful way to explain moderation actions, leave internal reminders, or communicate decisions clearly without altering the original content. Content MessagesAny member who has moderator status on the site can use staff notes, provided they have been granted permission to do so. For more information on configuring moderator permissions, please refer to the relevant moderation guide. Staff notes can be added by selecting 'Add Message' from the Moderator Actions menu Showing the 'Add Message' option Once selected, you’ll be presented with a form similar to the one shown below. From here, you can choose whether the message should be visible to the public or restricted to moderators only, enter the message content, and select a color to help visually distinguish the note. Add a New Message Below is an example showing a bright red staff note that has been added to draw the attention of moderators viewing the topic. Important Note Added For Staff

On the front end of your community, moderators can manage and moderate content based on the permissions you’ve assigned to them. Moderation can take place at both the individual item level and at the container level. Moderation can be something actioned by an individual, or an automated action. For example, a moderator might moderate individual posts directly from within a topic, or manage entire topics from the forum view. A content item may have to be approved, as it has hit a predetermined action such as a link has been added, or our AI tools have flagged this as potential spam. Content ModerationWhile viewing a post or topic, hovering over the item you wish to moderate will reveal a checkbox in the top-right corner, if you have permission. Selecting this checkbox adds the item to your current moderation selection. Once at least one item has been selected, the moderation menu will appear at the bottom of the screen. From there, you can choose the action you want to apply to the selected item or items. This process is demonstrated i below. Main Moderation Tools In other areas of the community, moderator actions may be accessed through a menu button instead. For example, when viewing a Gallery image, moderation options are available from the actions button shown here. Tip Within each item of content, you’ll find a moderator actions menu. From here, moderators can perform the relevant moderation actions and also view the moderation history for that specific item. Depending on where you are within the system, the moderation menu will present different available actions. In the example below, posts within a topic are being hidden from end users using the moderation tools. Hiding Content Post approvalThere may be occasions where you need to enable approval for replies within a specific topic. This option can be selected from the 'Moderation Actions' menu. Enabling reply approval can be particularly useful in sensitive or high-risk discussions, such as those involving contentious topics, vulnerable users, or situations where misinformation or inappropriate responses may be a concern. It allows moderators to review replies before they are made public, helping ensure that content remains respectful, accurate, and in line with your community guidelines. Once enabled, each new reply will require moderator approval before it becomes visible to other members, giving your moderation team greater control over how discussions develop. Community/Crowd ModerationAs your community grows and becomes more active, keeping up with all new content and member reports can become increasingly challenging. To help manage this, Invision Community includes an automatic moderation feature that can take action when content is reported by members. This feature uses member reports to automatically remove potentially objectionable content from public view, helping maintain community standards without requiring immediate moderator intervention. As an administrator, you define the thresholds that trigger these actions. For example, you might decide that a post should be automatically hidden once it receives five reports. By leveraging automatic moderation, you reduce the workload on your moderation team while also enabling a form of community-driven moderation, allowing trusted members to help keep the community safe, respectful, and welcoming. When a member reports a piece of content, they can select a report type, such as Spam or Offensive. These report types can be configured to count toward your automatic moderation thresholds. Once the defined threshold is reached, the content is automatically hidden from public view, helping address issues quickly while moderators review the report. Reporting an Item This threshold can be set up by creating rules in the Admin CP as shown below Report TypesBefore you can create your own automatic moderation rules, you’ll need to set up one or more report types. These define the categories members can choose from when reporting content. Report types can be created from the following location in the Admin CP Members → Content Moderation → Automatic Moderation → Manage Report Types Once at least one report type has been created, you can then move on to configuring the rules for automatic moderation. List of Report Types RulesAt the heart of the automatic moderation system are its rules. These rules determine what actions are taken when content is reported by members. You can create and manage custom automatic moderation rules from the following location in the Admin CP Members → Content Moderation → Automatic Moderation Automatic Moderation Rules For example, you might decide that content posted by newer members should be hidden more quickly. A member with fewer than 10 posts may only require 5 reports before their content is automatically hidden. On the other hand, you may wish to apply a higher threshold for more established members, where there is a greater level of trust. In this case, you could create an additional rule stating that a member who joined over a year ago and has more than 500 posts requires 10 reports before their content is hidden. Automatically Hidden Content These scenarios can be easily handled using the rules system. All rules are evaluated automatically, and the system will apply the most appropriate rule for the member based on the criteria you’ve defined. NotificationsOnce a piece of content receives enough reports to meet the defined threshold, it is automatically hidden from public view. This allows moderators to review and handle the content at an appropriate time, without the reported item continuing to cause issues for other members. When this happens, a notification is sent to all moderators who have opted in to receive notifications. These alerts appear directly within the notifications center, and/or via email, ensuring moderators are made aware of the action without needing to constantly monitor reports. Reports Centre Notifications Of course, a moderator may review the content and decide that it does not violate any rules, in which case they can choose to unhide it. Once a piece of content has been unhidden by a moderator, it will not be automatically hidden again by the automatic moderation system. Abuse PreventionThe system only counts one report per unique member toward the reporting threshold. This prevents a single member from reporting the same item multiple times to artificially trigger automatic moderation, as each member is only counted once. You can also configure a time limit between reports on the same item. This helps prevent members from repeatedly reporting a single piece of content in quick succession. These settings can be managed from the following location in the Admin CP: Members → Content Moderation → Automatic Moderation → Settings Setting to Prevent Reporting Abuse Clicking again will give the user the option to delete that report if they wish to do so.

Reputation and reactions play an important role in encouraging engagement and recognizing positive contributions within an online community. They provide members with an easy way to acknowledge helpful, insightful, or enjoyable content without needing to reply directly. Invision Community gives you a high level of flexibility in how reputation and reactions are configured, allowing you to tailor them to match the tone, goals, and moderation style of your community. You can decide how reactions are used, how reputation is earned, and how these systems work together to promote meaningful interaction and reward valuable participation. Basic SettingsReputation settings can be managed from the following location in the Admin CP Members → Member Settings → Reputation & Reactions From the main settings screen, you can configure the overall behavior of reputation and reactions across your site. This includes enabling or disabling the system entirely, choosing which member groups are allowed to use it, and controlling how reputation and reaction indicators are displayed throughout the community. Reputation Settings In Admin CP One important setting to note here is 'Highlight content with positive reputation'. When enabled, topics will be visually highlighted once they reach the specified reputation threshold. In addition to this highlighting, a reputation icon will appear in the top-right corner of the content, making it easy to identify posts that have received a high level of positive reputation. Post Tagged as Popular Based On Reputation ReactionsReaction settings can be managed from the following location in the Admin CP Members → Member Settings → Reputation & Reactions → Reactions On the Reactions tab, you’ll see a list of all the reactions members can use across your site. Each reaction is assigned a value—positive, negative, or neutral—which determines how many reputation points a member receives when that reaction is used. You can reorder reactions using the drag handles on the left of each item to control how they appear to members. New reactions can also be created at any time by selecting the 'Create New' button in the top-right corner of the screen. Reaction List - Admin CP You’ll notice that the 'Like' reaction does not have an option to delete it. This is the default reaction and is the one shown directly in the reaction area on posts. Members can click this icon to give a 'Like', or hover over it to reveal and select other available reactions. While it can’t be removed, you can customize this default reaction by selecting the pencil icon and editing it to better suit your community. Selecting Reactions On Content Pointing at the like icon shows other reactions LeaderboardThe Leaderboard is designed to highlight your most active members and top-performing content based on reputation. It plays a key role in improving both member and content discovery across your community. Members who “win the day” are highlighted within their profile and added to the list of past winners, giving visible recognition for their contributions. This added visibility and recognition can help encourage continued participation and engagement throughout your site. Leaderboard Front End Leaderboard settings can be managed from the following location in the Admin CP Members → Member Settings → Reputation & Reactions → Leaderboard From here, you can adjust a variety of options that control whether the leaderboard is shown and how it behaves. This includes deciding what activity is counted, how results are displayed, and excluding specific members or groups, such as staff, from appearing on the leaderboard if desired. Reputation LevelsReputation levels can be managed from the following location in the Admin CP Members → Member Settings → Reputation & Reactions → Reactions In this section, you can define reputation levels that members reach once they earn a specified number of reputation or reaction points. Each level can be given a custom name and, if desired, an accompanying image to visually represent a member’s standing within the community. Reputation Levels - Admin CP Selecting 'Create New' allows you to add a new reputation level. In the example shown below, a 'Superstar' reputation level has been created, which awards members this title along with a star image once they reach 1,000 reputation points. Creating a New Reputation Level Note Within each member group, you can also control whether members are able to see who has given reputation, as well as set limits on how much reputation they are allowed to give within a single day.

Within Invision Community, attachments can be added in many areas of the site, including posts, blogs, calendar entries, and other content types. These attachments may include images, documents, or other supported file types that help enrich your content. All files you upload are stored in your personal attachments area, allowing you to easily keep track of what you’ve shared across the community. Rather than uploading the same file multiple times, these attachments can be reused whenever needed, making it quicker and more efficient to add existing files to new posts or other content areas. My AttachmentsBy selecting your name on the front end of the site and choosing 'My Attachments,' you can view a list of all files you’ve uploaded. My Attachments Listing From this page, you can see where each attachment is currently being used, making it easier to locate content if needed. You can also download attachments directly from this screen. Reusing AttachmentsAttachments—along with other media such as Gallery images, Calendar entries, and more—can be reused when creating new content. To do this, select the 'Insert Existing Attachment' icon, which can be found in the bottom right of the editor. Select To Reuse Attachments This will display a list of media you’ve previously uploaded across the community. From this list, you can browse or search through your existing files, select the item you want to use, and insert it directly into the current post or topic. Reusing media in this way helps keep content consistent, avoids unnecessary duplicate uploads, and makes it quicker to include files you’ve already shared elsewhere on the site. Selecting an Attachment Administrating FilesWithin the Admin CP, administrators have access to a similar attachments area that covers all files uploaded across the entire site. Admin CP Attachments Area You can access this from: System → Overview → Files From here, you can manage attachments in much the same way as on the front end, but with site-wide visibility. This includes the ability to remove files completely from the system if required.

Sending messages between members in Invision Community provides a simple yet powerful way to communicate privately, either between members themselves or between staff and members, away from public areas of the community. When you receive a new message, a number will appear next to the inbox icon, indicating how many unread messages you have. This is similar to what is shown in the image below. Notification of New Messages Sending/ReceivingSelecting the messages icon will display a list of your recent messages. From here, you can click on any message to read it in full or choose to visit your inbox. You’ll also see an option to compose a new message directly from this same dropdown menu, making it quick and easy to start a conversation. Private Message Listing In addition to sending messages using the 'Compose New' button, you can also start a conversation with a member from almost anywhere on the site. Simply hover over the member’s username and select the 'Message' option to send them a private message directly. Sending a Message Direct From Profiles Composing a message works much like creating a topic on the site. You can send a message to multiple recipients by typing their names into the 'To' field. As you type, the system will automatically suggest matching member names by filtering through the member list, making it easy to select the correct recipients. Composing a New Message Managing MessagesWhen you open your inbox, you’ll be presented with a screen similar to the one shown below. From here, you can search your messages, open conversations to read or reply to them, apply filters, and manage your messages in a number of ways. Message Inbox View Selecting the dropdown will allow you to see and create new folders, making them even more manageable. Creating and Viewing Folders

By selecting their name on the front end of the site and then choosing Account Settings, members will be taken to a screen similar to the one shown below. From here, they can adjust a variety of settings related to how their account behaves OverviewOn the overview page, members can see quick links to change email, password and display name. Along with any external accounts linked to their profile, such as Facebook or Google, along with quick links to other available account settings. On the left you’ll find several tabs that allow members to manage a wide range of options. These include security-related settings, such as changing passwords and managing login information, as well as content preference settings, which control how content is displayed and what members see first when opening an item of content. Together, the overview and settings tabs give members clear visibility and control over both their account security and their overall content experience within the community. Account Settings Overview Security ItemsWhile some options—such as changing your password or email address—are fairly self-explanatory, there are additional security-related settings that are worth exploring in more detail. The first of these is Security and Privacy. When you select this option, you’ll be prompted to re-enter your password. This extra step helps keep your account secure, particularly if someone gains access to a device where you are already logged in. Account Security Within the Security and Privacy section, you’ll find the following options: Online Status - Where permitted, members can choose to appear offline to other users. Whether this option is available can be controlled on a per-group basis within the Admin CP. Request PII Data - This allows members to request a copy of their personally identifiable information (PII). When submitted, the request is logged in the Admin CP under Members → PII & Deletion Requests Request Account Deletion - This option allows members to request the deletion of their account. As with PII requests, these are sent to the Admin CP and can be managed from Members → PII & Deletion Requests Recently used devices allows your members to see all devices that have recently logged into their account. This gives users the power to log out devices where needed. Recently Used Devices Content PreferencesContent preferences allow members to choose where they land when clicking a link to an item of content. For example, they can decide whether they want to jump to the first unread item, the most recent reply, or another preferred location. Content preferences Please note that this setting does not affect links that include a specific date or time. In those cases, the link will always take the member directly to the content from that date, which is usually the most recent item. Search items are also unaffected by this setting, as they will lead to the item related to the search that has been entered.