The forum has always been a very powerful tool for building community on the internet. And when we know that the most interactive sites are those that best convert visitors into customers, when we know that all influential bloggers use this tool to establish themselves as leaders in their niche, we better understand their importance.
Of course there are several "open source" scripts and plugins that allow you to install forums on a blog. However, if you are using WordPress then integrating third party software can be a mistake. One plugin in particular allows you to easily create a forum on your site, and the last one is called: bbPress.
In this article, we will show you how to easily add and configure a forum on your WordPress blog with this Plugin Ultra-powerful.
What is bbPress?
bbPress is a plugin compatible with all WordPress blog. This plugin uses the core of your WordPress blog to quickly create a forum. In addition, this plugin is extensible, which implies the fact that it can receive other sub-plugins to extend its functionality. “bbPress” is very lightweight and runs faster than other community building plugins.
How to install bbPress?
“bbPress” is a WordPress Plugin. You can install it like any other WordPress Plugin. Simply log in to the administration area of your blog and access the location Extensions >> add. Search for the "bbPress" plugin and choose the corresponding plugin from the results. Install and activate the plugin. After activation, you will be shown the home screen of the "bbPress" plugin.
Create a forum with bbPress on your WordPress blog.
Once installed, bbPress adds menus to create forums and topics in the left menu of your admin area.
Go to the location Forum >> New Forum. To create a forum. Provide a title and enter a short description for your new forum, and publish it.
View bbPress forums in the user space of your WordPress blog.
Now that you have created a few forums, it is time to make them available in the user area of your WordPress blog. Create a new WordPress page, and paste the following code:
[Bbp-forum-index]
Disable comments in the page, and post it.
Navigate to the location Appearance >> Menus And add this page to your menu. From now on, when a user clicks on the menu in question he will access the reception of the forum that you have created.
Integrate bbPress to the theme of your blog.
In most cases, you will probably want to make your forum accessible for new registrations. To do this, in the settings, allow everyone to register.
Now that registration in your blog is accessible to all, all new members of the forum will have the role of participant. Your blog participants will tend to search first for the online form registration. To have one, simply create a WordPress page that you will rename appropriately, and add the following code:
[Bbp-register]
And publish the page.
Another page that will be very useful for your participants will be the password recovery page. Create a new page and give a title, for example "password restore", add the following code:
[Bbp-lost-pass]
And publish the page. You do not have to add these pages in the main menu of your blog.
“BbPress” comes with a large number of widgets. Go to the location "Appearance >> widget" and activate these widgets. The most important widget that will be the most requested will be the connection widget (bbPress). Drag it into the widgets displayed in the user space of your blog. Enter the link to the password recovery page and save the widget.
Now that a online form with links to the recording and recovery pages is available, connected users will be able to see their nickname displayed (or a online form when not connected).
Manage bbPress plugin settings
Unlike most plugins creating forums, bbPress has a very simplified configuration interface. To manage the settings of your bbPress forums, go to the location Settings >> Forums. From this location you can control several aspects of your forum.
The first option "Disallow editing after" (disable editing a post after xx minutes). This option allows publishers to edit their subject within a defined time interval (Example 5 minutes) which starts from the moment of publication of the subject. Only a moderator can perform this operation when the delay is exceeded.
The second option "Throttle posting every" (allow posts after xx seconds). This measure allows you to fight against "flood" (Simultaneous publication of identical content by the same user several times in a very short time).
In the settings, you can also set up slogans for forums and topics, as well as the number of topics and publications that appear per page. You can also allow users to subscribe to a topic or add topics as favorites.
Roles in bbPress
"BbPress" comes with predefined roles, with specific powers.
- KeyMaster - the blog owner or administrator is automatically assigned as "Keymaster" when installing "bbPress". a "Keymaster" can create, delete, modify a publication or a subject. He has very high powers.
- moderators - the users having the moderating role, have an access to the tools of moderators, which will allow them to carry out their missions in the control of the forum.
- Participants - this is the default role assigned to users. They can therefore create or edit their own publication or subject, and follow or subscribe to a publication.
- Spectators (spectators) - spectators only have access to forums, topics and publications accessible to the public.
- blocked - When a user is blocked, all his assignments are unavailable. However, he can read the available publications but can not participate.
This is how we easily create a forum on WordPress with bbPress. Of course, you can add features benefits with the available plugins.
We hope that this tutorial will be useful to you and will allow you to quickly create a forum on your blog using the WordPress Plugin bbPress. If you liked this article, then feel free to share it with your friends, otherwise if you have any questions, then we will be happy to provide answers.
And if you want to learn how to create a community on your blog, here is an article that will help you: how to create a community around your blog.
Hello,
I would like a hyper simple forum:
arrive directly on the page where to write the topic and the text (without registration) and write an introductory word at the top of the page to welcome users.
I created a forum with bbpress and put directly the link of the page where to write its topic but I can not put my little word of welcome on the top of the page.
I went to see by filezilla if there was a php page to modify but I did not find.
Would you have an idea please?
Thank you in advance !
Hi,
Use shortcodes to create the forum page.
Thank you
Good evening to you please I have an error on my forum that I created. In fact I created my forum and my connection button but when I connect I am sent an SMS saying that I must connect to create a subject in my forum
Hello,
It all depends on your settings and the plugin you use.
I am more or less at the beginner level in this field. I am currently on my blog project. However, the creation of a forum has always intrigued me. At least now I can test that with this bbpress.
I wonder if the bbPresse plugin and the article are up to date?
Hello,
Sorry for the late response. Can you clarify your question? because I do not understand it well. Sorry!
THANK YOU !! I've been researching how members subscribe to the forum for days and you're the only one who shortcodes!
THANK YOU 1000 times!
Good evening Mélanie,
Thank you for the feedback.
Hello,
Thank you for this very practical article.
I am creating my blog and just installed bbpress but I am having a problem.
Indeed, the forums index page does not display all of my forums (only 3 out of 5). In addition, the description of the 3rd forum does not appear.
Clarification: I use a premium theme but by deactivating it and putting the default theme back the problem persists.
Do you have a suggestion to remedy this?
Kind regards.
VGM
Hello VGM,
Could uninstall all the plugins for the test with the most recent default theme of WordPress?
Hello,
Thank you for this article, it's interesting but one thing is missing from this module: the translations, which would have to be done manually ... for months that I haven't immersed myself in the booh codes. Well, don't be lazy because this module is very complete for a free!
Does this module allow at the same time to have a member's space? I have the impression, I will lean on it.
Hello Miriam
for the members area, you must use other plugins.
OK, thanks ! I am going to look into this member's area story. If you have any advice for me, they are welcome.
Besides, no need to code for the translation myself, I found this: http://bp-fr.net/version-francaise-de-bbpress-2-2-4-et-resolution-du-bug-de-traduction/
Ok Thank you Miryam,
It's very appreciated. don't hesitate if you need help.
Regarding the members area, you must use a dedicated plugin such as: Wishlist member or paid membership pro
Good evening Cédric,
I had not seen this comment or what am I saying? This feedback.
Thank you for sharing. It is very appreciated 😉
Thierry
I was wondering about a personal project last month. I therefore offer you my feedback.
Having already created about ten forums for 5 years now, I am used to using either a forum engine (generally phpBB3) or the free forums host! The desired forum had to integrate into the WordPress site, the two previous solutions seem complicated to me. Not in the features where they are more powerful but in the synergy with the WordPress part.
So I opted for bbpress. I am very satisfied with it except for the slugs which I unfortunately do not find very optimized. For the rest, a little heavy it's true but very functional.
Good luck for those wishing to launch a forum to their blog