# Collections

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/collections/372817
**Category:** Plugin
**Tags:** sidebar
**Created:** [July 3, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/collections/372817 "2025-07-03T18:21:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 20

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Alteras](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/alteras/32/179824_2.png) [@Alteras](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Alteras)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2026, 5:23am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/collections/372817/20 "2026-01-10T05:23:55Z")

</div>

> [@jordanjay29](#):
>
> - Collections button is visible even when the user is not part of the allowed groups. Results in an Internal Server Error (displayed gracefully in a red bar on the modal) when attempting to create a collection.
> - On the collections sidebar, the button at the bottom offers the original Create Collection option. Have to use the button on the original post in order to manage it, it would be very useful to have a Manage option immediately from the button on the collection sidebar.

> [@jordanjay29](#):
>
> Collection modification by allowed groups that allows non-owned topics.

So the setting `collection modification by allowed groups` is meant for staff and users who are highly privileged, i.e. helpers maintaining wikis. Though it seems like I’ll need to fix the errors.

> [@jordanjay29](#):
>
> Would it be possible to separate Collection and Subcollection permissions? Subcollections could be immensely useful for individuals who would like to collate topics on their own, without the widespread impact a Collection has on all linked topics.

As long as `collection modification by allowed groups` is set properly high enough, collection and subcollections should only be created/modified by the topic owner (and staff). Topic owners should be able add ordinary users as maintainers to collections or subcollections, who can then add their own topics. I’m not quite sure of what your settings are to warrant separating them.

> [@jordanjay29](#):
>
> Lastly, how does this plugin handle two collections linking the same topic? Two subcollections?

Two collections cannot link to the same topic. An error should be displayed when attempt to link a topic already in a collection. Similarly, only one subcollection is allowed per topic. This is because the collection are all public and should only be made by topic owners.

* * *

Hmmm… I get the feeling that it might be better to make a separate plugin that’s just folders of bookmarks that can be viewed publicly or privately… “Personal Collections?” “Bookmark Library?” “Topic Playlists?” Or maybe I just extend this one. But the underlying code and philosophy would be quite different between the two features… It’s a bit unfortunate the name “Collections” is quite broad and can be interpreted in quite a number of ways.

---

_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/collections/372817)._