The discussion revolves around the use of templates and saved replies in Discourse, particularly focusing on access restrictions and private templates. Rubi asks if templates can be restricted to specific groups like moderators and if individual moderators can create their own saved replies. Moin explains that templates can be restricted using category security settings, allowing access based on category permissions. For example, only staff and certain user groups can create templates, while others can use them. Moin also notes that private templates can be enabled via settings, allowing moderators to create personal templates by tagging private messages. Rubi thanks Moin for the detailed guidance.
My understanding is that the deprecated canned replies was replaced by templates including an option called Saved Replies?
Thanks in advance for any pointers in the right direction.
Yes, templates can be restricted. You manage access with the category security settings.
I, for example, have a Templates category for common templates (My staff group and my TL4 users can create templates, but everyone except TL0 is able to use them).
And then I have a subcategory where only staff users have access, where they can share moderation-related templates.
There is also a section about private templates in the topic about the plugin.
You need to enable the Discourse templates enable private templates setting. I think itās not necessary for moderators, but I would configure Discourse templates groups allowed private templates accordingly. Then you select the tag that should mark PMs as a template. There is also a setting which configures who is allowed to tag personal messages: PM tags allowed for groups. If that is all set up, the moderator can send a PM to themselves, add the tag, and they have that as their private template.
@Moin Excellent information, thanks!
I will reply again should we have any follow-up questions.
