How to replace the discourse `Topic` with `Question` instead?

[j3ang (Alex Wang)]

Hi,

We are trying to replace the default Topic term with Question.

In the admin settings, I see we can customize any of the text on the forum, but there are too many item contains the term topic. Is there a way to batch find and replace?

[pfaffman (Jay Pfaffman)]

@j3ang

but there are too many item contains the term topic.

That’s why it’s probably not a good idea.

You can look at discourse/config/locales/client.en.yml at main · discourse/discourse · GitHub to see all of them, so you could then fix them in the ux but the name of the thing you want to customize. You might do it in a plugin if you’re self hosted, or maybe contrive to do it with the API. But maybe your users won’t be confused by the word topic and you can avoid doing that.

[j3ang (Alex Wang)]

yes, we are self-hosted. How do you suggest we write in the plugin? Should I just overwrite the locale?

[pfaffman (Jay Pfaffman)]

I’m not sure if you can just include the things you want to override on the plugin’s locale it if you’d need to explicitly overwrite them.

[tobiaseigen]

Why would you want to do this? Like Jay says it is really not recommended.

[geoff777]

Makes sense for a Q&A based forum …?

[pfaffman (Jay Pfaffman)]

It might, but I think that there are hundreds of sites that are primarily question/answer that haven’t done that. And you’re not going to have any topics anywhere that aren’t questions? There are 652 occurrences of topic in the locale, but close to half are likely in the names of the strings.

And what are you doing to do about “Private Topics”. And then how are you going to explain the path of questions being /t/-/123?

But I quickly added a locale to a plugin and it did override core in a quick test on my development system, so technically, it’s pretty simple.

[geoff777]

@pfaffman

It might, but

Always a good start …

@pfaffman

it’s pretty simple

Hundreds of Q&A forums will love you.

@pfaffman

And then how are you going to explain the path of questions being /t/-/123 ?

2 days in the ‘sin bin’ for asking Admin awkward questions or I could link to this topic/question.
I was hoping “question” translated to a word beginning with ‘T’ in one world language … but no …

Question in Different Languages. Translate, Listen, and Learn

[pfaffman (Jay Pfaffman)]

@geoff777

Hundreds of Q&A forums will love you.

Well, if even one of them wants to love me with money I’ll create the plugin.

Too bad there isn’t a question word that starts with t.

[geoff777]

@pfaffman

Well, if even one of them wants to love me with money I’ll create the plugin.

[Jagster (Jakke Lehtonen)]

@pfaffman

And then how are you going to explain the path of questions being /t/-/123 ?

That’s easy one. There is no need to explain, because mostly nobody sees or cares what is URL. I don’t see URL of this topic

All others, especially the money, are much harder ones

(Actually no one cares if it is topic instead question)

[Tris20 (Tristan)]

Jay’s covered some good reasons not to do this. I have a similar use case, but you’d be surprised how many Topics exist. Plus, if you make an FAQ, that Topic would now be a Question. If you made a Beginners Guide, that would also be a question.

Consider also the language: “Topic” inherently includes the type “Question”.

Topic: a matter dealt with in a text, discourse, or conversation; a subject.
Question: a matter requiring resolution or discussion.

As an achievable alternative, which aligns with language and nudges users towards your Q&A style, it’s possible to replace “Replies” with “Answers” without much pain.

Result

How to

[Jagster (Jakke Lehtonen)]

@Tris20

it’s possible to replace “Replies” with “Answers” without much pain

Sure, with that one theme. When there is some other to choose… then one must go to admin section.

This is not too helpful but for me that is really easy job — in finnish ”Replies” and ”Answers” are same word, so perhaps you all should start to use finnish

[pfaffman (Jay Pfaffman)]

@Jagster

in finnish ”Replies” and ”Answers” are same word, so perhaps you all should start to use finnish

I think this is the best idea yet!

[jordan-vidrine]

Could you create a “Questions” category and install this plugin to use for those topics?

Discourse Solved Plugin

Summary Discourse Solved allows users to accept solutions on topics in designated categories. Repository Link https://github.com/discourse/discourse-solved Install Guide How to install plugins in Discourse Enabling Solved The Solved plugin can be enabled from its settings, accessed from your admin/plugins page: [admin/plugins] After enabling the plugin, to switch on Solved for all categories use the allow solved on all topics sit…

[j3ang (Alex Wang)]

Thanks, I found this topic helpful. Installed discourse-question-answer

[j3ang (Alex Wang)]

Can I use both Question Answer Plugin and the official disourse sovled plugin together?

[jordan-vidrine]

Question Answer Plugin

Good question! The Solved Plugin is indeed an official Discourse plugin. However it works differently from this plugin. The Solved Plugin allows the original poster (or an admin) to select a solution to the question in the first post. In contrast, this plugin allows each user of the forum a vote on what they think is the best answer. Different forums will want different kinds of Question / Answer style topics. I’ve added a brief description of similar plugins and Discourse features to the origi…

I think that might be confusing to your users.

[j3ang (Alex Wang)]

Thanks for the clarification. I thought it would be helpful that the site users can vote for answers they think it’s the best but the question owner can ultimately select the one they end up using.