# Newbie question: Is there a comprehensive guide to configuring and administering Discourse instance?
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/newbie-question-is-there-a-comprehensive-guide-to-configuring-and-administering-discourse-instance/397040
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [February 25, 2026, 7:11pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/newbie-question-is-there-a-comprehensive-guide-to-configuring-and-administering-discourse-instance/397040 "2026-02-25T19:11:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Glaudeman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Glaudeman)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2026, 7:11pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/newbie-question-is-there-a-comprehensive-guide-to-configuring-and-administering-discourse-instance/397040/1 "2026-02-25T19:11:12Z")
I’m just getting started with Discourse and am looking for a comprehensive guide on how to configure/setup and administer our instance. There are some rather confusing/odd items that I’m not finding information about. Specifically, with the "Calendar and Events” plugin, the instructions are to add a calendar by making a post with codes in it. First of all, this does not seem to work, and, second, I have yet to find general information about how/why to use codes in posts. Beyond those specifics, I’m looking to understand the components, features, functions, and overall structure of Discourse, basically all of the stuff a Discourse admin needs to be aware of and deal with. Is there such a guide? Where can I find it? Is there a guide for troubleshooting process for issues like the Calendar and Events plugin instructions not working? Thanks!
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### Author:  [@Heliosurge](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Heliosurge)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/newbie-question-is-there-a-comprehensive-guide-to-configuring-and-administering-discourse-instance/397040/2 "2026-02-25T19:36:12Z")
Checkout the #Documentation & #Wiki categories
As for clarity what issues or problems are you having?
> [@Discourse Calendar and Events](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-calendar-and-event/97376):
>
> discourse2Summary Discourse Calendar and Events adds dynamic and interactive calendar and event features to your Discourse site.open_bookInstall Guide This plugin is bundled with Discourse core. There is no need to install the plugin separately. Enabling Calendar and Events The Calendar and Events plugin can be enabled either by the toggle or from its settings, both accessible from your admin/plugins page: Features Somewhat unsurprisingly, Discourse Calend…
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### Author:  [@Ed\_S](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Ed_S)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2026, 8:47pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/newbie-question-is-there-a-comprehensive-guide-to-configuring-and-administering-discourse-instance/397040/3 "2026-02-25T20:47:55Z")
It’s often helpful to visit [https://ask.discourse.com/](https://ask.discourse.com/) with your questions.
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### Author:  [@Glaudeman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Glaudeman)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/newbie-question-is-there-a-comprehensive-guide-to-configuring-and-administering-discourse-instance/397040/5 "2026-03-03T01:10:44Z")
“cleaning”? I’m not sure what you mean. The problem I’m having with the Calendar plugin is that I configured the plugin with the category ID and entered the codes in a category post, as instructed, but the calendar does not appear… just the codes. I’m not sure exactly how the codes work but I presume they are interpreted by the app and not displayed, which is not happening. So, I’m looking for more details and general information about codes and how they work.
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### Author:  [@Glaudeman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Glaudeman)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/newbie-question-is-there-a-comprehensive-guide-to-configuring-and-administering-discourse-instance/397040/6 "2026-03-03T01:14:34Z")
Thanks! I wasn’t aware of that resources, but… it doesn’t seem to know anything about “codes” such as those used to display a calendar, as stated in step 2 of these instructions:
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### Author:  [@Glaudeman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Glaudeman)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2026, 1:15am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/newbie-question-is-there-a-comprehensive-guide-to-configuring-and-administering-discourse-instance/397040/7 "2026-03-03T01:15:15Z")
Does this only work for topics, not entire categories? 🤔
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### Author:  [@nathank](https://meta.discourse.org/u/nathank)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2026, 3:00am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/newbie-question-is-there-a-comprehensive-guide-to-configuring-and-administering-discourse-instance/397040/8 "2026-03-03T03:00:57Z")
Yeah, the Categories calendars are a whole different thing, and it is governed by a site setting where you pop in the Category.
Somewhat confusingly there is also a site-wide upcoming events calendar.
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### Author:  [@Heliosurge](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Heliosurge)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/newbie-question-is-there-a-comprehensive-guide-to-configuring-and-administering-discourse-instance/397040/9 "2026-03-04T21:19:40Z")
Sorry android typo. Should have been “clarity”