# SMF's categories vs Discourse's categories **URL:** \ **Category:** Self-hosting\ **Created:** [2016年十一月21日 19:31 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/smfs-categories-vs-discourses-categories/53212 "2016-11-21T19:31:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dsanchez](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/dsanchez/32/64161_2.png) [@dsanchez](https://meta.discourse.org/u/dsanchez)\ **Post date:** [2016年十一月21日 19:31 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/smfs-categories-vs-discourses-categories/53212/1 "2016-11-21T19:31:44Z")
In SMF a category is just a container for boards, i.e. you can not post anything in a category, you can only post in a Board or a sub-board. SMF allows for unlimited sub-boards. In Discourse you can create topics in categories and sub-categories (two levels). To dig more, you use tags. Assuming a forum is moved from SMF to Discourse is correct to assume the following will happen? For instance in [http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php](http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php) ``` Category: Simple Machines Board: News and Updates Child (sub) board: Archives ``` In Discourse: - “Simple Machines” will become a category - “News and updates” will become a sub-category of the above - “Archives” will dissapear and all topics in it will be tagged with the word “Archives”? and all topics there will belong to “News and Updates” Reason I am asking this is to prepare my forum’s structure for possible migration to Discourse. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Falco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/falco/32/179432_2.png) [@Falco](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Falco)\ **Post date:** [2016年十一月21日 19:34 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/smfs-categories-vs-discourses-categories/53212/2 "2016-11-21T19:34:00Z")
> [@dsanchez](#): > > “Simple Machines” will become a category > “News and updates” will become a sub-category of the above > “Archives” will dissapear and all topics in it will be tagged with the word “Archives”? and all topics there will belong to “News and Updates” After doing this, you can amend the script to “Archive Topic” on Discourse. > [@Understanding closed, unlisted, and archived topics](https://meta.discourse.org/t/what-is-the-difference-between-closed-unlisted-and-archived-topics/51238): > > bookmark This guide explains the differences between Closed, Unlisted, and Archived topics in Discourse, including their characteristics and use cases. person_raising_hand Required user level: All users Discourse offers various ways to manage topics, including closing, unlisting, and archiving. Each of these options serves a different purpose and has specific effects on how topics are displayed and interacted with. This guide will explain the differences between these three states and th… ---
**Author:** ![dsanchez](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/dsanchez/32/64161_2.png) [@dsanchez](https://meta.discourse.org/u/dsanchez)\ **Post date:** [2016年十一月21日 19:40 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/smfs-categories-vs-discourses-categories/53212/3 "2016-11-21T19:40:10Z")
Hi Rafael, maybe the “Archives” name is not a good example. I just wanted to know what exactly happens with sub-sub-sub-category from SMF or any other traditional bulletin board when migrated to Discourse. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Falco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/falco/32/179432_2.png) [@Falco](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Falco)\ **Post date:** [2016年十一月21日 19:48 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/smfs-categories-vs-discourses-categories/53212/4 "2016-11-21T19:48:59Z")
> [@dsanchez](#): > > I just wanted to know what exactly happens with sub-sub-sub-category from SMF or any other traditional bulletin board when migrated to Discourse. Thanks. Well we don’t have more than 2 levels deep categories, so it makes sense to reconsider your whole category infrastructure before migrating.