Discus presents a clean yet attractive interface with many features to manage user accounts, search messages, share images, and protect content.
Usability of interface
For your visitors to participate, they must understand the user interface. Functionality must be clearly visible and the interface should be clear of unnecessary visual clutter.
Discus features an attractive yet simple user interface with all commonly accessed tools clearly and consistently linked on each page.
An "Add a Message" box on message pages themselves encourages posting and eliminates hunting around to find a reply button.
Posting and reading are supported with any browser, and advanced features are available with Netscape 4 and higher, and IE 4 and higher.
Well-written, grammatically correct help documents are distributed with each board and are available from the user interface.
Features
Discussion boards are used to build communities, and those communities demand more than simply the ability to post and read messages. Discus and Discus Pro have a full feature set that includes the following essential tools:
Formatting, HTML validation, and in-line image upload
Search capability (by date and/or keyword)
E-mail notification of new posts in "subscribed" areas
User account signup system and forgotten password utility
Optional message editing and deleting
Discus also offers the most comprehensive administrative tool set available:
Unlimited thread depth, allowing organization of material within topics
Configure public or private posting and reading for each discussion topic
Archiving and pruning of messages and threads by length or date
Moderated posting / message queueing
Built-in backup and restore system
Support and vendor stability
You are making an investment in your community that will last long after you download and install the software. You need the assurance that you will get help if you need it. And you need to know that a solid company stands behind your purchase.
DiscusWare has been developing WWW discussion software for over 6 years, since 1997. We have an established and well-earned reputation.
Free e-mail and support forum support is available to all customers. Paid support, including by telephone, is available for purchase.
DiscusWare typically answers all support inquiries within one business day of receiving them, with priority to paying customers.
Additional custom programming, consulting, and training services are offered for those customers with special needs in designing their system or site.
Customization potential
Your creativity not be restrainted by what a software developer sees as attractive. You deserve the ability to modify the appearance of the software so that it matches the rest of your web site.
Discus user interfaces are generated from customizable "skins" and a "skin gallery" offers many pre-made choices.
Skins are attractive out-of-the-box, and they can be customized a little or a lot.
All user interface screens and e-mail messages are generated from user-customizable template files, allowing tremendous flexibility.
Your Discus and Discus Pro software distribution includes the full source code, allowing inspection and modification should you desire.
