49 Adding Messages and Feedback to a Portal

This chapter describes how to add Message Board and Feedback task flows to a portal. Message Board task flows enable users to post, view, and manage messages to and from their connections. Feedback task flows enable users to post, view, and manage feedback to and from their connections.

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Section 49.1, "About Message Board"

• Section 49.2, "About Feedback"

• Section 49.3, "Adding a Message Board or Feedback Task Flow to a Page"

• Section 49.4, "Setting Message Board and Feedback Task Flow Properties"

• Section 49.5, "Working with Message Board and Feedback Task Flows"

Permissions:

To perform the tasks in this chapter, you need the portal-level permission Basic Services: Edit Page Access and Structure (standard permissions) or Pages: Edit Pages (advanced permissions). A portal moderator has this permission by default.

For more information about permissions, see Section 29.1, "About Roles and Permissions for a Portal."

49.1 About Message Board

On personal pages in the Home portal, Message Board provides a means of viewing and posting messages to and from you and other users. To view your messages, you must add a Message viewer to one of your personal pages (a page you created) in the Home portal. To receive messages from other users, you must provide other users access to that personal page and set your message preferences to allow those users to view and/or post messages for you. To view or post messages for another user, you must be granted access to that user's personal page and access to view and/or post messages for the user through that user's preferences.

In portals other than the Home portal, Message Board provides a means of viewing and posting messages within the scope of the portal. In a portal, every instance of a Message Board task flow shows the same content: messages left by authorized users who are members of the portal. The portal Message Board leverages Page permissions as its permission model.

Table 49-1 lists the page permissions required for performing actions in a portal Message Board.

Table 49-1 Page Permissions for a Portal Message Board

Page Permission	Post	View	Update	Delete
View Page	No	Yes	No	No
Personalize Page	Yes	Yes	Yes for messages posted by this user	Yes for messages posted by this user
Perform All Page Actions	Yes	Yes	Yes for all messages	Yes for all messages

See Also:

Chapter 29, "Managing Roles and Permissions for a Portal"

Notes:

• Before you access Message Board, your system administrator can set global application defaults that affect what all users may see and do with their own and other users' messages. For more information, see the "Configuring Message Board" section in Administering Oracle WebCenter Portal

• In addition to being available in Message Board viewers, messages are streamed to the Activity Stream (unless your system administrator has configured the Activity Stream not to show Message Board activity).

WebCenter Portal provides the following Message Board task flows:

• Message Board for adding, viewing, updating, hiding, deleting, and managing your view of messages, and for marking messages as private and sharing private messages (Figure 49-1)

  Figure 49-1 Message Board Task Flow

  
  Description of ''Figure 49-1 Message Board Task Flow''
  
  

• Message Board - Quick View for adding, viewing, updating, hiding, and deleting messages, and for marking messages as private and sharing private messages (Figure 49-2)

  Figure 49-2 Message Board - Quick View Task Flow

  
  Description of ''Figure 49-2 Message Board - Quick View Task Flow''
  
  

See Also:

The Publisher task flow has many qualities in common with Message Board, but is a separate feature. For more information about the Publisher task flow, see the "Liking, Commenting On, and Sharing Items in WebCenter Portal" chapter in Using Oracle WebCenter Portal.

For more information about Message Board features, see the "Working with Feedback and the Message Board" chapter in Using Oracle WebCenter Portal.

49.2 About Feedback

Note:

The Feedback task flows are intended for use in a personal page because they must be associated with an individual user.

Feedback provides a means of viewing, posting, and managing feedback remarks. Feedback task flows must be associated with an individual user, so they are meant to be added to a user's personal page in the Home portal. The user can then provide other users access to that personal page so that those users can provide feedback.

WebCenter Portal provides the following Feedback task flows:

• Feedback for viewing, posting, and managing Feedback (Figure 49-3)

  Figure 49-3 Feedback Task Flow

  
  Description of ''Figure 49-3 Feedback Task Flow''
  
  

• Feedback - Quick View for viewing and posting Feedback (Figure 49-4)

  Figure 49-4 Feedback - Quick View Task Flow

  
  Description of ''Figure 49-4 Feedback - Quick View Task Flow''
  
  

For more information about Feedback features, see the "Working with Feedback and the Message Board" chapter in Using Oracle WebCenter Portal.

49.3 Adding a Message Board or Feedback Task Flow to a Page

For the steps to add a Message Board or Feedback task flow to a page, see Section 14.2, "Adding a Component to a Page."

Note:

The presence or location of a Message Board or Feedback task flow in the resource catalog depends on how the resource catalog is configured. For example, in the Default Portal Catalog, the Message Board task flows are included under the Social and Communication folder.

The Feedback task flows are not available in the Default Portal Catalog provided with WebCenter Portal, so you will only see an entry for them if they have been added to a custom resource catalog that has been made available to the page.

For more information, see Section 23.5.1, "Adding a Resource to a Resource Catalog" (in the Add Resource Catalog Item dialog, select Task Flows, then Design Time, then scroll to the Feedback task flows). To use the custom resource catalog for editing portal pages, make sure it is Available, and set for use by pages in the portal, as described in Section 7.3.5, "Changing the Resource Catalogs for Pages and the Page Template for a Portal."

49.4 Setting Message Board and Feedback Task Flow Properties

Note:

The Feedback task flows are intended for use in a personal page because they must be associated with an individual user. However, working with task flow properties is an advanced task and is therefore covered in this guide rather than in Using Oracle WebCenter Portal.

Both Message Board and Feedback task flows have associated properties, which users with sufficient privileges can access through the Component Properties dialog in Composer (Figure 49-5).

Figure 49-5 Component Properties Dialog for a Feedback Task Flow

Description of ''Figure 49-5 Component Properties Dialog for a Feedback Task Flow''

See Also:

Section 14.3.2, "Setting Properties on a Component"

The following sections provide information about properties of Message Board and Feedback task flows and describe the properties on the Parameters tab:

• Section 49.4.1, "About Message Board and Feedback Task Flow Properties"

• Section 49.4.2, "Message Board and Feedback Task Flow Parameters"

• Section 49.4.3, "Using Parameters to Configure Message Board and Feedback Task Flow Instances"

49.4.1 About Message Board and Feedback Task Flow Properties

When you set property values on a Message Board or Feedback task flow, you are affecting only the task flow instance on which the value is set. Other instances of the same task flow are not affected by such changes.

The properties on the Parameters tab of the Component Properties dialog can affect the default task flow content. For descriptions of the parameters on this tab, see Section 49.4.2, "Message Board and Feedback Task Flow Parameters." For some task flows, parameters on this tab facilitate the wiring of the task flow to page parameters and page definition variables. For more information, see Chapter 19, "Wiring Pages, Task Flows, Portlets, and ADF Components."

Changes to the properties on the Display Options, Style, and Content Style tabs affect the appearance and behavior of the task flow. These properties are common to all task flows. For more information, see Section 14.3.4, "Working with Component Display Options" and Section 14.3.6, "Working with Style and Content Style Properties."

The content of the Events tab depends on the events supported by the task flow. For more information, see Section 14.3.7, "Working with Component Contextual Events."

All properties on the Parameters and Display Options tabs provide access to an Expression Language (EL) editor, which you can use to select or specify a variable value instead of a constant value. Click the icon next to a property, then select Expression Builder to open the editor.

Note:

When you enter EL on the generic Display Options tab in the Component Properties dialog, the parser reports an error only if it detects invalid syntax, such as a missing closing bracket. Validation is performed only on syntax, not on the expression value. Generic Display Options are those cataloged in Table 14-1, "Display Options Properties".

EL validation is not performed on non-generic display options.

If you need EL assistance, an application developer can provide an EL expression; see the "Expression Language Expressions" appendix in Developing Portals with Oracle WebCenter Portal and Oracle JDeveloper.

49.4.2 Message Board and Feedback Task Flow Parameters

Table 49-2 describes the parameters that are unique to Message Board and Feedback task flows.

Table 49-2 Message Board and Feedback Task Flow Parameters

Parameter	Description
Display Message Size	The number of characters to show for each Feedback message Messages exceeding the specified value are truncated. This parameter is associated with the Feedback – Quick View task flow.
End Date	The ending date for a date range within which to show messages and posts Use the format YYYY/MM/DD. Use this parameter with Start Date. This parameter is associated with the following task flows: Feedback Feedback - Quick View Message Board
Group Space	Specifies the portal for which to show messages Enter the portal internal name. The portal internal name is the name specified by the portal URL on the General page of a portal's administration settings. The portal display name is specified by Display Name, and is the name that appears in the banner at the top of a portal. This parameter is associated with the following task flows: Message Board Message Board - Quick View
Hide Actions	Specifies whether to show or hide the actions normally associated with a Feedback or Message Board entry, such as Private, Edit, Hide, and Delete Select the check box to hide actions associated with a Feedback or Message Board entry (#{true}). Deselect the check box to show such actions (#{false}). When no value is entered, this is the default. This parameter is associated with the following task flows: Feedback – Quick View Message Board – Quick View
Hide Footer	Specifies whether to hide the task flow footer Select the check box to hide the task flow footer (#{true}). Deselect the check box to show the task flow footer (#{false}). This parameter turns the More link on (#{false}) or off (#{true}). Note that it does not affect the Previous and Next links that may also display toward the bottom of the task flow. This parameter is associated with the following task flows: Feedback - Quick View Message Board - Quick View
Hide Given	Specifies whether to enable or disable the display of Feedback left for others Select the check box to disable the display of Feedback left for others in a given task flow instance (#{true}). Deselect the check box to allow the display of Feedback left for others in a given task flow instance (#{false}). Selecting Hide Given hides the View menu so that only Feedback received is shown. This parameter is associated with the following task flows: Feedback Feedback - Quick View
Hide Header	Specifies whether to show or hide the task flow header Select the check box to hide the task flow header (#{true}). Deselect the check box to show the task flow header (#{false}). This parameter is associated with the following task flows: Feedback Feedback - Quick View Message Board Message Board - Quick View
Hide Publisher	Specifies whether to show or hide the message entry field and the upload file and URL controls (the Publisher) Select the check box to disable the display of the message entry field in a given task flow instance (#{true}). Deselect the check box to allow the display of the message entry field in a given task flow instance (#{false}). This parameter is associated with the following task flows: Message Board Message Board - Quick View
Message Type	Specifies the types of messages to display: All - (default) Displays both public and private messages. Public - Displays only public messages. Private - Displays only private messages. This parameter applies only when user is viewing own message board. This parameter is associated with the following task flows: Message Board Message Board - Quick View
No of Feedback items	The number of Feedback items to show in the task flow For example, enter 5 to specify that a maximum of five items can appear in the task flow. In quick view, a More link appears at the bottom of the task flow when there are more items than the specified number of items. Users click More to open the main view of the task flow where all items are accessible. In main view, Previous and Next links are shown. Users click these to page through entries. This parameter is associated with the following task flows: Feedback Feedback - Quick View
No of Messages	The number of messages to show in the task flow For example, enter 5 to specify that a maximum of five items can appear in the task flow. In quick view, a More link appears at the bottom of the task flow when there are more items than the specified number of items. Users click More to open the main view of the task flow where all items are accessible. In main view, Previous and Next links are shown. Users click these to page through entries. This parameter is associated with the following task flows: Message Board Message Board - Quick View
Resource Id	The ID of the user to show in the task flow This value is set automatically, #{securityContext.userName}, which returns the name of the current user. Note: If you need EL assistance, an application developer can provide an EL expression; see the "Expression Language Expressions" appendix in Developing Portals with Oracle WebCenter Portal and Oracle JDeveloper. This parameter is associated with the Feedback task flow.
Start Date	The starting date for a date range within which to show messages and posts Use the format YYYY/MM/DD. Use this parameter with End Date. This parameter is associated with the following task flows: Feedback Feedback - Quick View Message Board
User Id	The ID of the user to show in the task flow This value is set automatically, #{securityContext.userName}, which returns the name of the current user. Note: If you need EL assistance, an application developer can provide an EL expression; see the "Expression Language Expressions" appendix in Developing Portals with Oracle WebCenter Portal and Oracle JDeveloper. This parameter is associated with the Feedback - Quick View task flow.
User Name	The ID of the user to show in the task flow This value is set automatically, #{securityContext.userName}, which returns the name of the current user. Note: If you need EL assistance, an application developer can provide an EL expression; see the "Expression Language Expressions" appendix in Developing Portals with Oracle WebCenter Portal and Oracle JDeveloper. This parameter is associated with the following task flows: Message Board Message Board - Quick View

49.4.3 Using Parameters to Configure Message Board and Feedback Task Flow Instances

The properties associated with Message Board and Feedback task flows make it possible to control such things as the number of messages to show, the maximum length of Feedback posts, the presence or absence of a message input field, and so on.

Setting task flow properties affects every users' view of the task flow instance.

This section provides examples of how to use task flow parameters to achieve these results. It includes the following subsections:

• Section 49.4.3.1, "Hiding Action Links and Icons on a Task Flow Instance"

• Section 49.4.3.2, "Limiting the Number of Messages and Feedback Posts Shown"

• Section 49.4.3.3, "Limiting the Length of Posts in a Feedback - Quick View Task Flow"

• Section 49.4.3.4, "Preventing Users from Adding Messages to Message Board"

• Section 49.4.3.5, "Hiding the Feedback You Have Left for Others"

• Section 49.4.3.6, "Scoping the Display of Messages to a Named Portal"

• Section 49.4.3.7, "Specifying the Date Range of Shown Messages and Feedback"

49.4.3.1 Hiding Action Links and Icons on a Task Flow Instance

Users with page edit privileges can set the Hide Actions parameter on a Message Board - Quick View or Feedback - Quick View task flow to hide the actions normally associated with each posted message. Such actions include the Edit, Hide, and Private links and the Delete icon (Figure 49-6).

Figure 49-6 Actions on a Message Board Message

Description of ''Figure 49-6 Actions on a Message Board Message''

To hide actions on a Message Board - Quick View or Feedback - Quick View task flow instance:

1. Open the Component Properties dialog for the Message Board - Quick View or Feedback - Quick View task flow instance you want to configure.

   See Also:

   Section 14.3.2, "Setting Properties on a Component"

2. In the Component Properties dialog, on the Parameters tab, select Hide Actions.

   Note:

   To show hidden actions, deselect Hide Actions.

3. When you finish revising component properties, click OK.

4. Save your changes, and exit the page editor.

49.4.3.2 Limiting the Number of Messages and Feedback Posts Shown

Parameters on all Message Board and Feedback task flow types enable you to specify how many messages or Feedback posts to show in a given task flow instance. When the number of messages or posts exceeds the value that you provide:

• Previous and Next icons appear on the full task flow views, enabling users to page through all messages and posts.

• A More link appears on task flow quick views. Users click this to launch a dynamically-generated page that shows all messages or posts.

For Message Board and Message Board - Quick View task flows, use the No of Messages parameter. For Feedback and Feedback - Quick View task flows, use the No of Feedback Items parameter.

To limit the number of messages and feedback posts shown in a given task flow instance:

1. Open the Component Properties dialog for the Message Board or Feedback task flow instance you want to configure.

   See Also:

   Section 14.3.2, "Setting Properties on a Component"

2. In the Component Properties dialog, on the Parameters tab, enter the number of messages or Feedback posts you want to allow in the task flow instance:

   • For Message Board and Message Board - Quick View task flows, in the No of Messages box, enter a number.

   • For Feedback and Feedback - Quick View task flows, in the No of Feedback Items enter a number.

3. When you finish revising component properties, click OK.

4. Save your changes, and exit the page editor.

49.4.3.3 Limiting the Length of Posts in a Feedback - Quick View Task Flow

Use the Display Message Size parameter on a Feedback - Quick View task flow instance to limit the number of characters that can be entered for a given post. Posts that exceed the limit are truncated.

To limit the number of characters allowed for a post to a Feedback - Quick View task flow:

1. Open the Component Properties dialog for the Feedback - Quick View task flow instance you want to configure.

   See Also:

   Section 14.3.2, "Setting Properties on a Component"

2. In the Component Properties dialog, on the Parameters tab, in the Display Message Size box, enter the number of characters to allow for a given post.

3. When you finish revising component properties, click OK.

4. Save your changes, and exit the page editor.

49.4.3.4 Preventing Users from Adding Messages to Message Board

You can use the Hide Publisher parameter to hide the message input field and its associated icons in a Message Board or Message Board - Quick View task flow instance. This is useful when you want a Message Board to be a window onto current messages without also being a point of input.

To prevent users from adding messages to a Message Board task flow instance:

1. Open the Component Properties dialog for the Message Board task flow instance you want to configure.

   See Also:

   Section 14.3.2, "Setting Properties on a Component"

2. In the Component Properties dialog, on the Parameters tab, select Hide Publisher.

   Note:

   To show Publisher controls, deselect Hide Publisher.

3. When you finish revising component properties, click OK.

4. Save your changes, and exit the page editor.

49.4.3.5 Hiding the Feedback You Have Left for Others

You can use the Hide Given parameter to prevent the display of the Feedback you have left for others in both types of Feedback task flows. Selecting Hide Given hides the View menu, so that only Feedback received is shown.

To hide the Feedback you have left for others:

1. Open the Component Properties dialog for the Feedback task flow instance you want to configure.

   See Also:

   Section 14.3.2, "Setting Properties on a Component"

2. In the Component Properties dialog, on the Parameters tab, select Hide Given.

   Note:

   To show the View menu, deselect Hide Given.

3. When you finish revising component properties, click OK.

4. Save your changes, and exit the page editor.

49.4.3.6 Scoping the Display of Messages to a Named Portal

Both types of Message Board task flows provide the Group Portal parameter for specifying the portal for which to display messages. For example, imagine that, from the Home portal, you want to see the messages people are entering in the Standards portal. You can place either type of Message Board task flow on a page in the Home portal, and configure it to show the messages entered in the Standards portal.

To scope the display of messages to a named portal:

1. Open the Component Properties dialog for the Message Board task flow instance you want to configure.

   See Also:

   Section 14.3.2, "Setting Properties on a Component"

2. In the Component Properties dialog, on the Parameters tab, in the Group Portal field, enter the internal name of the portal of interest.

   Note:

   To show Publisher controls, deselect Hide Publisher.

   Tip:

   The portal internal name is the name specified by the portal URL on the General page of a portal's administration settings. The portal display name is specified by Display Name, and is the name that appears in the banner at the top of a portal.

3. When you finish revising component properties, click OK.

4. Save your changes, and exit the page editor.

49.4.3.7 Specifying the Date Range of Shown Messages and Feedback

You can use the Start Date and End Date parameters on the Message Board, Feedback, and Feedback - Quick View task flows to limit the display of messages and Feedback posts to those entered between the two specified dates.

For both parameters, use the date format YYYY-MM-DD, for example 2010-01-02.

To limit the display of messages and feedback posts to those entered within a specified date range:

1. Open the Component Properties dialog for the Message Board or Feedback task flow instance you want to configure.

   See Also:

   Section 14.3.2, "Setting Properties on a Component"

2. In the Component Properties dialog, on the Parameters tab, enter a date range:

   • In the Start Date field, enter the date after which to show messages and posts.

   • In the End Date field, enter the date before which to show messages and posts.

3. When you finish revising component properties, click OK.

4. Save your changes, and exit the page editor.

49.5 Working with Message Board and Feedback Task Flows

For information about how users work with Message Board and Feedback task flows, see the "Working with Feedback and the Message Board" chapter in Using Oracle WebCenter Portal.