SharePoint Discussion Column from SharePointBoost is a custom column to record users’ discussion when they edit the item. The SharePoint discussion thread can be listed in chronological order with discussion contents and discussants’ names.
With this SharePoint Discussion Column, you don’t have to choose “create version each time you edit an item in the list” when you select the “Append Changes to Existing Text” option of Rich text column:

Why Did We Build It?
SharePoint out-of-box Multiple lines of text column provides an option "Append Changes to Existing Text" to let users append their own comments and discussion without replacing others.
But it has two defects:
First, you must enable version creation when item edited, but it’s troublesome when you don’t want to create new version every time you append changes.
Second, every time you edit the item, a new record will be produced in the record history whether empty or not. It is inconvenient for users to view a lot of records with empty contents.
We develop SharePoint Discussion Column to solve these problems. When you append records to SharePoint discussion thread, with our SharePoint Discussion Column, new version will not appear and empty records will not display.


SharePoint Discussion Column provides a custom column that allows users to record their discussion in the item without creating new version or recording empty contents.
The following is a sample to use SharePoint Discussion Column. And here we configure all the settings based on SharePoint 2007 as example.
Members of SharePoint group named "Support Team" need to discuss current task in a list.
The members are as following:

A list Task Arrangement is as following and each task is assigned to a member of the support team.

1. Create discussion column
On the Settings menu drop down list, click "Create Column”.

On the Create Column page, choose Discussion Column, and enter the name (such as Discussion), and then click OK.

Now the discussion column is created in the list as following.

If you select the "Display discussion in all items page" Check box when create a discussion column, the discussion column will be displayed in all items page as following.


2. Discussion
Users can enter words in the item which they have permission.
Supposed that Henry has permission to edit the item, after he inputs his words into the discussion field and click OK, the content will be recorded in the discussion history.

Others can view discussion history when he/she edit the item.




3. View discussion
User can view discussion history in item display form:

Now the discussion details show as following.

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Languages Supported: English, Chinese, Japanese
System Requirements
For SharePoint 2010:
| Operating System: |
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 x86/x64
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
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| Server: |
SharePoint Release:
- Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 or Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010
- Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
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| Browser: |
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or greater is recommended for Advanced Administration features
Mozilla Firefox supported
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For SharePoint 2007:
| Operating System: |
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x86/x64
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 x86/x64
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
|
| Server: |
SharePoint Release:
- Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services v3 or Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
- Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 or 3.0
Note: This product is not compatible with SPS 2003 and WSS v2 |
| Browser: |
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or greater is recommended for Advanced Administration features |
Known Issues
- Does not support wiki list for SharePoint 2010.
Release Notes
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1.7.818.0
Aug 18th, 2010
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New Features:
- Server License is available;
- Announced compatibility with SharePoint 2010. |
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1.6.107.0
Jan 13rd, 2010
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Licensing module upgraded. |
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1.5.820.0
Aug 21st, 2009
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Licensing module upgraded. |
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1.5.526.0
May 26th, 2009
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Bug Fixed:
- Editing entry picture cannot be displayed in root web.
|
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1.4.429.0
Apr 29th, 2009
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New Feature:
- Support Japanese.
|
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1.3.407.0
Apr 8th, 2009
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New Feature:
- Display the discussion column in "all items" page.
Bug Fixed:
- Resolved the error: the discussion content becomes html code when users convert optional fields to required ones, or modify field description.
|
|
1.3.316.0
Mar 17th, 2009
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New Feature:
- Add "edit" button in discussion display item form.
Bugs Fixed:
- Support customized edit item form;
- Resolved the error: the content of the last discussion becomes html code after changing the column setting.
|
|
1.2.1229.0
Dec 29th, 2008
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Bug Fixed:
- Resolved the error: editor is changed when editing a document in doc library using desktop client.
|
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1.1.1204.0
Dec 5th, 2008
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New Feature:
- Availability of farm license.
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1.0.1112.0
Nov 13rd, 2008
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Initial Release
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Purchase FAQ
Questions about Licensing:
- What is the difference between a Server License and a Site Collection License/Farm License?
- Currently, we can provide Server License, Site Collection License and Farm License:
- Each WFE will require a Server License (For SharePoint 2007: all servers running the SP Web Application service will need to be licensed; for SharePoint 2010: all servers running the "Microsoft SharePoint Foundation Web Application" service will need to be licensed). SPB Server Licenses do NOT limit the number of end-users.
- A Site Collection License (with end-user number limit) can be applied to one site collection only, you would need to make sure the number of end-users is within the end-user number limit provided by your license;
- A Farm License can be used across all site collections within a SharePoint farm; however the maximum number of users within each site collection is limited by the end-user number limit provided by your license. For example, a 400-end user Farm License means that the number of users within a site collection should not exceed 400.
- To find out the number of end-users you have in your site collection/farm, please check the license management page (this will appear after you install the trial version of our software on your SharePoint servers), or download and run the free End User Viewer Tool available here: http://www.sharepointboost.com/end-user-viewer-tool.html.
- Which type of license should I choose?
- Server Licenses are better if you would like to use the product without site collection or end-user restrictions.
- A Site Collection License/Farm License is better if you only want to use the product in one site collection/farm and the number of end-users is unlikely to grow rapidly or change frequently.
- If you are still unsure as to which license type is best for you, please email sales@sharepointboost.com for assistance.
- What are "end-users" and how do they affect my Site Collection License/Farm License?
- End-users do NOT affect Server Licenses. An end-user count is only needed for a Site Collection License or Farm License.
- An end-user is defined as any user who has access to, or has accessed any site in your Site Collection/Farm at any point in time, either directly (e.g. signing in) or indirectly (e.g. assigning him a task). And the number of end-users in the site collection means the total number of users across all sites in the site collection.
- Once a user has accessed a site in the site collection/farm, he is counted, regardless of whether or not this user is active on the site where the product is used. For example, while you may only have 50 users who would need to use the product on Site A in the site collection, there are 360 users accessing Site B (including the 50 accessing Site A), making a total of 360 users with access to the site collection. Since Site A and Site B are in the same site collection, you would need to purchase a license for at least 360 users. SPB licenses increase in increments of 100 users, so if there are 360 people who have access to the site collection, you will need to purchase a 400 end-user license.
- If the current end-user number exceeds the end-user number allowed by my Site Collection License/Farm License, what will happen?
- Please note that end-users do NOT affect Server Licenses.
- If the current end-user amount exceeds the amount of end-users allowed by your Site Collection License/Farm License, the original functions and settings of the software will NOT be influenced until you change them (e.g. additions, deletions, modifications, etc.)
- You can either use our End User Viewer Tool to delete some inactive or disabled SharePoint users (http://www.sharepointboost.com/end-user-viewer-tool.html) or upgrade your license with more end-users.The cost of a license upgrade is equal to the price difference between the old and new licenses, plus a standard fee of 50 USD applied to all upgrates submitted. For example, if you had purchased a 200 end-user license for $500 and now you want to upgrade to a 300 end-user license (Price: $600), you only need to pay the difference (600-500=$100) plus the standard upgrade fee ($50), therefore in total $150. It also applied to Farm License.
- What will happen if I buy a new server or add another server? How will this affect my license?
- Please note that adding an additional server/replacing an old server with a new one will NOT affect Site Collection Licenses/Farm Licenses. Please contact sales@sharepointboost.com for more information only if your Site Collection ID/Farm ID has changed.
- However, if you are using Server Licenses for an SPB product and you subsequently add an additional WFE to your environment, you will need to purchase another Server License. Also, if you elect to replace an old server with a new server, and the Server Code subsequently changes, you will need to contact sales@sharepointboost.com for more information.
- What is Premium Annual Support? If I buy it, what do I get?
- For detailed information regarding SharePointBoost's Premium Annual Support plan, please visit our support page.
- Premium Annual Support must be renewed each year. Support fees are charged per license per year.
- How can I find my Server Code or Site Collection ID/Farm ID?
- To find your Server Code or Site Collection ID/Farm ID, please check the license management page (this will appear after you install the trial version of our software on your SharePoint servers – for help finding this information, please email support@sharepointboost.com, or download and install the free License Management Center here: http://www.sharepointboost.com/licensecenter.html.
- What is the price for DEV/Test environment? Is there any discount?
- SharePointBoost offers 50% discount off the list license price for DEV/TEST environment when customers purchase license for their production environment.
- Do I have to pay for updates as new versions of the product are released?
- Do I have to pay for updates as new versions of the product are released?
- A minor release contains bugs fixes and minor feature changes (e.g. 1.0 to 1.1). Major releases include significant feature additions and enhancements (e.g. 1.x to 2.0), and Major releases (usually with significant functionality added) require the payment of an upgrade fee. However, if you purchase our Premium Annual Support plan, then all major and minor releases are free for one year.
- Do I need to apply for a new license if the site collection ID/farm ID/server CODE has been changed?
- Yes. Since the license is generated based on the specific site collection ID/farm ID/server CODE, which means, once the site collection ID/farm ID/server CODE is changed, the original license CODE would be invalid as well. You need to contact our sales team(sales@sharepointboost.com ) for further assistance.
Questions about Purchasing Process:
- Does SharePointBoost accept Purchase Orders?
- Yes, we accept purchase orders from our customers, for more details on purchasing via PO, please contact sales@sharepointboost.com.
- Which payment methods does SharePointBoost allow?
- PayPal:
- The preferred method of payment is PayPal. You can either purchase SharePointBoost products via PayPal account or via credit card. If you would like to purchase a Site Collection License/Farm License where the total number of end-users is greater than 900, we will generate a PayPal purchase link and send it to you in an email (paying via purchase link does not require that you have a PayPal account).
- Secure Purchase Link:
- If purchasing our products through PayPal is not possible for you, then you may contact sales@sharepointboost.com to get a secure purchase link generated and then emailed to you. Here you may pay with a credit card online, by phone, or by fax.
- Bank Transfer:
- If purchasing our products through PayPal or via a secure purchase link is not possible for you, then you may contact us to get bank information for a wire transfer. Note that you are responsible for any bank transfer fees.
- If you do not specify one currency from USD, HKD, JPY, or EUR, we will take USD as the default payment currency.
- SHAREPOINTBOOST DOES NOT ACCEPT CORPORATE OR PERSONAL CHECKS. PLEASE USE PAYPAL, SECURE PURCHASE LINK OR BANK TRANSFER TO PURCHASE OUR PRODUCTS.
- What is SharePointBoost's refund policy?
- A request for a refund will only be granted if it is received BEFORE the license code has been sent. Once SharePointBoost has sent you a license code, the sale is considered final. We recommend that you take advantage of the 30-day trial period to download and test the product. This should allow you to fully test and make sure the product meets your needs before making a final purchase decision.
- Does SharePointBoost offer a discount for non-profit organizations, government agencies, or educational institutions?
- Yes, SharePointBoost can offer discount on condition that you can provide proof that your organization is a registered non-profit, please contact sales@sharepointboost.com for the discount.