Change a post from one type to another without starting over. The post stays in its category, keeps its link, and keeps its replies.
Open the post menu and select Convert to…. Everyone who can see the post sees the new type. What each type is for is in About choosing a post type. Your community may rename the default names Discussion, Blog, Idea, and Question.
Convert a post
- Open the post and select Open discussion options (the three-dot menu).
- Select Convert to….
- In Convert post type, choose a type under Convert to. The line Currently shows the type the post has now.
- Select Convert. A confirmation says Post type changed to the type you chose.
The dialog says the post stays in its category and keeps its replies. The link, the title, and the first post stay too.
Tip: A locked post can still be converted. Locking stops new replies. It does not hide Convert to….
Important: If the post is a Question and a reply is the accepted answer, the dialog says that answer will be hidden until the post is a Question again. The answer is kept.
Who can convert
You see Convert to… when any of these is true:
- You started the post.
- Your forum role includes Approve posts.
- Your forum role includes Convert a post to another type.
On a draft, only the author sees Convert to…. That is how the author changes a draft's type.
On a post that is still waiting for approval, the author and someone who can approve posts can convert it. Convert a post to another type alone is not enough until the post is approved.
What is hidden
Conversion does not delete type-specific details. They are hidden, and they return if you convert the post back.
| When you leave | What is hidden | If you convert back |
|---|---|---|
| Question | The accepted answer, and the votes on replies. | They show again. |
| Idea | The votes on the post. | They show again. |
When you cannot convert
Convert to… does not appear in these cases:
- The post is archived. Restore it first, then convert.
- The post was merged into another thread.
- The category offers no other type, or every other type is turned off for your community.
- You did not start the post, and your role does not include Approve posts or Convert a post to another type.
Mark a reply as the correct answer
On a post that is not a Question, Mark as correct answer on a reply changes the whole post to Question and marks that reply. Confirm Mark as correct answer? The message says the post type changes to Question and the discussion stays in its category.
You see that action when you started the post, or your role includes Approve posts or Mark a correct answer, and the category allows Questions. If the category does not allow Questions, the action is unavailable and the hint says a category admin can enable the Question post type in the category settings.
Move into a category that does not allow this type
Select Edit, choose a category that does not allow the post's current type, and save. Move and convert post asks you to pick a type that category allows. The button is Move and convert. The post keeps its replies, its author, and its date.
Starting the post is not enough for that change. You need Approve posts or Convert a post to another type on the current category or the new one. If you can edit the new category, the dialog links Edit so you can add the current type there instead of converting.