ASP.NET 2.0 Website Programming Problem - Design - Solution

8.2. Design

Before looking at the design, let's consider a more accurate list of features to be implemented:

• Support for multiple categories, or subforums, that are more or less specific to a single topic/argument. Subforums are identified by name and description, and optionally by an image.

• Forums must support moderation: When a forum is moderated (this is a forum-level option), all messages posted by anyone except power users (administrators, editors, and moderators) are not immediately visible on the forum, but must be approved by a member of one of the power user roles first. This is a useful option to ensure that posts are pertinent, non-offensive, and comply with the forum's policy. However, this also places a bigger burden on the power users because posts have to be approved often (at least several times a day, even on weekends), or users will lose interest. Because of the timeliness needed for moderation, most forums are not moderated, but they are checked at least once a day to ensure that the policy has not been violated (with no particular need to check on weekends).

• The list of threads for a subforum, and the list of posts for a thread, must be paginable. In addition, the list of threads must be sortable by the last posting date, or the number of replies or views, in ascending or descending order. Sort options are very helpful if there are a lot of messages.

• Posting is only permitted by registered members, whereas browsing is allowed by everybody. An extension of the ...