Issue: I need to easily remove unwanted topics without deleting them completely, and be able to retrieve them later if needed.

Method: You can do this by creating a trash bin forum that you can easily send topics to without the usual topic moving process through a multi-mod set up.

Here's how to do it.

Create a forum called "Trash" with only admin permissions. Put the forum in your admin section of the board. It can be either a forum or subforum, doesn't matter.
ACP >Forum Control > New Forum

Make the Topic Multi Moderation link:
ACP > Forum Control > Topic Multi Moderation

Title the TMM: "Send to Trash Bin" or simply "Trash it"

Active in Forums: Hold down the Control key and highlight all the forums in which you would like this function available.

Add to START of topic title? Leave empty

Add to END of topic title? Leave empty

Alter topic state? NO

Alter pinned state? Unpin (or you may choose "leave")

Move topic? Choose Trash Bin forum from the dropdown

Leave a link to the source topic? (do not tick)

Enable this reply? No

Add a reply to the topic? Leave empty

Increment poster's post count? (do not tick)

In the forums you highlighted, a new dropdown box will appear under the Moderation Options drop down. When you select "Send to Trash", the topic will immediately be transferred to your Trash Bin Forum with no further actions required.

You will need to instruct your moderators to use the multi-mod trash function rather than the "delete topic" function. IF you want to remove your moderators ability to delete topics so that they have to use the multi-mod, you will have to put them in a moderators member group (you can designate a member group as forum moderators), and do not give them delete topic permission when you set up the moderation for the forums. Note: You cannot remove delete topic permissions from global moderators or admins.


Unfortunately, you cannot send individual posts to the Trash bin with Topic Multi Moderation. You must first split out the posts to a new topic and then apply the TMM to the new topic.

You may also find it helpful to create two separate TMM's for trashed topics: a "trash bin" for spam and other discards and another called "recycle bin" for topics you think you may want to bring back later. It could make future sorting easier.

Mmmhmmm.. Very nice Helena, I may try this for my forum, although it probably won't be needed, but just incase ^^

I love it! If I ever start my own board again I will 100% use this!

wow,didnt even notice this was here.Very useful guide to doing this though,I'm gonna have to give it a try.

I already have it at my forum. It's nice and works very well.
It's already nice to let people see what happened before they joined and what the topics discussed back then.