A Private Topic is just like a topic posted publically to the forum except that it is between two or more users (up to a total of ten). The private topic will show the users participating in the topic. Users may choose to leave the topic at any time. When they leave, there will be a post announcing the user is no longer is participating. Once a user is no longer participating, they can no longer read the topic.

If you are invited to participate in a private topic, you'll see an flashing icon shaped like a file folder near the top center of the page, by the navigation tabs. Click this icon to view the private topic message. (Depending how you've configured your EmailOptions, you may also receive an email notifying you of the private topic.) You will also see this flashing icon whenever you have new replies to any private topics that you are participating in.

If you want to view your private topics, go to the View Private Topics listing in your Control Panel. You can view the topics or delete them by putting a check mark in the box next to the topic heading, then clicking on the Delete Selected button. A window will pop up asking you to confirm the action. You may also put in a reason for the deletion (the default reason is 'Private Topic Box Cleanup'). Once you've confirmed the deletion, it will be removed from your Private Topic Box and a message will be sent to the other participant(s) that you are no longer participating in the private topic along with your reason. (Clicking on the No button will return you to the listing of your private topics.)

If you want to start a private topic, go to the 'Start Private Topic' listing in your Control Panel. Put the usernames of the members you want to invite to the topic in the section marked Invitees. You may invite up to ten members, but each username MUST be separated by a ; (semicolon). After entering the Invitee information, the process is the same as MakingANewTopic .