Understand QCLF Sections, Categories, Topics, Messages, and Live Messages
QCLF has two related conversation layers: durable forum content and temporary live-session content. Understanding that distinction makes permissions, moderation, archiving, and troubleshooting much easier.
The durable hierarchy is Sections → Categories → Topics → Messages. Live Messages exist only inside a live session and are converted into durable forum history through the archive workflow.
Sections and Categories
Sections are the top-level containers. Categories live inside Sections and carry much of the working configuration: Joomla access level, publication state, feature inheritance/overrides, content-policy rules, moderator groups, sorting, and Topic behavior.
Structure limits count only real records; source-defined sample data is excluded from the plan usage calculation.
Topics
A Topic is the durable page and conversation identity. Its type can be a traditional Discussion, Live Chat, Watch Party, or Live Broadcast. Live types add scheduling/lifecycle state, but the Topic remains the stable forum object that users open, follow, moderate, and later revisit.
Permanent Messages
Permanent forum replies are stored separately from the Topic itself and are displayed chronologically. QCLF can store an optional reply reference, but it does not turn the conversation into a nested Reddit-style reply tree. The Topic remains a linear discussion with references where enabled.
Live Messages
During an active live session, chat is stored in the live-message store rather than immediately as permanent replies. This lets QCLF handle live polling, moderation, session sequence, and lifecycle behavior without rewriting the durable discussion on every live message.
Archive Conversion
After a live session ends, the Live Archive Conversion task processes eligible live Messages into permanent forum history. The permanent reply schema keeps the original live-message relationship so conversion is idempotent and the same live Message is not archived twice.
If a completed live Topic appears to be missing chat history, inspect the live session state and the Live Archive Conversion Scheduled Task before manually recreating Messages.
Practical Mental Model
| Item | Current behavior |
|---|---|
| Section | Top-level forum structure and inherited settings |
| Category | Working access/feature/policy container |
| Topic | Durable conversation page; Discussion or live type |
| Message | Permanent chronological forum reply |
| Live Message | Temporary message inside an active live session; archived later |
Community Discussion
Want to compare forum workflows, share practical QCLF tips, or discuss how other Joomla site owners use this feature? Visit the QC Live Forum Community. For private support, bug reports, account-specific entitlement problems, or feature requests, use the QuantaCade support system.