Follow a QCLF Category for New Topics

A signed-in member can follow an accessible QCLF Category to receive new-Topic activity for that Category. Category following uses its own subscription channel and is separate from following individual Topics for replies.

QCLF validates Category visibility when the follow is enabled and rechecks recipient relationships during notification delivery.

Follow a Category

  1. Sign in and open the Category you want to follow.
  2. Select Follow Category.
  3. The button changes to Following Category while the new-Topic subscription channel is active.
  4. Use Notifications → Follow Delivery to choose Email and On-site delivery for that Category without removing the follow.

What Is Stored

Category following uses a subscription row with target_type=category and notify_new_topics=1. A new row defaults Email and On-site follow delivery to On.

Turning the Category button off disables the new-topic channel; if no subscription channel remains on that row, QCLF removes the row.

Visibility Is Validated

When enabling a Category follow, QCLF loads the Category and parent Section, requires the Category to be published, and runs the normal Category view permission check. An inaccessible Category cannot be newly followed through a crafted request.

When New-Topic Notifications Are Created

For an approved new Topic, the notification service emits the New Topic in Followed Category event to active Category followers, excluding the actor who created the Topic.

Pending guest Topics do not produce the normal visible new-Topic event until approval routes them through the approved Topic-created notification path.

Where Category Follows Appear

The main Following Browse tab is Topic-focused. Category subscriptions are managed in Notifications → Follow Delivery, where they appear alongside Topic follows with their own Email/On-site switches.

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.