How to Use Project Discussions in CrmLeaf
All editions. Core feature - no add-on required.
Availability: All editions. Core feature - no add-on required.
Overview
Discussions are a threaded, project-scoped forum. They give a project a place for questions and decisions that do not belong in a single task's comments, and they keep that conversation attached to the project rather than in email.
A thread can be organised by category, replied to, mentioned into someone's attention, and closed off with a "Best Answer" marker.
How It Works
Discussions belong to a project. You start a thread, people reply, and the answer that resolved the question is marked.
Open project → Start a discussion → Reply and mention → Attach files → Mark Best Answer
- Discussions are project-scoped, so a thread is visible in the context of its project rather than account-wide.
- Categories group threads, which keeps a busy project's forum readable.
- Replies are threaded, so a long conversation stays in order.
- An @mention brings a specific person into the thread.
- Files can be attached to a thread, so the version being discussed sits with the discussion.
- Marking a reply as Best Answer records which reply resolved the question, so later readers do not have to read the whole thread.
Who Can Use This Feature?
User
- Start a discussion in a project they are a member of.
- Reply to threads, @mention colleagues, and attach files.
- Mark a reply as the Best Answer.
- Search and filter the project's discussions.
Access depends on the modules and role assigned by your Administrator.
Prerequisites
- A project you are a member of.
- The people you intend to @mention must be users with access to that project.
- Discussion categories should exist if your team organises threads by category.
For Users
Step 1: Open the project
Open the project and go to its discussions area. Discussions are project-scoped, so start from the project the question belongs to.
Step 2: Start a discussion
What to do: Select Add, give the thread a title that states the question, choose a category, and write the detail. Complete every mandatory field before saving.
What to verify: Confirm the thread appears in the project's discussion list under the category you chose.
Step 3: Bring the right people in
Use an @mention to draw a specific colleague into the thread rather than relying on them noticing it. Attach the files the discussion is about so nobody is guessing which version is meant.
Step 4: Reply and keep the thread on topic
Reply within the thread. If the conversation moves to a different question, start a new discussion rather than extending the thread, so the record stays useful.
Step 5: Mark the Best Answer
What to do: When the question is resolved, mark the reply that resolved it as the Best Answer.
What to verify: Reopen the thread and confirm the marked reply is identifiable as the answer.
Expected Result
The discussion is saved under its project and category, replies appear in the thread, mentioned colleagues are drawn in, attached files sit with the thread, and the reply marked as Best Answer identifies the resolution.
Service Organisation Context
Engagement decisions tend to live in email, where the delivery team cannot find them and a new joiner cannot reconstruct why an approach was chosen. A project discussion keeps that conversation beside the work, with the option to attach the version being discussed and to mark the reply that resolved it, so the decision record outlives the thread. Where a project allows the client to view work, confirm what is visible before writing anything commercially sensitive. Non-service teams use the same threads for internal project questions that do not belong in a single task's comments.
Important Notes
- Menu names and their position can differ between product editions and can be customised for your account, so your sidebar may not match these paths exactly. Use Search or your Quick Access items if you cannot find a screen.
- Discussions belong to a project. Use the Notice Board for announcements to a department, to employees or to clients.
- Use a task's comments for conversation about one task, and a discussion for questions that span the project.
- For a private reminder that no one else needs to see, use sticky notes, which are private per-user quick notes.
- Where a project allows the client to view work, be careful what you write in a discussion. Confirm the project's client visibility with the project administrator.
Common Scenarios
Example: a decision that needs a record. A project lead starts a discussion asking which of two approaches to take, attaches both options, mentions the two people who must decide, and marks the agreed reply as the Best Answer. The decision stays with the project.
Example: a recurring question. A team keeps answering the same setup question. It is asked once as a discussion, answered, and the Best Answer marker makes it findable for the next person.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Possible Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| A colleague cannot see the discussion | They are not a member of the project. | Ask the project administrator to add them as a project member. |
| An @mention does not find a person | The person does not have access to that project. | Add them to the project first, then mention them. |
| No category can be selected | No discussion category exists. | Ask your Administrator to add the categories your team needs. |
| Threads are hard to find in a busy project | Threads are not being categorised, and titles do not state the question. | Agree a short category list and title threads as questions. |
| A file cannot be attached | The account's file storage has not been configured, or the storage limit for the account has been reached. | Ask your Administrator to check the file storage configuration. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a discussion exist outside a project?
Discussions are documented as project-scoped. Use the Notice Board for company-wide announcements.
Can more than one reply be the Best Answer?
The Best Answer is a marker identifying the reply that resolved the question. Mark the reply that answers it.
Will the client see project discussions?
That depends on the project's client visibility configuration. Confirm it with the project administrator before discussing anything sensitive.
Related Articles
Our support team answers on business days. Reference COL-01 so we can jump straight in.