Discussion Column is intended to organize conversation in the list item without need to enable list versioning. Component allows entering rich text with formatting, images, tables, hyperlinks, etc.

Actually Discussion is similar to an IM message system: many users are able to create rich-text messages, but there is no ability (in some cases) to modify previous messages. As IM, discussion control can show who and when has published post (configured in column settings).

Useful thing is that it is possible to show all conversations in list view or just a hyperlink to "View Item" form. It is helpful when discussion has many items and page becomes congested.

You can also arrange your comments in chronological or reverse chronological order. User signature could be displayed on top or bottom of an entry.

Feature List

Feature
Organizing discussion without enabling list versioning
Filtering of empty records
Ability to show whole discussion history or only link to it in list view
Show user name as a link to user profile page
Display posts in chronological or reverse chronological order
Choosing position of user signature
Import data (text) from existing Microsoft® SharePoint® Multiple lines of text column
Language pack support (desired localization could be added by request)

Why ArtfulBits Discussion Column?

It is possible to use standard SharePoint "Multiple lines of text" column with "Append Changes to Existing Text" option for organizing discussion, but:

• Versioning of a list has to be turned on
• New version is created each time items are edited

Even if you edit item, new record will be displayed in discussion history, whether it is empty or not.

ArtfulBits Discussion Column resolves these problems and avoids list versioning, also it does not append empty records to discussion history.