> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.earthcoop.ir/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Setting Up and Managing Your Group on EarthCoop

> Learn how to configure your cooperative group, update its settings, manage members, generate invitation codes, and keep the space running smoothly.

On EarthCoop, groups are created automatically when you complete your registration — the platform places you in the appropriate general and professional groups for your location and occupation the moment you finish setting up your profile. As a group manager, your job is to configure and maintain that space so it works well for everyone. This page walks you through everything you can do once you hold a manager role in a group.

<Info>
  Most members are placed into groups automatically when they complete their profile. Before assuming you need a new group, navigate to **Groups → My Groups** to review your existing ones. Duplicate groups covering the same geography and purpose are discouraged.
</Info>

## Your Group Dashboard

To see all your groups, click **Groups** in the main navigation sidebar. Your dashboard lists every group you currently belong to, organised by type: general, professional, specialised, age, and gender groups are each shown in their own section.

Click any group name to open that group's space and access its chat, feed, elections, and settings.

## Editing Group Details

If you are a manager of a group, you can update its description and avatar at any time.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Group">
    Navigate to the group you want to edit from your Groups dashboard.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Group Settings">
    Click the **Settings** icon (gear icon) or select **Group → Settings** from the group header.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit Description or Avatar">
    Update the **Description** field to reflect the group's current purpose, rules, or focus. To change the group image, upload a new **Avatar** (JPEG, PNG, or GIF, up to 2 MB).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save Changes">
    Click **Save**. Your updates are applied immediately and visible to all members.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Group Fields Reference

| Field                | Description                                                                                                                                                  |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Name**             | A short, descriptive title for the group — set automatically but visible to all members.                                                                     |
| **Description**      | A longer explanation of what the group is for, who should join, and how it operates.                                                                         |
| **Visibility**       | **Public** groups are discoverable by all users. **Private** groups require an invitation code or direct invite.                                             |
| **Geographic Level** | The territorial scope: neighborhood, city, province, country, continent, or global. See [Geographic Levels](/groups/overview#geographic-levels) for details. |
| **Category**         | **General**, **Professional**, **Specialised**, **Age Group**, or **Gender Group** — determines who the group is intended for.                               |
| **Avatar**           | The group's visual identity across the platform. Upload JPEG, PNG, or GIF up to 2 MB.                                                                        |

## Inviting Members

After joining or taking on a manager role, use one of two methods to bring new people in.

### Generate an Invitation Code

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Group Settings">
    Inside your group, click the **Settings** icon or navigate to **Group → Settings**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to Invitation Codes">
    Select the **Invitation Codes** tab and click **Generate Code** to create a new unique code.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Share the Code or Link">
    Copy the code or the shareable referral link and send it to prospective members via any channel. Each code is single-use by default and expires after the window you set (in hours).
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Invite by Name, Email, or Phone

From the group's member management panel, use the **Add Member** search to look up a user by name, email address, or phone number. The system sends a group invitation notification to that user. Invited users appear as **guests** with a pending status until they accept.

<Tip>
  You can set how long a guest invitation remains valid by specifying the number of hours when you add the user. Once the invitation expires, the guest loses access unless re-invited.
</Tip>

## Group Settings and Moderation

Fine-tune your group's behaviour from the **Settings** panel:

* **Rules** — Write and publish the group's constitution or code of conduct. Rules are visible to all members and displayed when new members join.
* **Member management** — Promote members to inspector or manager roles, or demote observers to read-only status. Only managers can change roles.
* **Open / Closed mode** — When a group is **open**, observers can send messages. When **closed**, only active members and above can post.
* **Mute and archive** — Individual members can mute a group to silence notifications, or archive it to remove it from their active list without leaving.
* **Report moderation** — Managers and inspectors receive reports from members and can review, resolve, or escalate them to the platform admin.

## Membership Roles

Managers can assign one of the following roles to each member:

| Role              | What They Can Do                                                            |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Observer**      | Read all content; post only if the group is set to open mode                |
| **Active Member** | Full participation: send messages, vote in polls, stand for election        |
| **Inspector**     | All active-member rights, plus the ability to moderate reported messages    |
| **Manager**       | Full administrative control: manage members, update settings, run elections |
| **Guest**         | Temporary access via invitation; limited rights until promoted by a manager |

<Note>
  Members who join neighborhood-level groups are granted **active member** status automatically, because hyper-local groups are built for direct participation. Members joining groups at city level and above start as **observers**.
</Note>

## Automatic Group Connections

You do not need to manually create groups for every location and profession in your profile. When you complete registration — including your occupational fields and address — EarthCoop automatically assigns you to the relevant general group for your neighborhood, city, province, country, and continent, as well as professional groups matching your field. These automatic groups already exist or are created on demand, so your community is ready the moment you finish registering.

<Tip>
  If you update your address or occupational fields later, navigate to **Profile → Edit → Address** or **Profile → Edit → Occupational Fields** to trigger a reassignment and ensure your group memberships stay accurate.
</Tip>