Comment 2 for bug 1712681

Bug description: Creating a new topic in forum is throwing an warning message

Environment to be tested: Master branch
Browser testing: Not applicable

Precondition Note: This is happening for groups on a Mahara site that has been upgraded for several years. So to replicate the issue, the database is manipulated.

Preconditions:

1. The group ‘Group A’ exists and the user ‘admin’ is the group admin in that group.
2. A second user, UserA, is a regular group member in the group.
3. Change the config file to ‘productionmode = false;’

Steps to reproduce:

1. Log in to the database using the following command (assuming Postgres as database):
sudo -u postgres psql 'name of the database'
2. Validate the 'Field name' and 'Forum number' using below query in database.
select * from interaction_forum_instance_config;
3.Delete ‘Forum instance’ from the table using below query in database.
delete from interaction_forum_instance_config where field='createtopicusers' and forum=30;
4. Log in to Mahara as a group admin.
5. Navigate to Main menu > Groups.
6. Select ‘Forums’ tab.
7. Click on ‘General discussion’ forum.
8. Select ‘New topic’ button.
9. Similarly, log in as ‘User A’ and repeat steps 5 to 8.

Expected Result: New topic form should open without any error/warning messages.
Actual Result: New topic form opened without any error/warning message.