It seems like every few days the same batch of questions pop up in this forum. As a result of these questions, the same threads start that try to address this problem.
Out of all the suggestions I’ve read on this issue, I’ve never seen the obvious mentioned- Why not change the “Show threads from <Last Day>” to “Show threads from <Last Month>”?
If I remember right, those options were shortened in the forums to ease the load on the server. I can see that being usefull in the other forums, where new questions run rampant, but not in here. There might be five new threads started in a day. Typically, these threads deal with sibjects that were answered only days before.
If you cranked it up from one day to ten, or a month, wouldn’t that be more helpfull?
I’ll see what I can do to tweak it, but I think it’s a one size fits all forums kind of deal, similar to the “show X number of posts per page” command. It would be nice to adjust that too, but I do believe it’s one option for the entire board on a lot of our settings.
Eh, I must be missing something here. The “Show Threads From the last X number of days” can be reset in your Profile. I have mine set for 5 days. Soda, you must have yours set for 10 days. I believe that the board-wide default is for 20 days, or maybe it’s 10 days. When you register, that’s what it gives you, until you figure out how to change it in your Profile. Having mine set on 5 days really speeds up loading times for me. Relatively speaking. :rolleyes:
So I’m not sure what Chris is talking about. Changing the default for ATMB to “Show Threads from the last 30 days” no matter what it says in a poster’s profile?
DDG I just checked my profile, and it says “Use forum default” for show threads. I guess that means 10 days for comments and and GD, two days for GQ and one day for the rest of them. So I suppose it’s a matter of changing the default setting for the individual forums, which of course can be changed if a poster wants it another way.
But changing all forums to show threads from last 5 days seems like it wouldn’t help loading times at all. In MPSIMS, IMHO and BBQ pit, they’re all set for last day. Loading 5 days of MPSIMS would take forever (WAG, but still).
Okay, I see what you’re getting at now. I’ve had mine set on 5 days for so long I forgot there was a “use Forum Default” setting, and I didn’t realize there were different defaults for different forums. So you’re saying the Forum default for ATMB is only one day? Geez, no wonder the same questions keep coming up. Probably a lot of people just go with the “use forum default”, don’t realize you can change it, so they come in here to find out how to change their sig line or why the board is so slow, and the reason they don’t post to an old thread is because it’s not there to be posted to. (There to which to be posted?)
Well, then it does make sense to have the forum default for ATMB set at least for 10 days.
Hello, all. I have been following Cecil’s articles for some time, and I figured I’d better start in here, rather than make a complete and utter fool of myself, like I’m so very good at doing.
Cecil is a very… interesting man, and I look forward to perusing what he has to write, as well as those who follow him. (I’ve heard some interesting tales)
This is a wonderful, educational fun place. The addiction that overcomes many only lasts about a month, or until the first time some complete stranger insults you, so you can relax.
But most who post here are kind and mature. For example, if you can just remember to post links when you start a new conversation you’ll always be in Duck Duck Goose’s good books.
And this is the message board through whose archives you must delve in order to find out how to post links…
I’ve been browsing through how vBulletin works a bit (like I mailed you about, Tuba), and was thinking of ways to reduce duplicate/repetitive threads. Here’s a couple thoughts I had that might help reduce some of the problems.
On the “Create new thread” form, is it possible to put a hyperlink in red flashing text that says “Wait - before you submit, have you tried the Search function first?” Then if they click on this, it will take them to the Search page.
Advantages: Simple, unobtrusive.
Disadvantages: Users become used to it and ignore it.
Alternately, is it possible to make a checkbox on the “Create new thread” form that says “I have searched for this” by it. With a hyperlink to the Search page. And do not allow posting of the new thread without the user having checked the checkbox.
Advantages: Simple, requires minimal effort by the User. Many more posts are made than threads, so this will hopefully not bother people too often.
Disadvantages: Nagging aspect, may not be feasible to code.
Also, another method might be to perform a check on the number of posts and the registration date of the User before allowing a new thread to be submitted. Then, if, say, posts are less than 100 AND registration date is less than 2 months old, pop up a message saying “Please check to see if this question has been previously covered before submitting the thread.” They can ignore it and submit anyways, of course.
Advantages: Targets only those who are most likely to be new users.
Disadvantages: Seems punitive towards new users; treats them as second-class citizens. May not be possible to implement.
Finally, and this would require some coding - based on a keyword search in the Topic of the tentative new thread, perform a Search when the user hits “submit” or “preview”. Then, bring up a pop-up window which says “Based on the text of your topic, we think that you might find these other threads contain similar information…” or something. And list the Search results. This could also be based on user newness as well.
Advantages: If possible, could be powerful for reducing duplicate threads.
Disadvantages: Probably either impossible or very difficult to code. May slow the Board down more.
Anyhow…I wonder if any of these are worth thinking about?
Obviously it’s not too tricky for an Administrator to make an Announcement (in the sense of the top-line, no-responses-permitted thread). Can that be implemented on a forum-by-forum basis?
Not only would it be vastly useful here – in the sense that one of the four or five of you with Admin. access could do an ATMB FAQ, and edit it as new material comes up, but it could be good for Arnold and CK to have a “Remember to post the @#%#%#% link to the column/staff report” announcement.
Alternatively, a “how-to” announcement with no expiration date (or one set for 12-31-2199 or something) available in all Forums would not be a terrible idea.
Apparently Announcements must be made across the board, not by individual forums. However, no one commented on the idea of using the Announcement function to provide FAQs until the Board Faq itself can be updated (whenever that might be ;)). I’m still not sure why this can’t be done. It might possibly save someone from asking “Who’s Opal?” once a week.
Just went and looked at the set up and you can custom tailor where announcements go, it looks like you can target them to ONE forum or send to ALL forums. So if you wanna send to more than one forum but not others you have to repost it over and over again.
Now you see why we send stuff to all forums.
The link to the FAQ is in the upper right hand corner of ever SDMB page and is also linked on the reply page, so what more do you need?
As for urging people to search first, that would be a lovely habit for people to get into, but I don’t think we can alter the coding so that this is automatic. Perhaps we can gently coax people into it.
