Required info for posts in Help

BSOD2600 · Post by **BSOD2600** » 2004-06-14 16:22

Ok, I'm tired of asking the same questions over and over again for the posts in the Help forum. So I propose to create a standard set of questions that should stop us from having to ask the same shit over and over again. Is there any way to force users to read a link before posting? For example here: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/sitehelp when you click on New Post, it forces you to read another page of commonly asked stuff before continuing on with posting....

If there is not a way that can be implemented, then having a sticky at the top of the forum that the users will hopefully use/fill out (or we can simply paste into a post) will be the only other way to go. Here is a list of questions I've come up with so far...

1) Have you read the FAQ?
2) What version of DC++ (that includes DC++ mods too!)
3) What Operating System ?
4) Any software firewall? If so, the name / version
5) Any routers/modems? If so, the brand / model / firmware
6) Internal IP address ( Start | Run | CMD | ipconfig ) [sensor the last two octets if it matches your public IP]

joakim_tosteberg · Post by **joakim_tosteberg** » 2004-06-14 17:37

7. Active/passive mode? If active, does it work in passive (only for testing reasons)?

TheParanoidOne · Post by **TheParanoidOne** » 2004-06-14 17:44

Heh. I already have a snippet of text like that, preformatted using BBCode that I can easily paste into a Help/Support. Has saved me loads of time.

Putting that information into a sticky seems like a futile gesture. Those who think about these things will have already noticed one of us spouting off those questions and therefore have the answers ready. Those who don't give a shit (the majority) will not bother reading the sticky.

Cynical? Perhaps. Realistic? Definitely.

But I guess it can't hurt, so why not. :shrug:

Todi · Post by **Todi** » 2004-06-14 17:58

IMHO, a sticky won't help. They already ignore those. But maybe force them to read it if they want to post (or start a thread) in the Help/Support forum? That should minimize the impact on "regular" users, and increase the chance of the ones wanting help reading it. However, If we're gonna do it like this (which i think would be good), we need to lower ourselves to the users level

Suggested wording (i can work on it some more later, but in this direction):

1) Have you read the list of Frequently Asked Questions? Perhaps your questions has already been answered there.
2) What version of DC++ are you using? (that includes clients based on DC++ also, so called Mods/Clones)
3) What Operating System are you using? (Usually a version of Windows, like 2000 or XP)
4) Do you use a software firewall? If so, please specify the name and version.
5) Do you use a router or a modem to connect to the internet? If so, please specify the brand / model / firmware if you know it.
6) What is your internal IP address (in Windows -> Start button | Run... | type "CMD" (or "Command") and press Enter | type "ipconfig" and press Enter) [sensor the last two numbers if it matches your public IP]
7. Are you in Active or Passive mode? (Check your settings) If you are active, try using Passive mode, does that solve your problem? (for testing purposes only)

TheParanoidOne · Post by **TheParanoidOne** » 2004-06-14 18:25

I'm not sure about how the questions should be delivered to the people, but I agree with Todi about the style.

An addition to Q2 could be "Find out the version by going to Help --> About" or something along those lines.

While making it understandable is good, the negative side of this approach is that "wordy" help messages are more likely to be ignored than brief succinct messages. It's a case of trying to find the right balance.

Or "damned if you do, damned if you don't".

Post by **GargoyleMT** » 2004-06-14 23:51

Sidenote, there's a similar text of "what do to" when submitting a feature and bug request on sourceforge, but we still get duplicates.

Todi · Post by **Todi** » 2004-06-16 15:06

While we're (possibly) doing changes to the forum, here are some features that would be nice (phpbb mods):

Merge two topics together.
Attach files to posts.

Also, it should be pretty easy to fit whatever text we decide on to http://dcplusplus.sourceforge.net/forum ... wtopic&f=3, well somehow anyway. (Add an extra table or whatnot)

Sedulus · Post by **Sedulus** » 2004-06-16 20:07

Todi wrote:Also, it should be pretty easy to fit whatever text we decide on to http://dcplusplus.sourceforge.net/forum ... wtopic&f=3, well somehow anyway. (Add an extra table or whatnot)

hmyes..
something like "if we don't conclude from your post that you've at least tried to search for the information first (big search link button goes here. changelog link perhaps, faq links), your chances of getting a helpful reply become drastically low" and perhaps a "refrain from using excessive capital letters and/or exclamation/question marks and/or huge/colored fonts"

MT, you have write access, right?

Post by **GargoyleMT** » 2004-06-17 19:57

Todi wrote:Attach files to posts.

Our mysql database is already way bigger than is recommended by SourceForge, FYI.

Attaching files isn't a good idea, unless we limit it to moderators.

Post by **GargoyleMT** » 2004-06-17 20:01

Sedulus wrote:MT, you have write access, right?

Maybe, the unix perms for the webpage are all over the place.

Todi · Post by **Todi** » 2004-06-17 20:06

Well, i can live without attaching files.. although it would have simplified a couple of threads.

Required info for posts in Help

Required info for posts in Help

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