SMF Community Helpers > SMF Documentation Help
[Rewrite] - Moving Topics
B:
Let's remove the Mass Moving Topics heading, as it's not really needed. Also, let's take out "Follow the directions below to enable checkboxes:" and just merge the directions into that paragraph.
B
Chas Large:
Rewrite #3
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---If a topic has been posted in a board that does not relate to the subject it can be moved to a more appropriate board. Go to the topic and select the Move Topic button. A page with several options will appear offering different boards and ways to move the topic. If you want to post a redirection topic, check the box next to Post a redirection topic.
A redirection topic includes the original name of the topic along with a link to the board it was moved to and a link to the newly moved topic. By default, redirection topics are locked. If the subject of the topic requires changing, check the box next to Change the topic's subject. A field for a new subject will appear.
A further selection allows all the subjects of all of the posts' subjects to be changed as well. Check the box next to Change every message's subject. Now select the destination board and then select the Move Topic button.
It is also possible to move multiple topics from one board to another by going to the message index of a board and using quick-moderation. In order to move multiple topics at the same time, checkboxes need to be enabled. Select Profile > Modify Profile > Look and Layout The Show quick-moderation as option has a drop-down box. Within that box select the checkboxes option and then select the Change Profile button.
Return to the posts to be moved and check the box in the upper right-hand corner of each post, then scroll down to the bottom of the topic to the two dropdown boxes and a Go button. Select Move Selected To in the left-hand box, and select the destination for the moved topics in the right-hand dropdown box. When selections are complete, select the Go button.
--- End quote ---
B:
We're getting there. :)
The first paragraph still has a "you" reference.
On a similar note I have a more general comment that can be applied to all of your docs, so far. Since we don't use personal pronouns (I, you, we, etc.), you have a tendency to remove "you" from sentences and leave the sentence structure the same. This usually results in an imperative sentence like the following.
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---Go to the topic and select the Move Topic button.
--- End quote ---
Technically speaking, there is no "you" in the sentence, so it meets our doc guidelines (for now ;)). The subject of an imperative sentence, however, is you. :) Tricky, huh? You can usually see it by placing "You" at the start of the sentence like this.
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---(You) Go to the topic and select the Move Topic button.
--- End quote ---
Sorry if you already knew all that, but maybe it will help someone else. :) In reality we should avoid imperative sentences, as they basically contradict our commitment to avoiding personal pronouns. The sentence could be rewritten something like this.
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---If a topic has been posted in a board that does not relate to the subject it can be moved to a more appropriate board by selecting the Move Topic button.
--- End quote ---
There are a bunch of imperative sentences in this doc. :) Why don't we try to eliminate most (all?) of them.
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---Return to the posts to be moved and check the box in the upper right-hand corner of each post, then scroll down to the bottom of the topic to the two dropdown boxes and a Go button. Select Move Selected To in the left-hand box, and select the destination for the moved topics in the right-hand dropdown box. When selections are complete, select the Go button.
--- End quote ---
I think you mean to say "topics" in this paragraph, rather than "posts." It looks like you may have copied it from somewhere else and forgot to change the terms. :)
B
Chas Large:
Rewrite #4
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---If a topic has been posted in a board that does not relate to the board, it can be moved to a more appropriate board. Select the Move Topic button in the topic to be moved. A page with several options will appear offering different boards and ways to move the topic. If a redirection topic post is required, check the box next to Post a redirection topic.
A redirection topic includes the original name of the topic along with a link to the board it was moved to and a link to the newly moved topic. By default, redirection topics are locked. If the subject of the topic requires changing, check the box next to Change the topic's subject. A field for a new subject will appear.
A further selection allows all the subjects of all of the posts' subjects to be changed as well. Check the box next to Change every message's subject, select the destination board and then select the Move Topic button.
It is also possible to move multiple topics from one board to another by using quick-moderation. In order to move multiple topics at the same time, checkboxes need to be enabled. Select Profile > Modify Profile > Look and Layout The Show quick-moderation as option has a drop-down box. Within that box select the checkboxes option then select the Change Profile button.
In the board where the topics are to be moved, check the box to the far right of each topic in the list. Scroll down to the bottom of the list to the two dropdown boxes and a Go button. Select Move Selected To in the left-hand box, and select the destination for the moved topics in the right-hand dropdown box. When selections are complete, select the Go button.
--- End quote ---
B:
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---(You) Select the Move Topic button in the topic to be moved.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---If a redirection topic post is required, (you) check the box next to Post a redirection topic.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---If the subject of the topic requires changing, (you) check the box next to Change the topic's subject.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---(You) Check the box next to Change every message's subject, (you) select the destination board and then (you) select the Move Topic button.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---(You) Select Profile > Modify Profile > Look and Layout
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---Within that box (you) select the checkboxes option then (you) select the Change Profile button.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Chas Large ---In the board where the topics are to be moved, (you) check the box to the far right of each topic in the list. (You) Scroll down to the bottom of the list to the two dropdown boxes and a Go button. (You) Select Move Selected To in the left-hand box, and (you) select the destination for the moved topics in the right-hand dropdown box. When selections are complete, (you) select the Go button.
--- End quote ---
These are all imperative sentences. :) I've added "you" to them, so it's easier to see. We need to make SMF the subject of the documentation, instead of the reader. Rather than saying, "(You) check the box," say "This feature can be enabled by selecting the checkbox." The feature (and thus, SMF) then becomes the subject of the sentence, rather than the reader.
B
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