Are you tired of asking what SMF Version someone is using?

[青山 素子]

When I was working on support here back in the 1.1 days, there was a required version field for all new topics in the support boards. 80-90% of the time, it was incorrect. Many people also chose "Don't Know" even when they could easily check the footer of their forum.

I will agree it's a good idea, but it's been tried before and found to be much more hassle than it was worth, and most of the time the technician needed to check the version was correct anyway. Basically, more time was spent than was saved.

[aishaweb]

Lets not forget that a lot people dont read any rules or stickies before posting, most are desperate for help and just post anywhere, mostly with the topic title "HELP!!!!111!!".

Then you have the non-english speakers who dont have much chance of finding the correct section to post in or understanding the requirements of formatting a good question in a foreign language.

[kat]

I've often been tempted to put "Not enough information - Topic ignored" under some posts...

[petabyte]

I've often been tempted to put "Not enough information - Topic ignored" under some posts...

I dare you to...

[Allusion]

A notice just above the post box, under the smiley row, in the New Topic page in the support boards (and only those) should help a bit. I'm not saying it would solve the issue once and for all, of course, but it could prompt some posters who otherwise just don't know better. It could even be applied only to new members.

And if other posters would just fail to read it, it's logical (albeit a bit cynical) that they would fail to read and/or apply answers properly too. Those who just ignore it don't deserve help either.

[Liam.]

A note on Arantor's points; it's either something like that, or nothing so we'll just get mad at people that don't post their version...

[Nick Whetstone]

Liam., his point is that we'll still get mad when someone doesn't post their version. They'll post the wrong version, or it'll get outdated; incorrect info is worse than no info IMO.

[Liam.]

Liam., his point is that we'll still get mad when someone doesn't post their version. They'll post the wrong version, or it'll get outdated; incorrect info is worse than no info IMO.

But some people would care to enter this, as it'd be easier than typing it out... We'd get mad at less people - plus if someone puts it in wrong, they'd get support for the wrong version - their fault.

[Allusion]

plus if someone puts it in wrong, they'd get support for the wrong version - their fault.

And other people would waste time helping about a wrong version.

It's a good thing that each SMF branch is feature-locked and there are separate support boards for 1.x and 2.0, and most issues aren't really related to what minor version their SMF install is.

SMF Coding Discussion, Graphics and Templates and some other boards would benefit from being split into separate boards for 1.x and 2.0. This could very well be convenient to people who want to help only/mainly on one branch or the other.

[Liam.]

plus if someone puts it in wrong, they'd get support for the wrong version - their fault.

And other people would waste time helping about a wrong version.

It's a good thing that each SMF branch is feature-locked and there are separate support boards for 1.x and 2.0, and most issues aren't really related to what minor version their SMF install is.

SMF Coding Discussion, Graphics and Templates and some other boards would benefit from being split into separate boards for 1.x and 2.0. This could very well be convenient to people who want to help only/mainly on one branch or the other.

True, but look at the changes between RC1 and RC2 for the 2.0 versions... Alot of things changed, so support went a bit icky there when it was released ^_^

Mod Requests to add another board that needs it - most of Arantor's 38k posts are from telling people to post their version in that board ^_^

[青山 素子]

A notice just above the post box, under the smiley row, in the New Topic page in the support boards (and only those) should help a bit. I'm not saying it would solve the issue once and for all, of course, but it could prompt some posters who otherwise just don't know better. It could even be applied only to new members.

Been done, didn't work at all. About 70% of the time, they chose "don't know" the remaining 29.99% it was wrong. See my previous post with more details.

[Allusion]

A notice just above the post box, under the smiley row, in the New Topic page in the support boards (and only those) should help a bit. I'm not saying it would solve the issue once and for all, of course, but it could prompt some posters who otherwise just don't know better. It could even be applied only to new members.

Been done, didn't work at all. About 70% of the time, they chose "don't know" the remaining 29.99% it was wrong. See my previous post with more details.

I know, but I said a "notice," not a selection list. Something along the lines of "Lower your shields and prepare to be boarded. Your individual and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is--"

Where was I? Ah yes, something like "Please mention the SMF version you are using and any other details that might help us help you."

[Cassiel]

Another thing I'd note on a tangent, did you know mods used to have a rating system? Until you got "Not for my version 0/5" or "Doesn't install 0/5".

Just a question. Were the ratings moderated? I.e., could staff delete them?

[Kindred]

we do not have the time nor the staff to moderate every single review or comment.
We have enough of a hassle dealing with all of you pesky users and your problems (that was a joke, BTW)

On the note of the notice or the drop-down...   won't work and would complicate upgrades to this site. In general, people are either a) unobservant and will miss it, b) lazy and won't pay attention to it, or follow it even if they do read it or c) plain old uncaring or stupid and think that the requests and suggestions don't apply to them.

[kat]

Makes you wonder if arranging it so that the "Start a new topic" button automatically made a form pop up, where you had to enter such information would work.


I guess they'd all just post support topics in ChitChat...

[Herman's Mixen]

Well i did ask awhile back in our dutch boards for somethink like a 1.1.x Board and a 2.0.x Board so its easier for us to split the old 1.1.x topics to those boards and new questions can be posted there as well... maybe an idea to do this for every language board

but i dont see this happen 

[KensonPlays]

I'd loyally update my version/theme!

[Allusion]

and would complicate upgrades to this site.

As long as it's documented in the internal site documentation, it shouldn't be that much of a problem to add two lines of code back to the template after every upgrade.

In general, people are either a) unobservant and will miss it, b) lazy and won't pay attention to it, or follow it even if they do read it or c) plain old uncaring or stupid and think that the requests and suggestions don't apply to them.

If some people will follow it, the mission would be accomplished. Every bit helps, you know.

[Kindred]

actually, no...   every bit, in this case would be more trouble than help because for every person that used it the correct way, we'd have 10 who left it blank and 5 who fill in the WRONG information, thus making it harder, not easier

[flapjack]

what about creating a template for the support boards that will have to have all the fields filled (and I mean no "I don't know") in order to be able to create a support topic?