Gentle forum reminder

[Foxdie]

This is a non-intrusive reminder to all people visiting our lovely forums to use the \"Search\" feature at the top of the page to see if your questions have already been answered.

I have noticed that one particular question referring to Zaurus hardware expansions has been asked at least a couple of times since the beginning of 2004.

Please use the Search feature before posting, thankyou.

[stormer]

It needs to be the search between the FAQ and Memberlist, rather than the one at the top of the page, as the one at the top of the page doesn\'t seem to work that well e.g. no hits on a search for zaurus or OZ !

[tumnus]

The search at the top of the ZUG pages is a search on the news topics only.

In fact, to search the forums, you need to use the \'Search\' link at the top of the forum index or click here:
http://www.zaurususergroup.com/index.php?n...BB2&file=search

It\'s best to try several different sets of keywords and if that does not return any results, surround all your keywords with *asterisks* as it only matches whole words by default.

The ZUG FAQ can be searched by using the \'Advanced Search\' link on the left or you can click here: http://www.zaurususergroup.com/modules.php...arch&file=index

The ZUG Howtos are searched by using the search box at the bottom of any of the howto pages.

[tapjpa]

Aother point of note, please follow the topics, I see numerous post related directly to OZ and other topics out here in the General Discussion area.

[Omicron]

Here\'s a thought, what about creating a FAQ forum (controlled by the moderators and read-only for everyone else.)

That way as the same question gets asked a few times (or even the first time, but is a great question/answer) it can be moved/copied to the FAQ forum.  

The FAQ forum should consist of (more or less) exact questions and pointed answers...much like a FAQ.  

This solves the several probelms at once:

1) The forum search will hit both FAQ and forums (\"one search to rule them all\"  )
2) The community can note (to moderators) what they believe are good canidates for FAQ forums.
3) It would contain ONLY on-topic (concise) threads, instead of the wandering nature of most thread (which is generally fine for other forums). This may require some editing by the moderators before placement  into the FAQ fourm.
4) (This is a guess) I would imagine moving/coping the posts from the originating forum to the FAQ forum would be easier (than to copying to the FAQ file itself). Also, the FAQ forum would tend to stay more up-to-date than the actual FAQ... due to the dynamic nature of the originating forums.
5) A nice source for updating the real FAQ from time to time.
6) Can eventaully become a FAQ forum CATEGORY once it gets big enough (ie: A catgory containing forums like: Hardware FAQ, drivers FAQ, Development FAQ, 5500 FAQ, 7XX0 forum, etc).


The problem with FAQ files is the F (Frequently)....Oftentimes it is the infrequent questions (that require some discussion, research, and \"back and forth\") that tend to get lost in the forums as they get older (and never qualify as FAQ material).  Some really good insights (that are not \"frequently\" asked, tend to never make it to the FAQ file, but are really very useful.  Generally more complex topics (like MAME setup,  Tricks/tips/shortcuts, config issues, etc, etc) can generate new development branches if they were placed in an area of high exposure over time.  So the FAQ forum could concievably contain these threads but in a more concise Q and A format.  

Just a thought.  I have never seen anything like this before, but I really think it would be a boon to keep the duplicates out and also to keep the infrequent (but highly useful) questions right out where people can see them (and in the case of technical Q and A\'s) build upon them.

[offroadgeek]

Omicron - thank you for the post, especially for the clarity and thoughtfulness in it.  I think it\'s a wonderful idea, and could really help the FAQ from becoming a stale artifact.

I need to let it sink in (i\'m tired and not thinking very clearly right now).  Anyone else have any thoughts about this, ie. what could help make this successful, what we should not do.... etc.

Thanks again omicron.

[lardman]

Good idea, but I\'d prefer to do this on the wiki. Sometimes people get things wrong and if this were to happen in the FAQ forum then the posts would start meandering again.

Perhaps a FAQ request forum, which would let someone request a FAQ about something and then the FAQ writer could point people to the wiki page and let them know something has been added/updated, etc.?

I don\'t know, just a thought.

Si

[tumnus]

Well this site already has the unofficial FAQ section where people can post questions and anyone can answer. Also anyone can edit the existing FAQs to keep them up to date. IMHO, it could just do with the searching being unified and cleaned up a little. It would be nice to have one simple search page that searched the fourms, FAQ and wiki and nothing else.

[ScottYelich]

I agree with lardman ... wiki is best.. all it takes is for people to aggressively refer people to the
wiki and *NOT* answer a \"FAQ\" ...  otherwise, the FAQ (location) will be ignored.

Scott

[Omicron]

Good idea, but I\'d prefer to do this on the wiki. Sometimes people get things wrong and if this were to happen in the FAQ forum then the posts would start meandering again.

Si

One part of the idea was that the FAQ forum was moderator controlled (read-only for everyone else), so that should keep items correct, on-topic and concise (Since the moderators would perhaps edit for clarity)

There are alot of people that simply jump to a site, specifically to post a message and don\'t look at the whole site (and this is a pretty big site).  I think that 90% of your duplicates probably come from theses users.

 However, a \"FAQ Forum\" would possibly catch the attention of the user before they post, since they need to look for the appropriate forum to post to (well, they should anyway).

Duplicates, loss of great ideas/knowledge, and out-dated FAQs, are probably the biggest problems with most user groups IMHO, and I really believe that this would be a tremendous help...or be a complete waste of time :wink:  (covering all bases here, heh heh)

But I am new here, so I will leave to you senior guys/gals to decide.  

On last thought.  The FAQ Forum could have as itt\'s first posts info about FAQ and wiki.   (Cause I don\'t know what wiki is  :roll: )

[TonyOlsen]

Where can we go a general search over all posts in all forums?  Some subjects apply to multiple forums?  If I had this I wouldn\'t have to ask as much...

[Stubear]

Where can we go a general search over all posts in all forums?  Some subjects apply to multiple forums?  If I had this I wouldn\'t have to ask as much...

There is a header at the top of the page next to the logo - it contains links to the FAQ, search, Memberlist etc etc, use the search link to go to the search page where you can search through the whole forum.

Stu

[TonyOlsen]

But it isn\'t always that easy... for example I posted a message regarding ogg-vorbis files and now I can\'t find it.  I looked in some of the forums I thought it would be in, but it isn\'t there.  We need a global search ability.

[tumnus]

Er, click the Search link at the top of the forums page, the one in between the FAQ and Memberlist link not the one at the top of the main index, enter \"ogg\" as the search keyword and your thread is the first in the results.

[TonyOlsen]

Ah... multiple search features on the site... I was using the wrong one.  Thanks! =)  Maybe that information (which search features are used for what) should be posted at the top of the first page, since I can imagine a lot of new comers go to the homepage, enter a search (not knowing that THAT search is only for the new posts), can find what they\'re looking for, get discouraged, and then leave to look for other websites for info...