Develop Bugs

[Possible Solution] To Newbie RTFMs

Have a look at the form here:
http://support.catalyst2.com/index.php?_m=tickets&_a=submit
1. Submit the first page with any option (doesn't matter).
2. Type a few words like "email settings".
3. Notice the suggestions which pop up at the bottom, allowing to you find the solution without even having to actually submit your query, thus cutting down on questions which could easily be answered by the questioner themselves with a little research.
I'm not saying it will be easy, and it may very well reduce the site to a crawl, but you could have a pre-fetch on the articles held in the Wiki which would provide common solutions to a lot of threads which pop up with simple questions.
What might this require?
1. An up-to-date, correct, and well-referenced Wiki
2. Presumably a lot of server horsepower!
What will this prevent?
1. Easily answered questions like "Where can I find links to all the WM6 ROMs?
What will this not prevent?
1. Idiots who don't even read suggestions as they type their question
2. Recently solved problems in threads that get swamped by meaningless posts
3. Posts like "Thanks <insert name>, downloading now..."

Looks Good, BUT...
Looks good, but if you can't get a noob to search the forum using the provided search tools or to even correctly (correctly, being the operative word) google the site, we won't be able to get them to use this form...
Now, I do believe that you are on to something... IMHO, the search function should also include a link to google with the advanced search part already populated for searching in xda-devs... I know that there have been threads with the google links already posted, but they aren't stickies anywhere...
You are on the right track... Maybe all of the more knowledgeable members that are bother by this noob thing (like myself, since I am still a noob...) can simply add a link to the google search function in their sig, it will make it easier for newcomers to the site to locate the information they require...

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear -
The Create a thread, or Reply to thread, message box would have this feature implemented - so even as the person was typing in their mundane question, it would provide a link to the answer right in front of them which they would hopefully click before actually posting their question.
I think the search function on this forum is partly to blame, as any search under about 5 letters simply doesn't work. To make it better there are a few options:
1. Make it search Google by default
2. Make it default to replying with Posts rather than Threads (as some threads are hundreds of posts long)
3. Make it search both the Wiki and the Forum (solved with Google)

IMHO, the search function should also include a link to google with the advanced search part already populated for searching in xda-devs... I know that there have been threads with the google links already posted, but they aren't stickies anywhere...
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There is a google sticky alread. It just so happens to be 3 threads above this one
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=304582
1. Make it search Google by default
2. Make it default to replying with Posts rather than Threads (as some threads are hundreds of posts long)
3. Make it search both the Wiki and the Forum (solved with Google)
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I think you have a valid point Oli. I haev seen many posts with ppl voicing concerns about the search function, and I would tend to agree that it would help if it could be re-structured. Especially with the rate that this site is growing, some search function upgrading would be a good suggestion. However, just like finding any other type of info on the net, its all about your search skills. After spending enough time using the search tools, you find tricks and techniques to narrow your results. Im happy to see this thread, and hopfully the mods will combine their powers to find a way to simplify finding info here.

I am glad that there are ppl here that realize there is an issue with the search function... I also agree that there should not be a lot of stickies, but the BEST place for it, would be in the Search FAQ.... Have any of your read it... It is not that good and as a noob, doesn't show me the best way to implement it... It just says to use the search function... If I were top dog, I might change it a little, just to alleviate some of the darn stupid posts... maybe have it come up as a precursor to registering... Not that everyone will read it, but they will see it...
Just my .02 again... I'm gonna have to get some credit around here... these two pennies are gonna start to add up...

Request for feature change on this XDA-Dev Website

Hi,
I've been using the forum for a while, but I still have problems searching, and I would like to propose a couple of new features.
These features are based on a new user using the forum, and not from the perspective of a very experienced user.
SEARCH
1.
A brief help feature please, particularly of syntax terms and examples.
example: How do you search for the phrase 'Enable block recogniser' only.
Maybe there are other search operators that I do not know about. The point is that I want to search without lots of hits.
It may be that others will reply to this thread with the search terms - however that's not the point. It's where can I find out? Without asking administrators or bothering senior members.
2. Please add 'How to search' and any other common user requests (or common user **** ups you know about) to the FAQ.
It's where I would look. If that is the wrong place, please put a link from the FAQ to the right place as you have done.
I just love this site.
Please give someone some praise feedback...."Well done... it's really good, not just in the short term but in the long term".
A VERY useful, friendly site, well designed, and well manned for the average person's use.
Thanks
A

Forum Layout

Hi,
I've recently got a Touch Diamond and have found certain aspects of this forum helpful however I can't help but feel that this place has an appauling forum layout.
Are you afraid of creating some sub-sections or something? I mean seriously, what's the point of all the square bracket tags on the start of topic titles?
They don't make it easier to find because the topics are still jumbled up with all the others anyway and a good topic title should let you know what it is related to in the first place. I thought that maybe at least a search for a certain tag would reveal all of those topics but alas no, the search gave me no results at all even though I can see them on the screen in the forum listing it still doesn't find them.
Take the Diamond themes, apps & s/w section for example...
Why not simply create a sub-section for related topics such as Themes and hence have all theme topics together and do away with the need for tagging the titles.
Sorry to criticise your forum but I just don't see the logic in the current system as it makes things very difficult to find, especially when the search tells me there are no results containing [THM] or 1.93 etc. :lol:

Thanks for the reply regarding the search, hopefully I'll be able to find a little more of what I'm looking for now.
I've come across plenty of forums that don't allow searches for less than 4 characters but surely [THM] is 5 characters
Anyway, that's not my main point, I just think that the forum ingeneral would be friendlier to browse and need less searching if it was better organised to begin with.

Thanks again for the reply and nice little site overview
I agree that a good forum is run in a manner that keeps the members happy though it should also be as user friendly as possible. There are always people who prefer to avoid change but they will quickly get used to changes if they are for the better.
I'm a forum SuperModerator myself and my advise is that a clear layout helps a lot with finding info, where to post questions and also getting replies for those questions as topics don't get swapmed like they do in one large general section.
As for mods being unloved I would say that depends on how much of a presence they have in the forum, invisible mods are unloved because they are unknown with no personality but if your mods are active forum members they will be known and more respected as well as being someone people can go to if problems arise.
lol, sorry I didn't meant to launch into a forum moderation tutorial there

Chome Action URL and icon number for IE

I'd like to edit or create a sliding panel in Ookba's latest EVO ROM release for IE. I have an idea of how to do it (or at least try) but would appreciate it if someone could post the action URL needed for IE and the icon/picture number. With those I think I can get into trouble on my own. I did a semi-serious search but didn't turn up anything that helped me out. Thanks in advance.

You guys are not following the rules!
This is a 3VO Rom question, and it should be posted in the proper thread , not make a new one.
All you guys are doing is making more clutter , more amount of results , when someone does a search. Please keep questions in the proper thread.

roloracer said:
You guys are not following the rules!
This is a 3VO Rom question, and it should be posted in the proper thread , not make a new one.
All you guys are doing is making more clutter , more amount of results , when someone does a search. Please keep questions in the proper thread.
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True Speak!
In genral the front page has become multiple "questions already answered" & "even non smartphone related outside of appropriate thread"
Yeah i'm b*chin
b.t.w roloracer your service icons look sweet

Okay, delete/move thread since I don't have the ability to do it.

Nailed On Da Cross !!! Lol

The funny thing is that in the time it took you to type up your admonishment I'd be willling to bet at least one of you (if not both) could have provided me with the info I'm looking for. Maybe a "Please keep all related threads together and by the way.." response. Just and idea. Everyone, including you, was a noob once.

[Q] Should each 'Cook/ROM' have its own section

I think each ROM should have its own section not just a thread. I find searching through 1000+ posts for one bit of info very hard work, and I bet others do as well. Search is good but unless you know the exact wording its not always the best option.
With each ROM having its own section each question will be in its own thread, making finding the answers to repeated questions much easier.
What say the masses ?
Thanks

interesting idea...but think not possible or..?

You know requesting new sections every day would be pain in the arse for moderators?
It's good as it is now.

When you have one sub-forum for each rom then you have a loooooooong list ... and thats not better then so
Questions shouldnt be in dev section - so there are only dev threads -> done
Question about an spezific rom can be posted in the rom thread.

I think this can be achieved through "Related Threads" (With some modification). So that once u open a thread from one developer all this threads in the same section apear at the bottom.
Just a wild idea

Maybe the mods can make the most useful/best roms sticky...

agree! very hard and sometimes slow to search through 10,000 posts .. it 's often a nightmare to follow the thread

yeahman45 said:
agree! very hard and sometimes slow to search through 10,000 posts .. it 's often a nightmare to follow the thread
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search button ftw?

howdid said:
search button ftw?
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even with search button.. e.g. you search for an issue on battery.. you see someone who asked the question... then i must scroll down(or move next page) to search if someone actually replied and gave a solution to the issue (assuming a there's a reply or solution to the question)... in between you have tons of other unrelated questions/replies/opinions/thanks etc... lol i think you know what i mean

BorgCymru said:
What say the masses ?
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The masses say no. We like asking the same questions all over again, or even better opening the new threads for every query we have.
Your idea is good but what you propose can't be done. It can't be avoided as it would be a forum utopia sort off. Google is more powerful than forum search. Good info doesn't necessarily have to come from XDA.
And for starters this thread is in totally wrong section.

How about a section for roms with sense and a section for roms without sense? or maybe section for ports from other devices and a section for "almost" stock roms. Mabye 2 - 4 subcategories would be a good idea. Another good idea would be that the cooks would use a specific format for the thread names like "Update/Date - Rom name - Version - Cook".
just my two cents in some bad english ^^

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