Mark thread RESOLVED.

[Eranga]

Hi all,

I've work on with this forum almost around an year. I don't found any way to mark a thread RESOLVED after finding the answer. I think it is better if we have such a way to do it. Sometimes we have to read lots of replay to find that it is resolved or not. At the same time some old threads are there in some forums sections without any solution.

If there is some image(may be a check mark, which is usually used in many forums) user can easily identify that it need more help or not.

I'm looking your guys feedback on this.

Regards,
Eranga

[JavaBean]

Hi Eranga,

Looks like a good suggestion. I can check if there is any plugin to do this but can you give an example forum where user can easily identify that it need more help or not as you mentioned in your post? I would like to see how it looks like and alternative implementation to chek for the best solution..

[Eranga]

Hi JavaBean,

Thanks for your interest on my suggestion. Actually we can use a tick mark in front of the thread title. If there is a tick mark people know that it is already resolved. So only if he has interest on that question, he can read it.

People can choose an icon, a post icon given in the list. If we can change that icon to a tick it is better. We can include that option in Thread Tools.

Thanks.

[JavaBean]

Hi Eranga,

I found this extension:

Mark Threads As 'Solved' - vBulletin.org Forum

That is exactly what we are looking for. But i have two concerns:

1. It appends "[SOLVED]" to the thread title. I need to make sure that the urls is not being changed too. Since we are using a SEO component to rewrite urls on the forum, it might be a problem. Changing urls later is not good for search engines and the web site.

2. New users are lazy or just want their problems solved. You can check how new users post their codes to the forum. They almost always do not use [code] tag :) I think the "[SOLVED]" will have the same issue. The new users will not mark threads solved.

[Eranga]

Hi Eranga,

I found this extension:

Mark Threads As 'Solved' - vBulletin.org Forum

That is exactly what we are looking for. But i have two concerns:

Yep that is correct way to get use.

1. It appends "[SOLVED]" to the thread title. I need to make sure that the urls is not being changed too. Since we are using a SEO component to rewrite urls on the forum, it might be a problem. Changing urls later is not good for search engines and the web site.

I agreed with you. Most of the SEO components are real mess in modifying. If it is possible simply we can omit that "[SOLVED]" part on the searching of the forum.

2. New users are lazy or just want their problems solved. You can check how new users post their codes to the forum. They almost always do not use [code] tag :) I think the "[SOLVED]" will have the same issue. The new users will not mark threads solved.

That is also true. Most of the users always only looking there answers. ;) Such things can be easily omit by them. I've just give an suggestion. If you can try something to do on this. We can make some FAQ to edit the first post, at least, and state there the thread is solved in clear visibility.

[JavaBean]

For such cases, i prefer to wait until the concerns i have in my mind are cleared. I will reconsider installing this plugin (or find a clear solution) later. We are still in the early stages of this community. I think community needs (with their priorities) will be more clear by time. Thanks again for your suggestion.

In the mean time, i also would like to see other users's comments about this suggestion.

[Eranga]

I agreed with you, still our community is in first few steps. Need to find more users here, for the best approach.

May be there is not enough number of users to comment on my suggestion:p

[CaptainMorgan]

I think this is a great idea, provided it doesn't hurt the url and SEO concerns mentioned above. I specifically like the tick or check mark to signify a solved problem, also mentioned above. Is it possible to get this combination?

[CaptainMorgan]

Any updates regarding this topic? I was visiting a forum this past weekend and was seeing threads that said, "Solved" on them. It further hit home, so to speak, how searching a forum for a problem/solution would be made more efficient for users.

"I've got this problem.. oh.. someone has a similar issue but I don't know if I want to open that thread(for various reasons) - but wait, theirs is solved! Looks like I'm gonna check it out. Wow, that saved me a lot of time"

I think you get the idea.... something to consider. Any definitives regarding the impact on SEO it might have? If there are still concerns, I will contact that communities' owner and see how they're coping with the feature.

[CaptainMorgan]

1. It appends "[SOLVED]" to the thread title. I need to make sure that the urls is not being changed too. Since we are using a SEO component to rewrite urls on the forum, it might be a problem. Changing urls later is not good for search engines and the web site.

I just talked with the owner of a popular forum and it was confirmed that it does not change the urls. It was further stated even if it did change the urls, that from a SEO perspective it would only matter across different sites, not across multiple pages of the same site.

2. New users are lazy or just want their problems solved. You can check how new users post their codes to the forum. They almost always do not use [code] tag :) I think the "[SOLVED]" will have the same issue. The new users will not mark threads solved.

True. After a few attempts, newbies understand the benefits of using the [code] tags.. this could also be true for the solved option. Further, experienced members, I would expect, would be more responsible in using this feature.

Let us know your thoughts on this.

[Eranga]

Any updates regarding this topic? I was visiting a forum this past weekend and was seeing threads that said, "Solved" on them. It further hit home, so to speak, how searching a forum for a problem/solution would be made more efficient for users.

Actually I'm waiting for others replay as well. Pal, you can see that only three people(including me) replay for this tread. I'm worried why others don't want to replay this tread and give some feedback to our community.

[CaptainMorgan]

you can see that only three people(including me) replay for this tread. I'm worried why others don't want to replay this tread and give some feedback to our community.

As is the case the farther down the front page you go. Most users like to stick to their respective locations a lot, ie: subjects they know about or subjects they're specifically here for help on, etc.

[Eranga]

True. After a few attempts, newbies understand the benefits of using the [code] tags.. this could also be true for the solved option. Further, experienced members, I would expect, would be more responsible in using this feature.Let us know your thoughts on this.

Yep, use of tags like [code], [QUOTE] etc would be a real advantage for newbies. We have give some feedback to them for get use it.

[Eranga]

As is the case the farther down the front page you go. Most users like to stick to their respective locations a lot, ie: subjects they know about or subjects they're specifically here for help on, etc.

Yep, thats is true. Even me not deal on all of the forums. But as a habit I go through all the forums and see there is any possibility give some help to others or I have to learn something there.

I think it is a good habit in a place like a forum community. What you think?

[DonCash]

I definitely think people should add [RESOLVED] or something similar to the thread title after the issue has been solved. This makes it alot easier to see when people still require help. Its also good for people looking for help to see when a simular issue has already been answered. Is the tick system currently in place? I haven't really noticed many threads with it.

[Eranga]

Not a bad suggestion. But I don't know how far people really get use of it to do. Anyway, we'll see what other guys thought on this.

[DonCash]

Most programming forums I am a member of do this same thing. It makes sense to have this structure in place. Once people start doing it it becomes second nature. If people forget then other posters can remind them to please mark the thread as resolved. I definitely think this will improve the user experience of these forums. I know it will help me to answer more questions here effectively.

[JavaForums]

Ok, tomorrow i will upgrade forum software and try to install "Mark Thread Solved" plugin.

[DonCash]

Cool. Failing that you can just ask people to edit and add [RESOLVED] to their thread title once the problem is fixed. No need to install any plugins or whatever then. But if there is something out there that seems good then go for it..

[CaptainMorgan]

Ok, tomorrow i will upgrade forum software and try to install "Mark Thread Solved" plugin.

I'm particularly looking forward to this addition to our great community.

Cheers