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...

How cool would it be...

...if we could bookmark single posts, and not just threads on here?
For example, I open this post in a new tab, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15674362&postcount=37121
I wish I could bookmark it.
I know some forums have that, but I don't think XDA does, just subscribed threads.

HipKat said:
...if we could bookmark single posts, and not just threads on here?
For example, I open this post in a new tab, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15674362&postcount=37121
I wish I could bookmark it.
I know some forums have that, but I don't think XDA does, just subscribed threads.
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I presume you don't mean browser bookmark?

Correct. I mean on the site, where I can go to my profile and along with my subscribed threads would be bookmarks.
SDX has this.

Great idea
I've had to dig through my post history to point six members in the direction of some instructions to put Android on the HD2 now.

Excellent idea, I have seen this already on another forum !

+1, i would say its a great idea.

xda needs threads inside threads

xda forum posts are a pain to search through- multiple topics are discussed in a single thread for a rom, a thread system like reddit would make this site so much more efficient to read. Alternatively, posts could be auto-tagged or categorized by issues and the user could filter based on those tags- imagine clicking on the tag "camera" and getting posts related to camera issues/solutions rather than reading through the whole thread. :silly:

Great idea, I've never thought of that...this could make it too easy to read the threads like u mentioned..this feature can be made for Android Development and Original Android Development sections, but one does not simply ask for a change. :silly:
(and you earned your first thank from me)

.:QueNNch:. said:
Great idea, I've never thought of that...this could make it too easy to read the threads like u mentioned..this feature can be made for Android Development and Original Android Development sections, but one does not simply ask for a change. :silly:
(and you earned your first thank from me)
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I agree with you. magnificent

We have a search function on the site and in our app also. Your idea is very good though, probably could reduce a lot of useless post and unneeded Question thread. The only issue I see for this though is implementing this into xda, one way we could do it small sections at a time. I'll bring this thread up with other mods and Admins for sure.

But it would make things horrible in large threads. Everybody would be wanting to participate in the main convo of the OP, and irrelevant issues could be dragged on and on; both of which would defeat the purpose.
Plus, there would be countless possibilites where a new post would appear.

a.cid said:
But it would make things horrible in large threads. Everybody would be wanting to participate in the main convo of the OP, and irrelevant issues could be dragged on and on; both of which would defeat the purpose.
Plus, there would be countless possibilites where a new post would appear.
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Why not be able to choose the way you view the thread and subsequent replies? (Also, they can be hidden from view unless clicked on)
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

You want threads inside threads and just make more mess of the current layout and then more mods when not needed. Just leave things as they are. No need for more mess and more mods running around the place. :banghead:
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Yo dawg, I heard you like threads, so I put the threads inside your threads, so you can read the threads while you read the threads
-sent from my awesome phone-

If you're using a browser, go to the top of the page and check under "display modes". One of them allows you to see the thread in conversation mode, so replies are tied to posts, making it more of a treeview.
I think this is what you're asking for.
If you're looking for it on the app then you'd have to speak to the Tapatalk developers about integrating said display modes into their app before it ever made its way into the xda app.

Archer said:
If you're using a browser, go to the top of the page and check under "display modes". One of them allows you to see the thread in conversation mode, so replies are tied to posts, making it more of a treeview.
I think this is what you're asking for.
If you're looking for it on the app then you'd have to speak to the Tapatalk developers about integrating said display modes into their app before it ever made its way into the xda app.
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Yea that's what I was thinking. It shows the replies right after the post. Was gonna post this, but ya beat me to it.

Just takes some getting use to, subscribe and store in fav
Sent from my PG86100 using xda app-developers app

I don't think its a good idea. With that xda will become very messed up and not noob friendly.
Sent from my GT-I9070

Improvement suggestion: sorting of posts in participated section

Hi,
Got an improvement suggestion for the desktop site under Participated threads section:
This section shows 15 threads I participated in. It could have been OK, if not for the following:
1. Threads are sorted by their creation date. This means that if there are new posts in "veteran threads" (and there are lots of mega threads like these), they will soon be out of the list.
2. There's no way to see the next threads in the list (next 15 or so).
This means that if there are new posts in such threads in which I participated, I will not see them at all. Of course I can subscribe to all these threads, but why do so if there's a section for it?
Just to compare, if I browse the forum via the Tapatalk app, I'm able to see new posts in this section sorted by the date of the last post. I believe this should be the right way to go.
I think this is a small and necessary change that should be quite easy to implement.
Cheers.

Anybody home? Maybe this is not the right forum to raise such a suggestion?

Thanks for the suggestion, but we recommend subscribing to a thread if you want to be kept up to date on progress. The "Participated Threads" tab sorts in order of last update.

bitpushr said:
Thanks for the suggestion, but we recommend subscribing to a thread if you want to be kept up to date on progress. The "Participated Threads" tab sorts in order of last update.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for your answer. However, it seems that at least on the desktop site, the "participated threads" section is not sorted by last update (as it should), but by thread creation order.

Kindly would like to bump this:
The participated section should have the exact effect as performing an advanced search with myself as the posting user. In this case, I'll get a list of the threads I have posted in, ordered by post date (threads with newer posts are shown first). If number of threads exceeds a page, then I can select the page for previous posts.
However, the participated section button shows only one page, where this page holds threads ordered by thread creation date.
What I think that should be done is that the participated button will simply imitate the search action described above. This is exactly what Tapatalk does, but unfortunately not what happens here. Of course I can always perform this advanced search to see what happens in the threads I participate in, but this is very cumbersome.

[Q] Question re forum vs. subforum, subscribed vs. participated

I am not sure if the android app (I am using the premium app) is taking a different path than the XDA website... but there are things that are different between them and it is making it very difficult and confusing to seamlessly move from the app to the website, or back.
On the app, there is a sidebar with, among other items, a line that says "Subscriptions" followed by number in parentheses. Above that line there is a line/option for "Participated" .
If you select "Subscriptions", and you will get a list of Forums and Subforums you have subscribed to. It is easy to "Subscribe" to a forum (or subforum), as the dropdown menu has an option to Subscribe.
Before continuing, this is how I see the logical breakdown of forums, subforums and threads:
Forum (example HTC ONE (or VERIZON HTC ONE if it exists)) ==>
Subforum(example: HTC ONE Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting) ==>​Thread(example: Help! I bricked my phone!!!).​
In the app, when you select "Participated" you are presented with every thread in which you have added a comment.
However, on the website, when I navigate to the forum (not a subforum) and I want to "Subscribe" to it, I cannot find any way to do so on that page (the main forum page). I notice however, that if you go to one a subforums (see example above), you have the option there to subscribe to that subforum. However, like the app, I would like to have quick access to all subforums for a particular device.
I have "subscribed" to them from the mobile app, but they are not showing up once I am at my laptop... the only subscriptions that appear anywhere (without having to go to a dedicated page with subscibed threads, etc.) is in the right sidebar under the three tabs entitled "MESSAGES THREADS FORUMS." Here (for me) it shows I am subscribed to one subforum that I accidentally subscribed to 3 years ago (from the app I believe). The app too, correctly shows I am subscribed to this subforum. But there is no where on the website that shows the Forums I am subscribed—which the app does (as described above).
With the number of forums for devices growing to several hundred why is there not just a way to create a bookmark to go directly to the forum that you have already added as a subscribed forum/a favorite??? I swear I think every time I have come to this webpage I have to navigate down past 90 devices to find the forum I want (google XDA XYZ Device works, but there should be a way on the forum landing page). A way to find "bookmarked' forums. I use the work bookmark" because using the word "subscribe" with "forum" is actually confusing. You already have an option to subscribe to a thread on the website (and the app). And further, a subscription to a thread will send you email updates when there have been new comments to that thread. However, you do not need email notifications to a forum, nor even a subforum... you just need a quick way to navigate to them.
Further confusing the "thread subscription" component of "subscribing" is that now the app has "Participated" (as mentioned above) which I find helpful as no action is required; it automatically allows you to quickly find a thread where you have contributed or asked a question. But this is not available (or easily locatable) on the website....
Can we get the ability to create a favorite or a bookmark to a Forum or Subforum?
I understand that subscribing to threads still makes sense as people may want to be notified or have quick access to a thread which is being updated, but in which they have not made a comment. I think we just need to add a new category to "favorite" or "bookmark" a forum or subforum, and then have threads subscribed to, and threads in which we have participated.
I think in the past few years (and you guys would know!) more people use the app than before... So I think by modifying things as set forth above, it will allow increased usability of XDA overall. XDA has always had to manage and structure/organize a huge amount of information... and I have always found it quite difficult.. Only recently with the options have I noticed more productivity (although I cannot say for certain how "recent" these changes are....
Either way, I hope you can make the app and the site consistent... and preferably let the app's above-mentioned features lead the way.
Thank you...

syntropic said:
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Wow, that's a lot of questions!
I definitely won't be able to answer them all at once, so I will just answer the ones I can.
1. In answer to the question "Where are the Participated threads on the website?", just do [your_username's_profile] > Statistics > See all posts by [your_username]. It does essentially the same thing as Participated does in the app.
EDIT- More answers to come... when and if I have time!