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Moving threads

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:49 pm
by acknak
I think I asked before--sorry if I missed the answer.

Do we want to actively move threads from Beginners & General Discussion into the appropriate subforums?

I just moved a couple of threads (which is much harder with the new forum, but ok) and I just want to be sure that makes sense.

On oooforum, I usually add a moderator note (an actual post) saying what I did, but that does take extra time. I think it helps to a) log what happened, b) remind the poster that there are more specific places to post, and c) it bumps the message in case no one saw it in the other forum.

The only down side I can think of would be if the poster goes to look in the original forum, rather than using "My Posts".

Does that sound good? Any comments?

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:25 pm
by Hagar Delest
I also move the threads from the Beginners section to the right section but only if I answer them and in this case, I tell it in my answer. So I think the user clicks the link in the mail instead of coming back to the Beginners section.

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:39 am
by DrewJensen
Have you tried leaving a 'shadow' link behind - so they can find it in the old location, but it is just a link to the new

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:06 am
by Hagar Delest
I don't like very much the shadow because the section would become quickly overpopulated. I guess the shadow thread is more dedicated to issues that could have been posted in 2 or more forums because the range is rather wide.

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:43 pm
by Caracalla
Hagar de l'Est wrote:I also move the threads from the Beginners section to the right section but only if I answer them and in this case, I tell it in my answer. So I think the user clicks the link in the mail instead of coming back to the Beginners section.
I thought e-mail notification was off by default? People who do not have a lot of experience with computers/fora (i.e. the very people using the beginners section) may be very confused by their threads "vanishing" i think.

EDIT: Speaking of the beginner forum, since most users there seem to have questions about writer, would it not be a good idea to link to the spell check/language configuration guide there? Or, even better, have a stickied thread with links to several guides. e.g. spell check, page numbering, what have you.

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:16 pm
by DrewJensen
Hagar de l'Est wrote:I don't like very much the shadow because the section would become quickly overpopulated. I guess the shadow thread is more dedicated to issues that could have been posted in 2 or more forums because the range is rather wide.
I understand, another feature we need to get a understanding for. For example, the way notifications work if you follow the link back from an email you will go to the new location for the message. But if a poster comes back and browses to where they first posted and don't find the shadow they may be confused - I would be.

One thing I could do. The shadow feature must leave a unique enough signature in the database tables that I could write a script to purge them after some period of time - say 2 weeks or a month - Then set the script to run as a cron job on the server. With that in place I would say always leave a shadow, let the script clean up later.

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:35 pm
by acknak
OTOH, it's easy enough to locate the moved thread using "Your posts". It might be helpful in communicating that posting in the right place is helpful. But maybe that's a bit heavy-handed.

The really friendly (and easy!) way to handle it is simply to not make an issue of it--just accept the fact that the Beginner/General threads are going to be a mishmash. I can't see that it's a big problem if they are.

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:03 pm
by huw
And maybe put a (later to be purged) shadow in the correct forum, where experienced users will follow it if they can help - they will hopefully be knowledgeable enough to use the "Your posts" link later. That should generate enough traffic to the thread for it to be answered. I don't go in the beginners forum because I'm busy, but if those with more time have categorised a post there I could answer it.

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:12 pm
by Hagar Delest
DrewJensen wrote:a script to purge them after some period of time - say 2 weeks or a month - Then set the script to run as a cron job on the server. With that in place I would say always leave a shadow, let the script clean up later.
That's a good idea. I'll leave a shadow in the Beginner section forum then.

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:46 pm
by huw
If I browse my usual forums, then mark all forums read without ever visiting the General one, and then a thread is moved from General to a forum I do read... will it show up as a new post, or will it retain its "read" properties I gave it earlier? Just a thought, because I browse this way all the time, and wouldn't notice transplanted threads unless they are returned to "unread" status.

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:11 pm
by Hagar Delest
They are returned to unread status when moved IIRC.

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:54 pm
by James
DrewJensen wrote:One thing I could do. The shadow feature must leave a unique enough signature in the database tables that I could write a script to purge them after some period of time - say 2 weeks or a month - Then set the script to run as a cron job on the server. With that in place I would say always leave a shadow, let the script clean up later.
Did you manage to do this Drew? For me, this would make a big difference as to the preferred "policy" about moving topics from Beginners.

BFN,

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:07 pm
by DrewJensen
I did not actually right a script - but I did research it enough to write and run the query needed to do it - that is all it comes down to really a simple update statement.

When you move a topic though , you do not have to leave a shadow behind

But if a policy comes about that had the link being left and that we would squash those links every 30 days say, then it would just be a matter of putting the update command in a file and setting a cron job to run once a day. So, for the discussion on this just accept that it can be setup when needed.

Re: Moving threads

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:14 pm
by James
Great, thanks. I'll think this through and post later.

BFN,