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how about a faq for common scripting problems?

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stdragon
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how about a faq for common scripting problems?

Post by stdragon »

It seems like a lot of posts in the scripting forum are about the same few topics.

list element in braces followed by "blah" instead of space
list element in quotes followed by "blah" instead of space
unmatched open quote in list
unmatched open brace in list

wrong # arguments (for bind procs)

Those 2 topics alone represent a large number of posts and they're generally very easy to solve.

People are too lazy to search through the post archives, but maybe if we had a "Frequent Scripting Problems" section with just a few of the most common problems they would look at that. If we just had a couple really well written solutions to these problems, people might find it's faster to actually read them than to post and wait around for an answer.

Also, moderators could delete posts that simply repeat one of the questions answered in the faq, with a quick note suggesting they look in the faq and repost with more detailed information if the faq didn't help.
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ppslim
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Post by ppslim »

This is one of two sugestions I felt like putting forward a few weeks ago.

The other being a script request forum.

Though, I use the "new posts wince last visit" link, so I am not 100% aware of where are posted too (unless I specificaly check).

A seperate forum for FAQ's, using the error messages related to the issue as the subject, would be ideal.
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slennox
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Post by slennox »

I've always thought that FAQs should go on an ordinary page such as this site's main FAQ, or in the Suninet or peterre's guide, but perhaps a FAQ type section in the forum would be useful to start with. I imagine it would have moderator-only access so that it doesn't get clogged, and some of the "seminal" threads on certain issues could be moved there and renamed if desired.

I'm not in favour of a script request forum since I don't like forums with too many categories (they're a pain to traverse on a daily basis), and a forum so named might even attract a more demanding type of user.
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stdragon
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Post by stdragon »

To ward off demanding users, put a paypal box there too! No post until you've deposited a fund in escrow. I'm serious you should try it (or something like it) slennox. If you want to try it but need help with php let me know. After all think of all the people out there who actually pay for shells just to put an eggdrop in their channel!

But with the faq thing, I don't mean a new forum section where people can post. What you mentioned would be fine. Only it should be on-site, not part of someone else's guide. And maybe there could be a permanent warning post at the top of the Tcl section saying "check the faq for questions about the following errors before posting here".
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slennox
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Post by slennox »

I've created a new category with a Tcl FAQ to start things off. The rest is up to you :D

The PayPal for access idea is interesting, but I'm not sure if it would keep demanding users out. It may have the opposite effect - people are paying money and they expect more. It places more of an obligation on you to please them.
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