Autodesk Discussion Groups Feedback

[#1]

"leave the buttons where they are"

definitely leave the buttons where they are,

 If nothing at all changes about the way this forum is right now, it

will be the best forum I've ever seen on the internet, and I've seen

many. I only wanted to help others have their messages read as

easily and understood as well as mine. But I love my enter key. I

have one of those old Key Tronic keyboards with the big fat enter

key.  

Edited by
Discussion_Admin

[#2]

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vector2 wrote:

vBulletin is far more popular than a forum like this because that's

more for ameteurs than technical professionals like this one.

Autodesk knows that very well and that's why we have this.

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Actually, no. Even if you compare just high-volume professional tech forums, vBulletin is vastly more popular than Lithium. If I had to choose one to label 'amateur', it wouldn't be vBulletin.

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As for altering the basic structure of a forum, that's probably

in the program's .exe and you won't do that. Like you might

not be able to move the reply button.

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A forum like this isn't run from a .exe. There will be a host of individual files that ultimately determine the format, and it's likely that they are plain text and easy enough to modify. However, each mod like that makes it more difficult to maintain every time the platform is updated. Better to choose a platform that natively supports a wide range of formatting options.

I've been through this kind of thing on my own blog, moving from a manually-modified theme to one that provides for a very configurable system without coding. It looks quite different to other Wordpress blogs, even ones that use the same theme, but I can update to the latest Wordpress version in seconds without having to manually change any code or significantly disrupt users of the site.

[#3]

"professional tech forums, vBulletin is vastly more popular"

That's what  those guys over at AUGI thought after that ExpressionEngine debacle. (I loved that forum software).

They all wanted to just upgrade to vBulletin 4. I had page after page of

email messages several over the issue.

FINALLY they agreed that the older vBulletin 3.8 could more easily

be configured to look conservative and professional, AND it was already

in place. So that's what they've got right now. But no buttons were moved.

Fortunately Autodesk knows what it's doing when it comes to forum software.

Edited by
Discussion_Admin

[#4]

Radical idea....

Sometimes we may come across a question we are trying to answer and would like the input of another user that we know is knowledgeable in that area.  Is it possible to "tag" that person in a message, and somehow have then get nudged by that tag... so that they take a look at the thread and possibly resolve the question?  Many is the time I have tried to help someone, only to find myself in over my head... and wishing JD would wander in and save my sarry behind. 

[#5]

If users are able to "tag" an issue for the attention specific user, then for one it goes against the grain of the open discussion groups, and two, this would likely drive pros such as Travis and Dean insane very quickly. But you do have an idea. What if Mentors had the power to mark a question for the attention of a pro? Or what if a message could be "tagged" by any user, but the pro would only be alerted if no one replies to the post within a day or so?

[#6]

I agree 100% with the option (of other super users) to tag users that might be able to help out.  I know we've all referenced other users in posts, but a tag would certainly alert that super user to the post.  Of all the ideas being thrown around that make me yawn (pop-ups, really?) this one is a great idea. As mentioned above, it could lead to abuse and me throwing myself over a cliff. 

Really, I am more than satisfied with the forums.  I'm still not a big fan of the coloring of the username groups, but overall it is quick, clean, and easy.  Oh and more Macro space still please.  ha!

[#7]

Sorry Travis, just a day or two ago a sent a LT poster over to Installation with the idea that you would see it and offer assistance.

Please, I do not want to be the catalyst of your early demise!

Like the tagging to who we know has the answer that the OP may not; especially if they are new but does not the SU who knows the answer usually get to it in a day or two anyway?

[#8]

Very true.  I mean, ultimately we are all helping each other and pointing out where others are more able to help.  But I guess we also don't want to create a sense of urgency or pressure that there is an immediate expectation to fix the problem.  This is, afterall, a free peer support forum.  Many of us earn our bread and butter with real support contracts that offer a real person fixing problems in real time. 

Don't worry Charles, I am not stepping out onto the ledge... yet.

[#9]

Kind of like a kid telling the parents they don't like their car after they bought it and driving junior to school with it: pointless

Time to visit the accessories shop and pimp this ride up instead

[#10]

cbenner, CADastrophe, TravisNave, Charles_Shade, pendean - 

I think the idea holds merit and I can see it's value - but I agree it runs the risk of getting rid of that discussion feeling we have going on. I think it's one of those ideas we'd need to beat up quite a bit before considering implementing. And speaking of implementing - I don't have the slightest clue how we'd do that in these forums. I mean, I know you can tag people in Facebook and Twitter, but I haven't seen that on any forum yet. It's all still posts and private messages. Doesn't mean it's impossible though! Has anyone seem similar functionality anywhere?

I need to think about this one more. Hmm.