how do we specify which answer has resolved my problem

[tutus]

Hi, In the thread tools, I see the link to mark that a thread s been resolved but I see no where where i can specify the person or the answer that resolved my quuestions amongst all the questions
Thanks

[penagate]

It doesn't matter. The "[RESOLVED]" tag is merely to assist users browsing the forum for unresolved threads. If you want to thank someone who helped you, you can do so either with a post, PM, or by clicking the little "Rate" link on the post.

[tutus]

Thanks a lot

[Mark Gambo]

This isn't a bad idea, Experts-Exchange (http://www.experts-exchange.com) allows the op to indicate which post was the most helpful to thier original question. Additionally, I believe that they can also indicate which threads were helpful, etc. It might be worth looking into.

[iPrank]

This isn't a bad idea, Experts-Exchange (http://www.experts-exchange.com) allows the op to indicate which post was the most helpful to thier original question.
I beg to differ. I think our current rep system is good enough. Personally I don't like the point system in EE.


Additionally, I believe that they can also indicate which threads were helpful, etc. It might be worth looking into.[/MyTwoCents]
You can rate a thread by pulling down "Rate Thread" menu.

[Shaggy Hiker]

I'd prefer to leave it only with the current rating system, as well. Ranking the value of different answers could get unnecessarily bizarre.

[techgnome]

I don't think the proposal was to rank the posts... but rather, to indicate which post answered the OP's problem (points aside).

It's not a bad idea.... There have been a number of threads where there were multiple solutions, the op comes back and simply says "Thanks, it worked".... leaving everyone to wonder which one worked.... it would also aide others looking to solve similar problems. I see it as something independant of the points system. "Did this post solve your problem? [y|n]"

-tg

[si_the_geek]

I see what you mean, but as they can't be bothered to say which one helped (when they've already gone to the effort of posting "it worked"), I don't think it would make any difference - it would just be more effort for those who already tell us which post(s) helped.

[Mark Gambo]

I don't think the proposal was to rank the posts... but rather, to indicate which post answered the OP's problem (points aside). . .


This is exactly what I meant.

[Harsh Gupta]

I see what you mean, but as they can't be bothered to say which one helped (when they've already gone to the effort of posting "it worked"), I don't think it would make any difference - it would just be more effort for those who already tell us which post(s) helped.
Not really. The MSDN forums have implemented the same way, "Was this post Helpful?" with "Yes" and "No" options. That way, when someone refers that particular thread, the user can see if the post is helpful or not.

I know nothing about vBulletin, but this just a matter of showing that the content of "this" particular post would help you.

example: Click on "Rate" link, and display a small label, say "Helpful post"!!

[techgnome]

Not really. The MSDN forums have implemented the same way, "Was this post Helpful?" with "Yes" and "No" options. That way, when someone refers that particular thread, the user can see if the post is helpful or not.

I know nothing about vBulletin, but this just a matter of showing that the content of "this" particular post would help you.

example: Click on "Rate" link, and display a small label, say "Helpful post"!!
But, unless people actualy USE the option, it's useless..... and given the past history of drive by posters..... and the fact the people can't be bothered to leave a proper thanks, it would be a feature that wouldn't get used much.

-tg

[mendhak]

It takes five minutes to read through a thread. Anyone looking for an answer can deduce it by reading everything instead of attempting to jump to the answer.

[Shaggy Hiker]

Not really. The MSDN forums have implemented the same way, "Was this post Helpful?" with "Yes" and "No" options. That way, when someone refers that particular thread, the user can see if the post is helpful or not.

I know nothing about vBulletin, but this just a matter of showing that the content of "this" particular post would help you.

example: Click on "Rate" link, and display a small label, say "Helpful post"!!

I'm still a bit puzzled by this. I suppose I could clear it up by going to one of those forums, but I'll be lazy instead, and ponder about it here: I see three problems with this technique.

TG spelled out the first one pretty well, as most people don't give ratings, so they certainly won't bother to say which post helped them.

The second issue I had was covered (roughly) by Mendhak. I can't remember ever being confused as to what helped somebody, or actually caring which post was the one that helped them or helped them most because....

The third point being that I might be reading the thread for a reason other than the one the poster posted. I read theads for two reasons: 1) To see whether there is anything I can contribute, 2) because I want to learn something. Now, if I am there for 1, then it really doesn't matter to me what information so far was most helpful, I will only add if I have something to ad. However, if I am reading a thread for reason number 2, then I am likely to be there because there was a word in the title which I found interesting. What answer the asker found useful doesn't make a whit of difference for me when I am considering what answer I will find useful. I certainly won't be thinking "somebody else found this answer useful, so I will ignore the others." Nor will I put greater weight on one answer over another just because of somebody else's opinion.

So what is puzzling me is if you feel this would be useful, how would you use the information?

[techgnome]

HEre's how I've used it in the past:
Using your third scenario there... Or better yet... case in point.... I've been trying to get friggin Crystal working.... and I come across a lot... and I mean ALOT of posts that deal with passing parameters. I've seen a lot of responses showing different ways to set parameters.... I have no idea which ones work. All I see at the bottom are "Great! That worked." ... with no indication as which method worked. So now I'm relegated to trying each one, one by one, until I find one that works. As it was, it looks like I only needed to look as far as my Snippets to get what I needed.

That said, SH, I agree completely that sometimes you end up in a thread for reasons other than what was intended by the OP. In those cases, I can see that the "This was helpful" wouldn't be so helpful.

I'm simply thinking about those who are going to be coming into the thread that do have that same problem.

For what it's worth, I've seen this system implemented on several forums.... all with mixed results. I've seen it abused where people marked posts unhelpful out of spite for the poster.

-tg

[Harsh Gupta]

I was not really saying that implementing this kind of thing would be great.

And nor does it affects me if any member rate posts or click "A post was helpful or not?" buttons.

I was just trying to add something more to techgnome's post (#7), citing an example for Si.

[si_the_geek]

It opened up a good discussion. :D

As we have all seen examples of it not working well (or can at least see issues with it, such as "drive-by posters"!), I don't think it would make a noticeable improvement - so even if it was fairly easy to implement with our forum software, in my opinion it wouldn't be worth the time & effort to get it implemented (and re-added after upgrades).