How come every time...

[szlamany]

...I ask a person in DATABASE DEVELOPMENT forum what DB they are using, they never, ever answer me - arrgghh...

Ok - I feel better now.

Just found out someone was using Oracle - we all thought maybe ACCESS or MS SQL...

Without the key piece of information, it's so hard to really answer a question.

Plus so many people put their DB questions in the wrong forum - in .Net, or VB-old or ASP...

Is there anyway to educate the group?

[Hack]

Is there anyway to educate the group?

Only as time goes on. But then you have a new crop of forum users coming along behind and it will start all over again.

It is a never ending cycle I'm afraid.

I'm sure it doesn't make you feel any better, but everyone that has been associated with the forum for a while knows, and has experienced, exactly what you are talking about. You ain't alone.

[MartinLiss]

I will point out this thread to si. Maybe he can post a sticky or something.

[RobDog888]

Something similar to yours in Classic VB - "How to get your questions answered", Martin?
I think that would be a good idea, maybe for the high volumn forums and can be specific for each forum.

Database Forum: What DB, version, etc.
.NET: What version, framework version, etc.

?

[szlamany]

Keep in mind that sometimes the posts simply drop into the wrong place - a simple SQL QUERY question buried in ASP forum might never get a truly justified answer.

[si_the_geek]

I agree that not knowing which database can be a bit of an issue (I've just attempted to answer an Oracle question, which wasnt clear until the 4th post by the thread starter). I ususally try to be generic in my answers, but as we all know it doesn't always work!

A sticky explaining that knowing which DBMS/Version is important, is a good idea.

I'll think about what to else we should have in it. If any of you think of anything not posted in this thread already, let me know


Unfortunately the issue of threads in the wrong forum is something that will probably never change, new users (of the site, and of programming/dba type work etc) are never sure where things should go, and some people will stick to the same forum out of habit.

[NoteMe]

This happens in more or less all sections. In the game section there is a sticky asking people to add what language (and LIB if they are using any), but new users don't read this. And it constantly ends up with a lot of posts with questions about what language or posts with the right code but using the wrong language.


If anyone have a better idea then using a sticky, then I would be glad to hear about it.

[szlamany]

The real problem with all this is that we are all over the world here and getting a response to WHAT DATABASE are you can take a day - then another day for an answer - before you know it a simple question takes 3 days...

That's my frustration anyway.

[Sgt-Peppa]

Plus so many people put their DB questions in the wrong forum - in .Net, or VB-old or ASP...

Is there anyway to educate the group?

I tend to give a bad reputation if someone post for example their C++ Question in the C# Forum and report the Post to be moved!

[szlamany]

I tend to give a bad reputation if someone post for example their C++ Question in the C# Forum and report the Post to be moved!

Well that's a bit harsh - but I guess they will get the point!

[MartinLiss]

I tend to give a bad reputation if someone post for example their C++ Question in the C# Forum and report the Post to be moved!

I agree. That's too harsh.

[RhinoBull]

Well that's a bit harsh - but I guess they will get the point!

I am afraid not - majority of reps won't have any explanations and I demonstrated that not long ago.

[RhinoBull]

I tend to give a bad reputation if someone post for example their C++ Question in the C# Forum and report the Post to be moved!

What's the point ? Why would you do that - it could be done by mistake also ...

[Dave Sell]

If anyone have a better idea then using a sticky, then I would be glad to hear about it.

Might not be a "better" suggestion, but you could instead of starting everyone out with a totally blank window when posting a new thread, you could slap a few lines as a template like:

I am using this language: <insert language here>
I am using this database: <insert database vendor here>

This type of thing could appear in the beginning of any new thread, and customised to the Forum.

[Sgt-Peppa]

Well that's a bit harsh - but I guess they will get the point!

Is it?

I agree. That's too harsh.

Why is that? If I post a question on a forum like this, and hope that someone out there spends some of their precious time to answer my question, or even just looks at it;

I better make sure to provide all Information I think is needed to understand the Problem, and reconstruct it. (That includes knowing where to post!)

I am afraid not - majority of reps won't have any explanations and I demonstrated that not long ago.

I, of course write a short description explaining why the rep is bad!

What's the point ? Why would you do that - it could be done by mistake also ...

Well if its a one in a lifetime error than one bad reputation wont completely destroy you! Its other peoples precious time they spend helping me! Isnt the least thing I could do, to try to post it in the correct forum?

[si_the_geek]

The sticky thread is now in place, and will hopefully improve the information that thread starters give us!

It can be found here: Getting Database questions answered quickly

[Dave Sell]

The sticky thread is now in place, and will hopefully improve the information that thread starters give us!

It can be found here: Getting Database questions answered quickly

That only works if noobies read it.

[szlamany]

And I plan on directing them to read it - I am still having a hard time getting them to answer the "what DB are you using".

It amazes me that I can post a single question back to the thread starter and they manage to ignore it.

But I'm going to be firm on this now - if you cannot ante up this info - I'm going to keep posting "read the sticky!!!"

[Dave Sell]

And I plan on directing them to read it - I am still having a hard time getting them to answer the "what DB are you using".

It amazes me that I can post a single question back to the thread starter and they manage to ignore it.

But I'm going to be firm on this now - if you cannot ante up this info - I'm going to get posting "read the sticky!!!"

OK, but I suggest you do it politely. When I was a noob on codeguru back in '99, I had no clue about the stickys. I didn't see them. I didn't know what they were. I think a good prodding will help just dont be intimidating about it.

[si_the_geek]

That only works if noobies read it.
...
OK, but I suggest you do it politely. When I was a noob on codeguru back in '99, I had no clue about the stickys. I didn't see them. I didn't know what they were. I think a good prodding will help just dont be intimidating about it.

I understand your reservations, but I think that most of the regulars here will say it in a polite way.

Having a sticky is a useful way of explaining, without the regular helpers like szlamany having to write it out themselves each time.


Also, I like your idea of templates. Unfortanately in order for it to work properly we would have to have an explanation like the sticky thread, or a special form to fill in for new threads - which would be far too much work given the variety of questions, even if it was just the DB forum.

Hopefully a few gentle reminders will get most newbies giving us the info we need.

[MartinLiss]

...without the regular helpers like szlamany having to write it out themselves each time.....

I added a couple of htm files to the ones that I use with the "Valuable forum tool" to add text that I repeat a lot like

Now that we've helped you, you can help us by editing the first post and adding the green checkmark which indicates that you have your answer. Also if someone has been particularly helpful, or even particularly unhelpful, you have the ability to affect a their forum "reputation" by rating their post.

and

[Edited by MartinLiss]

so I can add the text with a couple of mouse clicks.