• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Phone Sections: Sub-forums vs Prefixes vs Nothing

Subforums vs. Prefixes vs. Neither (Please Read below First!)

  • (1) Leave the "Accessories", "Tips and Tricks", and "Support and Troubleshooting" sub-forums as is.

    Votes: 108 50.2%

  • (2) Remove all sub-forums but "All Things Root", require sortable prefixes in both.

    Votes: 67 31.2%

  • (3) Remove the 3 sub-forums, leaving "All Things Root", do not add prefixes.

    Votes: 20 9.3%

  • Doesn't matter to me.

    Votes: 20 9.3%
  • Total voters
    215
I know it's already decided and we're on the new system.. but some want more order in the chaos.

http://androidforums.com/htc-thunderbolt/299676-when-will-board-get-organized.html

Having the prefixes helps as compared to nothing, but it is not like the sub-forums where the users could click into the area of interest instead of in a crowd of prefixed posts.

Many T-bolt users are/were frequenters of their former device forums: Inspire, Captivate, etc.

We're seeing the reality of it now, just with the first device: a big mess with labels. :(
 
Frisco said:
Yes, like the Classifieds. :)
Click to expand...
+1. Please do this ASAP. It looks like a complete mess in there (just checked there today compared to last night). Phases, can we also abbreviate the dates so they don't take as much space. Because, with the [____] being infront, the thread titles will be longer, thus it'd push text into 2 lines. So to try to reduce that, make the post date area smaller (by using abbreviations - Jan, Feb, Mar, etc.)


FYI, it still seems like new members are not understanding the prefixes (went through real fast and saw this): http://androidforums.com/htc-thunderbolt/299657-videos-download.html
Labeled under tips when its a "how do I do this.." question
 
Frisco said:
Having the prefixes helps as compared to nothing, but it is not like the sub-forums where the users could click into the area of interest instead of in a crowd of prefixed posts.
Click to expand...

Filtering by prefix should achieve the same effect as a subforum.
 
Xyro said:
Filtering by prefix should achieve the same effect as a subforum.
Click to expand...

That is my hope, and in the wisdom of those who decided to do this, I'm sure it is their hope as well.

We're seeing something else at the moment, though... it is early on in the new system, of course.

The "Display Options" (filtering, as you say, Xyro ;)) needs to be pointed out as often as we can when the subject of "organizing" comes up like it did today, imo.
 
Frisco said:
The "Display Options" (filtering, as you say, Xyro ;)) needs to be pointed out as often as we can when the subject of "organizing" comes up like it did today, imo.
Click to expand...

Perhaps it's worth making a sticky post about it? That way we can be sure the message is getting through.
 
EarlyMon said:
So how will the master sticky now work?

Will there be just one in the main that points to the various threads for each prefix?
Click to expand...
Hmm.. good point. IMO, we might need to reassess the situation and might have to go with a different direction.
 
woop said:
Hmm.. good point. IMO, we might need to reassess the situation and might have to go with a different direction.
Click to expand...

Right - because we're going to want the right sticky when people do prefix filtering.

And - if someone prefix filters, I'd presume that would mean prefix-less posts won't appear.

If that's the case, we might then need a sticky for each prefix - and when the forum is viewed for all prefixes, we're going to end up with multiple stickies instead of just one. (??)

:confused: :confused: Yep - going for trilogy on this one: :confused:
 
Frisco said:
I know it's already decided and we're on the new system.. but some want more order in the chaos.

http://androidforums.com/htc-thunderbolt/299676-when-will-board-get-organized.html

Having the prefixes helps as compared to nothing, but it is not like the sub-forums where the users could click into the area of interest instead of in a crowd of prefixed posts.

Many T-bolt users are/were frequenters of their former device forums: Inspire, Captivate, etc.

We're seeing the reality of it now, just with the first device: a big mess with labels. :(
Click to expand...

You can filter them, see the dropdown at the top?
 
EarlyMon said:
Right - because we're going to want the right sticky when people do prefix filtering.

And - if someone prefix filters, I'd presume that would mean prefix-less posts won't appear.

If that's the case, we might then need a sticky for each prefix - and when the forum is viewed for all prefixes, we're going to end up with multiple stickies instead of just one. (??)

:confused: :confused: Yep - going for trilogy on this one: :confused:
Click to expand...

At the moment, all new threads require a prefix upon creation I believe. So that's not going to be a problem once the current threads die off.

As for whether each prefix needs it's own sticky.... I'm not so sure. I know a good few current sections don't have one for every sub-section, just a general one and an all things root one.
 
Xyro said:
At the moment, all new threads require a prefix upon creation I believe. So that's not going to be a problem once the current threads die off.

As for whether each prefix needs it's own sticky.... I'm not so sure. I know a good few current sections don't have one for every sub-section, just a general one and an all things root one.
Click to expand...
Thats part of the issue though. Once creating that guide thread, what would you use as the prefix? There isn't just tips in there. Nor is there just accessories in there. Its a mixture of more than one prefix. That would make it impossible to filter
 
Ok they are on the left now.

We are going to see what' sup with getting this integrated into the App and how long it might take. This would be a show stopper. We could make them optional, but then no one would use them.
 
I don't suppose you could change the order of the choices in the prefix drop down menu, could you?

As it is, "Tips, Tricks and Tutorials" is just too easy a selection, being right under "General Discussion."

I'm changing dozens of prefixes daily from "Tips..." to "Support.."

How about "No Prefix.." first, then "General...," then "Support..." and "Tips..." last? This might help a bit.

Also, in the forums with sub-forums, many threads can be quickly analysed with a mouse-over or by clicking in and reading, and a determination made as to where it belongs; going down the thread lists in the generic area and using the check boxes on the right, a staffer can then use the drop down menu at the bottom of the page to select "move" and then mass move them to "Support" or where it's been decided the all need to go.

With the prefix system, each thread must be "edited" so the prefix can be changed, individually, which takes a lot of time.

Is it possible to have a drop down menu with all of the prefixes so that we can mass change those when needed?

[edit]: Stickies being asked for in Thunderbolt.. http://androidforums.com/htc-thunderbolt/301745-lots-common-subjects-multiple-threads.html
 
Frisco said:
Also, in the forums with sub-forums, many threads can be quickly analysed with a mouse-over or by clicking in and reading, and a determination made as to where it belongs; going down the thread lists in the generic area and using the check boxes on the right, a staffer can then use the drop down menu at the bottom of the page to select "move" and then mass move them to "Support" or where it's been decided the all need to go.

With the prefix system, each thread must be "edited" so the prefix can be changed, individually, which takes a lot of time.

Is it possible to have a drop down menu with all of the prefixes so that we can mass change those when needed?
Click to expand...

I agree with Frisco, 'moving threads' has become quite tedious with the way we are allowed to edit the prefix. If you can get ROB to implement this, that'd be great!!! :)
 
All Phone forums now have ATR and will on creation of new forums - the ATR quicklinks on the home page have been hidden, even if just temporary. Tryin' it out.

If we leave the quicklinks it will be such a huge list it would be just as easy to scroll down and actually go into the phone forum first.
 
Cool.

Btw, updated avatar for you, Phases:


airguitar1_med.jpg



:D :D
 
I was just pointed in the direction of this thread, though I know the topic is older now I figured id still share my opinion
this is just a copy of what I posted in the Droid X section when a discussion about moving threads came up and the prefix thing was mentioned

FWIW, and not that my opinion really matters, but I have been frequenting the thunderbolt section because I will be getting one soon. I have noticed what you did in there with the filter prefixs in the heading. While I get the point of what you are attempting to do there I can definitly see how it could be confusing for 2 reasons

1) I think a fair number of people are actually used to seeing the subsections like they are in this Droid X section, and as we all know, if its different its confusing :D:p

2) the way to filter it is a lot like using the search button, and as we also know, A LOT of people dont use that search button enough, so I can see them not using the filter prefix part as well

just the .02 from some random guy ;)
Click to expand...
 
Phases said:
Made some changes, see Thunderbolt section:

HTC Thunderbolt - Android Forums

Moved prefixes to their own column and moved the filtering box to that column header. Looks much better and makes more sense.

Getting ready to roll this out to all device forums that don't have subforums, and see how many people we make mad. :P
Click to expand...


Now it looks good :D Well I like the prefixes. Actually I like it even better now with the improvement.

The staffs will have a blast going to put prefixes on all of the threads in the phone forums that will get the prefix treatment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom