Shoutbox

thing is people who post such questions generally don't know which version of software they have, and even telling them how to do it, generally is more hassle, although I fully endorse it

In my experience making a pull down menu that needs to be filled before
entering the form, makes people randomly choose options and that would just
make the troubleshooting part a lot harder/confusing...

Because the people that will fill in the correct and exact information are the
people that used the search function and will be the people that would include
the information anyway.

The people that make posts that didn't bother to search are the people that will
randomly push in numbers while calling techsupport until they get someone on
the phone.

I can certainly customize the form, but I need a plan first.

The drop-down menus for version numbers sound good... having a text field would mean more typing for the user, and the stuff entered would probably be inconsistent or not detailed enough.

Should the version numbers be required though? In some cases the user might not know what they're running, or the versions might not matter ("not applicable").

quote:

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Originally posted by .Lou
There should be a "type of problem" box as well, which would help determine the subject of the thread.

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Would it just prepend a tag to the subject? What would the tags be, [help] and [bug]? lol

Also WDZ, there should be a [help] button next to each field which tells them how to find the version number of each thing (WLM, MP!L, OS).

Would there be someway that the browser could fetch all this information automatically? Maybe patchou could start implementing it into all the future builds, something to send headers to the browsers or some shiz.

quote:

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Originally posted by Napbree
Maybe patchou could start implementing it into all the future builds, something to send headers to the browsers or some shiz.

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There's no guarantee they will post from the same pc that actually has a problem, so that would be useless IMO.

quote:

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Originally posted by Jesus

quote:

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Originally posted by Napbree
Maybe patchou could start implementing it into all the future builds, something to send headers to the browsers or some shiz.

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There's no guarantee they will post from the same pc that actually has a problem, so that would be useless IMO.

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Not only that, but it would be a breach of privacy.

quote:

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Originally posted by WDZ
Should the version numbers be required though? In some cases the user might not know what they're running, or the versions might not matter ("not applicable").

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Problems are usually not related to specific builds, so if it ever comes to be needed the helper can simply ask.

quote:

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Originally posted by Chris4
Also WDZ, there should be a [help] button next to each field which tells them how to find the version number of each thing (WLM, MP!L, OS).

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That would a great idea, so that everybody knows what's going on.

quote:

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Originally posted by john-t
That would help, i agree with you. The most common 6 problems in a drop down box.

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Not exact problems though, just types of problems (i.e: Problems with webcam, problems with sending msgs, etc etc) as specific problems could very easily just link to past threads, thus becoming redundant (see search feature).

How about a JS thingy that displays:

"If you know your versions numbers CLICK HERE"

Then it shows all the boxes ect?

quote:

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Originally posted by john-t
How about a JS thingy that displays:

"If you know your versions numbers CLICK HERE"

Then it shows all the boxes ect?

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That's not user friendly, most will not understand and most will cancel. Like said above, making them required will ensure they will choose a version number so it is easier to help them.

Can't help those who refuse to use their brain even a bit. It's a fact of life - you can make it as foolproof as you like, but there are always those who just don't have the slightest clue what you meant (again, because they refuse to use their brain).