Forum FAQs

[Tigersong]

You've probably seen this before: several topics in, say, the Ace support forum asking essentially the same question. (How do  I make an opening cutscene?) So I'm proposing an F.A.Q thread that directs users to the appropriate tutorial, thus reducing the number of threads.

 

[GrandmaDeb]

I think the list of tutorials and Andar's topic for new users have it pretty well covered, but what would you suggest in addition or alternatively?

 

[Kes]

The problem that I see with your suggestion is that the people who keep asking questions that have been asked lots of times before tend not to have used the search function.  They are, therefore, unlikely to search for the new thread which points them in the right direction.

 

[Ms Littlefish]

I agree with ksjp17. The problem isn't really availability. I can think of tons of really wonderful tutorials all over this forum. For anyone looking for a tutorial, they're going to find it. The problem is many people often don't look for them or want to invest the time to go through them.

 

[GrandmaDeb]

Wellllllll, I will admit that forum search is not always as effective as I could like. Even google searches can be frustrating.


But There are complete lists with links in the topics I mentioned.


Perhaps we could stress tagging a bit more. IDK. Most really new people do not even know what their problem is or the vocabulary to ask the question with good search terms.

 

[Ms Littlefish]

The only thing I can think of is linking a "master list" thread down on the bottom sort of like the forum rules are. But of course we know how many people look at those~

I kid, I kid. But at least it would be visible. And tags definitely would help anyone using the search function.

 

[Tigersong]

Thanks for your timely replies, all. It sounds like, rather than a topic, it might help to post a link in each support forum that goes to the tutorial board. Sort of a gentle reminder- "See if you can find what you're looking for here."

 

[GrandmaDeb]

Well, do me a favor and take a peek at the


http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?/topic/28939-a-list-of-rmvx-ace-tutorials/


Tut list.


and the


http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?/topic/15135-a-list-of-tutorials-for-beginners/


list of tutorials for beginners.


Maybe you can PM suggestions on how to make it clearer and more user friendly.

 

[felsenstern]

It's not so long ago that I had to ask well known questions. And GrandmaDeb was nice to you, because the forum search function is crap and returns almost never anything useful. Besides back then when I used it, the search only worked every dunno 1 minute... and that's really great if you respell a topic that didn't return a good result? The only search I am using today is Google but only because I know what to look for.

And I think that you could have wrote a very useful FAQ with the same energy with which you are repeating this useless and painful phrase 'use search function', but hey it's not my forum.

 

[GrandmaDeb]

And I think that you could have wrote a very useful FAQ

Well do you think the list of beginners tuts http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?/topic/15135-a-list-of-tutorials-for-beginners/


and Andar's "Starting Point"


Aren't covering it well enough? What suggestions do you have to add to them?

 

[felsenstern]

It was Andar who pointed me into the right direction a couple of times, and I didn't get this line from him even once. Today I know my way around and can't remember of the things that were hard to find. One thing was the compatibility between VX and VX Ace and the reasons why I couldn't load a VX Project in VX Ace.

As I said, I don't remember most of the things that made me sick of this forum back then, but I remember one thing for sure and I just can give you this advice, if you are not willing to help a newbie out, then don't stop by just to write this ****ty line. It is useless and frustrating, and to be honest, the newbie doesn't think about you as smart, cool or knowingly if you do so ;-)

 

[Andar]

It was Andar who pointed me into the right direction a couple of times, and I didn't get this line from him even once.

Then you got lucky, because I do refer people to search for themselves depending on the questions they're asking.

And I don't think the forum search function is crap - it's very usefull if you know what terms to search for, I use it myself at times.

It's only problematic if you don't know what terms to search for, or if you try to search for short abbreviations...

 

[Kes]

Also, in general, when I have seen that people have put something about using the search, it is usually (though not 100% always) after they have answered the query, as an extra piece of advice, equivalent to "oh, and by the way, Andar has a thread..."  I have also seen a lot of people go back and edit their post with the link that they didn't have at the time.

But it's true, no one is perfect, and so there will be occasions when someone gets hacked off about something.  That's life.

 

[felsenstern]

Then you got lucky, because I do refer people to search for themselves depending on the questions they're asking.

And I don't think the forum search function is crap - it's very usefull if you know what terms to search for, I use it myself at times.

It's only problematic if you don't know what terms to search for, or if you try to search for short abbreviations...

Not sure, but Google usually redirects me back into this forum to the right places and the same query in the forum search engine rarely comes up with anything useful. Maybe I am using it wrong, but well, I really don't need it anymore.

 

[Tigersong]

Maybe we should just have a link to the tutorial on cutscenes? Seriously, though, we could use something less hit-or-miss than hoping new members stumble upon a thread with the right links in it. Maybe a banner that reads, "Click here for Andar's tutorial"?

 

[GrandmaDeb]

check my signature

(Andar's is the blue one first row on the right)

[/url]you can have it too!AND... it is pinned at the top of the ACE tutorial boards.

I think to a certain degree, you are dealing with the level of complexity inherent in a site that covers so many different makers (XP, Ace,VX/Ace, 2003, IG Maker...)

 

[mlogan]

It was Andar who pointed me into the right direction a couple of times, and I didn't get this line from him even once. Today I know my way around and can't remember of the things that were hard to find. One thing was the compatibility between VX and VX Ace and the reasons why I couldn't load a VX Project in VX Ace.

As I said, I don't remember most of the things that made me sick of this forum back then, but I remember one thing for sure and I just can give you this advice, if you are not willing to help a newbie out, then don't stop by just to write this ****ty line. It is useless and frustrating, and to be honest, the newbie doesn't think about you as smart, cool or knowingly if you do so ;-)

The thing is, sometimes it is PAINFULLY obvious that the poster has not taken the time to search. Heck, I've even seen posters flat out say they don't want to be bothered to search. And that's when I feel less inclined to help. But I think most people here are willing to help out, even if it's an often asked question. But yes, sometimes, some people need to be reminded to search for things - if nothing else because it is not right for them to expect others to do the work for them. Most people here don't. But some do.

 

[Seriel]

Well, I just made a Google Custom Search which works fairly well. Searchs the forums for anything.

https://cse.google.co.uk/cse/publicurl?cx=003524976554705609121mbvzi_lsbu

It's not perfect, but it works.

 

[Esrever]

Well, I just made a Google Custom Search which works fairly well. Searchs the forums for anything.

https://cse.google.co.uk/cse/publicurl?cx=003524976554705609121mbvzi_lsbu

It's not perfect, but it works.

In case people are unaware, you can use a regular Google search with a prepended site:example.com to search only for a specified domain. Works the same as a CSE, but doesn't require setting it up. Google search queries also allow for boolean logic.

Example:

site:forums.rpgmakerweb.com "RGSS3" ~Mouse | ~inputThe above would limit the search to the forums.rpgmakerweb.com domain and search for strictly RGSS3 only and also search for words similar to or exactly as mouse OR input.

 

[Seriel]

In case people are unaware, you can use a regular Google search with a prepended site:example.com to search only for a specified domain. Works the same as a CSE, but doesn't require setting it up. Google search queries also allow for boolean logic.

Example:

site:forums.rpgmakerweb.com "RGSS3" ~Mouse | ~inputThe above would limit the search to the forums.rpgmakerweb.com domain and search for strictly RGSS3 only and also search for words similar to or exactly as mouse OR input.

Huh. thats a neat trick. Thanks!