Indexhibit^TM
Index + Exhibit

Hello all... I just wanted to say that maybe we need to create stickies (on the very top of the forum page). Stickies of the most usual f.a.q. ->examples:
"How to customise your css (use firefox etc etc)"
"How to create a accordeon menu (check topic no.... )"
"How to add a favicon (check topics no...)"
"Language problems? (Check PHPAdmin conf, etc, etc)"

I know that all these may become useless with the new version coming up, but I believe it will be helpful for future releases as well. We just need to update them...

yeah. there are some things that repeat at the forum. fortunately, search function seems to be used once in a while.
but still sounds good to me. updated by users, supervisioned by tatiret.

Even though stickies would be great, shouldn't the above be put under Help or Tutorials? I'd be willing to assist in the effort.

Peace.

great idea. What can I do to make this easy for us?

;)

I could grant you guys moderator abilities...then you could edit posts as needed. In the past I gave the ability to everybody but it's already been gamed a few times so it's something to think about later. Moderator ability also can stick/unstick...close/open...threads.

At some point, we could take the list and create a page on the website itself as well.

Eventually, but not yet because I need to work on a few things, I'm planning to allow others around here (volunteers) to work on the site with us as well. We need to spend some time organizing all of this...want to do it right. Want volunteers names to get out there as well.

A wiki does exist around here, but I'm not really down with opening access to everybody...one person could wipe it out and then we'd have to spend time putting it back...those kinds of things are really a waste of time.

Update: Ok, I added the moderator mode...if you guys are interested send me a note to contact [at] indexhibit [dot] org. Antoine already has these abilities...maybe I need to make an icon or something that indicates a person is a moderator?

Another thing...the reason I created the favorites was so that I could keep track of especially useful threads. If we all did this and compared notes later it could really be good.

Favorites function like personal bookmarks in my opinion.

I'm talking about the process of someone entering the forum and have a list of FAQ posts, with self-explanatory "idiot-proof" titles.

A wiki maybe the way to go, but since the new version is coming up I think it should be kept simple for the time being.

Here's an idea: creating video tutorials (think of lynda.com stuff etc).
I think it's much easier to create for the "authors" (the process of explaining realtime on sreen comes more natural) and the ability to "play/pause/rewind" the instructions for the reader...
The drawbacks are that some sort of realtime-screengrab software is involved and that I'm not sure if participants in such an experiment are gonna feel comfortable explaining with their voice & their level of english etc etc...

...also google docs came to my attention lately (http://docs.google.com)
One can share a file for multi user editing....

yeah. moderator seems a good method.
this is the first html seen by the users from the backoffice when they click help. they will all track the problem here first. if there are some considerations to be taken first, like the "help" or "tutorials" sections, they should be in route and planned to be seen in a sequential order before asking something on the first hand. i bet a lot ask without exploring indexhibit website! users should be encouraged to search solutions for themselves. i could take the example of LeslieOA, that does a great job linking to the web ocean of ready-made assistance.
i may be mumbling common sense, but seems to me that would improve the logic of assistance. carefuly selected moderators could operate that too.

adeus :D

I would say LeslieOA is right about trying to move some stuff (rewritten and all) to the help section of the site. This might make some thread less useful and removable (removable is the key).

But, I also support stickies in the forum (a well balanced number, not just one with all the stuff in one condensed page) which will point to some selected tutorials (in the tutorials section, of course). Many entry points are key for new user to get the needed info fast and without having to think to much where is the most relevant info of the site.

The "how to install" section could also point to the forum (and stickies) as a last step after the install, and so on...

To arsondpi: I think Vaska meant us (the people in this thread and doing most of the support outside Vaska) using the favorites to collect the useful posts, compare and then write docs, remove threads rendered useless by the new tutorials, and so on.

ok - although I hope more people jump into this, not just us...
the kind of help I can offer is limited and I know there's people out there who can help out in many different ways.

I understand the need for the tutorials/help section to be planned out properly, I was just refering to ways of doing it, while gathering information and planning.

If the so-called "stickies" are easy/simple to maintain and update, then the community could rather focus to help with "stickies" content rather than the architecture behind it.

If the so-called "stickies" are easy/simple to maintain and update, then the community could rather focus to help with "stickies" content rather than the architecture behind it.

I don't understand this comment.

If you see a green M behind your name you have the ability to stick/unstick, open/close and edit threads. If you don't want this ability just let me know...but now you can easily add links to threads in the Useful Threads thread. And yes...when you see things wrong in the forum (like people posting their passwords) you can edit them. Use the ability sparingly...

The weird "To Install" link will take any thread that should be in the "Installation" section and move it there...we have tons of threads in the "Customize" section that should be in Installation...

There is no rush to build this list up fast...it's something that will happen slowly over time.

We'll talk about formal tutorials later, but anybody is welcome to post one or send it my way first and we'll edit it up. The last time I told somebody to do this though they sent me something incomplete and then asked me how to solve their code problem...and you can see where I can't have time for that.

I was just saying that if the stickies are easy to create/edit/maintain, indexhibit users would participate in the actual improvement and updates of the content of the stickies.
Just like in Indexhibit: one builds the content and worry less for the actual programming ("architecture" behind it)

Anyhow you've already started something else which is effective and it seems to be happening.

[
P.S. I downloaded this piece of software that records on-screen actions and tried to do a mini video-tutorial of Firebug basics, on a indexhibit page. It's difficult but doable...
After I finished a rough 5 minute version, I didn't like it, deleted it and went cycling.... :-D
]

They are easy to edit/maintain...but this is not a project for every person who comes through the forum.