Classic Shell: Forum

I'm noticing lots of misfiled posts--mainly in the user start menu skins forum. Lot of general help questions have been posted there, and it would make navigation easier if they were in the right place. Other sections could use better stickies and such as well too. I know this would take lots of time for moderators, but as far as I know, the only moderators are Ivo, Gaurav, and Jcee. It's apparently too much work for that few people to manage the whole forum. Maybe we need some more moderators to help them? I know I wouldn't mind spending some extra time on the forums cleaning things up as my way of giving back to the community. I'd like to see these forums more organized and professional!

What other posts do you suggest stickifying? Also, all the important posts are carefully organized already, some of them are global on purpose (that is why they appear in all forums, because they must be brought to the attention of forum readers to minimize repetitive questions), some announcements are per sub-forum, some stickied posts but not announcements. Although I don't mind you helping with the organization but the more moderators there are, there can be differences in the way each one thinks the forum should be organized.

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Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and did Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

There is a reason I compiled all the skins (atleast from the .skins forum posted prior to june 1st.) (I'll probably update this file soon enough) as IMO that's the primary thing people are after when looking in the skins directory (aside from specific queries, that usually run through the search)

At least personally, I feel like much of the information on the forums, is more of a living 'help ticket' than something that should be surfed manually... but I guess people do browse it..

and yes it could be better organized.. but thats time not-spent answering questions or in IVO's case not working on new features At least we keep the spam at bay )

Yeah, but that's a huge file and missing the context of the posts. I know juniper7 always has tons of configuration tips posted with his themes. Others do too.

I know that's the way I do it. I don't want to download a huge file containing duplicates of skins I already have; if there's a new skin, I want to download just it--if I like it and can see screenshots in the forum beforehand.

Right. That's why I'm volunteering to help. I don't know much about the code or skinning, so I can't be any help with that kind of question, but I can help by organizing the forums.

When I was going through the forums before posting this to see if there were more examples of needing more guys to help you out, I saw some stickies that I thought were misfiled--like the skinning tutorial in a non-skinning thread. However, it seems I got confused with all the tabs I had open, and the only one showing the skinning tutorial was the skinning thread... Maybe that specifically isn't much of an issue. Though I do see multiple posts by Ivo and yourself talking about the updated tutorials and suggestions (that aren't stickies) that could maybe be consolidated better.
Yeah, I wouldn't want to step on any toes. Really all I see myself doing is moving posts that are clearly misfiled, like all the general Classic Shell questions in the skinning forums. I know there's a reason for all the organization you've done already and would stick to it.

yes its missing context, but searching the skins filename should yield the appropriate thread, if you find a skin that looks 'decent' and you want to tweak it more
Secondly the file isn't all that big, and merging it with your skins folder is quite simple...
The skins subforum, could use a little pruning, though it could never be ideal.
what we need is a webpage with a picture to represent each skin arranged in a grid, with a link to the skins thread activated on click. though this would also need manually updated, it would solve all problems for the end-user.

as for your moderation request.. that is entirely up to IVO

I'm fine with adding another moderator. Do you want to be?

Yes, if you'll have me.

By the power vested in me by the Admin account, I pronounce you Weboh the Moderator!

OK welcome to the forum, Weboh

Here's how it's currently organized. (Feel free to move posts if you feel they are in the wrong forum.)

Announcements subforum has all posts related to new releases or any critical news like the hack in August 2016.

Tutorials subforum has Tutorials.

Classic Start Menu and Classic Shell 4.0 beta forums have mostly Start Menu related topics.

Classic Explorer forum has Explorer related topics.

Classic IE has Internet Explorer-related topics.

ChitChat is general discussion about anything else not related to Classic Shell.

Of course, certain topics which go into "Feature requests" or "Bug Reports" can be put under "Classic Start Menu" or "Classic Explorer" as those features or bugs are about them.

Start Menu skins mostly contains topics asking for help on skin creation or finished skins.

Start buttons contains button images.

The following threads are global announcements:
- Official Thank you thread (because we don't get enough of them unless it is global)
- Start Menu Comparison (because we have fierce competition)
- Explorer toolbar icons post (could only get people to stop asking about why some toolbar icons are missing after it was stickied)
- Forum Rules (people keep asking the same questions repeatedly.)

In addition to this, each subforum has certain topics stickied or pinned to the top because those are the most frequently asked questions or something that we feel must be read by visitors to get the most out of Classic Shell. People keep asking about them if they are not pinned.

I agree there's scope for improvement

I feel people don't visit the Start button and Skins forum enough - they can discover some gorgeous Start buttons. They don't use the Classic Explorer features enough, especially some powerful toolbar commands they can add. They don't use some of the Start menu features which are buried inside like Search providers, or the Turn off monitor command or managing wireless network SSIDs via the menu.

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Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and did Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

I don't see how to move posts. I see the mod options, but all I can do is delete, edit, and warn. For now the point is moot anyway, since you guys moved all the threads that originally triggered this post. Don't see much else to do now, but I'll keep a lookout.

Also, do you have a policy on moderating posts? For example, this postis reported because it's "spammy looking." I agree that it's not very helpful and it doesn't look like he even read the replies, (and that's his only post for some reason) but then again, it's not unhelpful. Do you want me to "give warning" in those cases, or what? I also see you've edited some posts. Is that for clarity/grammar, or what? Do you want me to do that too to give you less work? Or would you rather me leave that kind of modding to you guys? I don't want to do anything you wouldn't approve of, but I don't want to ask you before I do anything either since you might as well do it yourself in that case.

The spam post are pretty obvious.. It will be a poste with 1-5 post under his belt, and include links, and random keywords that trigger search indexing..
They usually come around 2-3am central time, and its usually 2-3 post a night

I would say anyone with over 20 post (unless they are all posted in the same day) is not a spammer, as we remove spammers.
as far as other content.. if it doesn't contain pornography.. or directly threaten another human, its permitted...

Wait, why is non-pornographic shock material permitted? .-.

(Apologies for butting in btw)

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TILES WOOOOOO

because it has yet to be posted, and thus explicitly banned? This forum is small enough that we don't really need complete rules that we have to strictly adhere to.. Unless things become an issue.. which they haven't yet..


Also depending on it's level of detail, something like a pixely decapitated head start button would probably be permitted.. and would be better to allow moderator judgement than flat out ban...

Then what about all the posts Gaurav deletes? With my mod powers, I can see which ones he deletes/edits, and it's a lot. There must be more to it than that. Does it just fall under "moderator judgement?" Would that example post be fine to remove in that case? Or?

Or maybe I'll just stick with moving threads.

Sorry; just trying to be helpful and give back in some way. I don't want to do anything you all wouldn't approve of, but I don't want to ask you before I do anything either since you might as well do it yourself in that case.

I haven't deleted anyone's unique posts. I delete only spam posts, or if I merge two threads, move them to the right category, duplicate posts or topics, or my own replies if they're not useful, editing offensive words etc. 99% of posts I delete are the ones that get automatically deleted by the forum's feature when the author of those posts is deleted as well (for spam).

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and did Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

Yea, 99% of what's deleted is clear and cut spam
I don't think I've had to delete any non-spam post either.. we have even had a few 'threats' after that cult of peggle incident.. however you have to understand that people are usually just frustrated.. and IMO have a right to voice that frustration on the forum even if it 'hurts' brand image. So we tend to even leave bad review's rants. (unless it's extremely offensive, or contains death threats...)

If you guys would like more mods on the team to help out anywhere, I'm always willing to help. I'm a mod on Virtual Customs as well so I have some experience in that field and would be glad to help you guys out.

[Also on an unrelated topic, is there anyway my Username/Login name can be changed to Nimbi. I use that name practically everywhere and keep forgetting that I'm using a different name here, lol.]

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"A book is a mirror. If an ass peers into it, it doesn't expect an apostle to peer out." - E.M. Forster

@JoshuaL2, you are now Nimbi.

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Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and did Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

Sweet! thanks

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"A book is a mirror. If an ass peers into it, it doesn't expect an apostle to peer out." - E.M. Forster