Sounds like a great idea, especially if it makes searching more efficient.
underworld
Jim & Rob -
GREAT JOB!!
Hi Guys (southern for GIZ)
The suggestion regarding finding "How To" info is a great idea - especially for us newbies. I know that using the Search feature takes a long time, and sometimes I never get to what I'm looking for.
Thanks Jim H. I'll be looking for your Index!
Lisa
We could make our own How To section easy enough.
I will start a thread called "How To Index"
Then whenever someone posts an answer to a how to question, they could also post a link to that topic it in the How To Index along with a one line explanation.
The How to Index would pop up to the top everytime someone posted a link.
Just an idea...I hope this makes sense.
Jim H
Thanks Chuck and the others,
I like the ideas mentioned. My biggest problem is that (as mentioned above), when you go to look for something specific, it may not be the easiest to find. Especially newer folks who may not know exactly what or how to ask. Whereas if a modest list was posted, perhaps on the sidebar like CTT used to have the advertisements, you could narrow down information. Who knows, perhaps some of the information could be ideas for publication in the CTT print issue of How TOs. By all means, I am open to suggestion as I think the guys at CTT and I really do want this to be the best site it can be.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
You make a very good suggestion, Dennis.
Here is my opinion.....Leave the Forum as is, AND, post threads as we have done, by people knowledgeable in specific subjects. I have seen this done as for instance, the thread on " Tools" and the thread on " Soldering ". We have enough respect for each other, as not to challange these experts, but to gain knowledge from them.
If someone has a different way of doing things, then they could post their own thread. This way, the reader could make the decision on how they wanted to do it. I think we need to share these talents more and learn from one another.
Chuck
EIS2:
You make a valid point. While I may be willing to go to the different directories, others may not. I still think you could have a separate repository to store this type of information for easier access.
Regards,
John O
I think it is a better idea to leave the forum structure "as is". When the forum is sub-divided too much, the special sections will be ignored. For example, the OGR board is sub-divided into 12 sections. 99% of the time, I only look at the "3-Rail O-Gauge Trains" section. I am very interested in TMCCII, but I rarely go to that section of the forum. If you had posted this suggestion on the OGR board, your posting should be posted in the "Support/Suggestion Box" section of the forum. I suspect very few forum members ever open that section of the OGR forum.
If you post a question or solution in a "How To" section of this forum, the number of viewers will be a small subset of the forum viewers. Therefore, to get the maximum exposure for your posting, I suggest leaving the forum "as is".
Typically "How do you . . ." get lots of responses, the difficulty is going back and finding the ones you need when they are tucked inside say like the coffee pot thread. Even if the administrators do not do anything with this, we as posters could standardize in the subject line with the words "How do you " and fill in the blank. It would at least makes searches easier. I subscribe to another forum for 6.5 GM diesel trucks, and this is pretty much how things evolved to.
I personally love to read how to's and when I believe I am qualified to reply I do. More how do yous would be great. There is a lots of experience surfing through here.
Jim
I think it is a terrific idea. If there is anything that i can do to help make it happen, i am willing.
That said, it will be like herding cats to get agreement on the what goes in and the how best to do it. As case in point, in the first of the responses, "issue more releases of CTT" was an answer to your post. Like all good ideas, this one is past due and will become a nightmare to implement. Judging what goes into the How To section would test the patience Job and wisdom of Solomon.
Let me know if i can help
ralph
Folks,
The "DIY" idea is a good one, for all the reason everyone has mentioned.
Hello Dennis:
The Garden Railways section have several directories for their forum, why can't the CTT have more than one? I have found many of the tips and suggestions to be helpful (e.g. Jaabat's tree making tips, Lionelsoni's electronics help, etc.). Could these be put in another directory as a reference?
I'll send that, Dennis.
And while we're at it, lets ask again for 12 issue/year!
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
I present the following idea for discussion and consideration by Bob and the gang at CTT. As seen in the Soldering thread, there are areas that merit a specific thread to answer questions that many of us will come across in our Hobby. The idea is to have a area of the forum that we can keep a How To section. Many folks here have lots of knowledge and experience to share. Many also have questions and would have a good area to check prior to posting the questions as many have already been answered. This would allow space to be freed up on the forum web site. Should someone new have a question, they could be directed to that spot and the need to start a new thread on something that has been discussed to exhaustion would be negated. You could divide it into sub groups such as command control, electrical/wiring, scenery., etc.
I would also like to see if others like this idea. My feeling is that CTT is the place to come for this valuable information and would be even more so with a user friendly information station. For me, it would be fine if this were part of the "subscriber only" section, but others may differ. In either case, what do y'all think?
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