Does anyone view this forum by first selecting a 'topic'?

In a current thread Neil moved the OP's thread to another topic saying that it might garner more replies (or whatever). I surmise that only forum members that search or view by choosing that particular topic would then see that thread.

My chosen way to view the forum is to have a desktop link to 'Latest Posts' I then basically see all postings and don't know (or need to know/care) which topic group each posting is in.

I'm sure I cannot be the only person to start in latest posts, OTOTH I wonder if I'm missing something?

Ian P

I'm a "latest posts" kind of guy...

But I guess it depends on how often you visit. I check in a couple of times a day, so it's unlikely that something of interest will slip off the first "latest posts" page before I see it.If you visit less often, it might make sense to go to the section that interests you.

It does not matter where it is. If it has had a answer/ comment it comes to the top of latest postings. So it does not matter where Neil put it.

Steve.

P.S I guess his reasoning is if you want to know about a particular machine etc then it is easy to find using the search feature. Perfect sense I would have thought.

Edited By Steviegtr on 12/06/2020 22:37:19

I agree it doesn't matter where the post actually is, that was the point I was making.

I just wondered whether anyone actually searches or views by topic. I have not used it but my impression is that the forum search is not one of its best features so if one was searching for say, 'Myford ML7 Saddle lock' the chances of a good result are minimal. Searching the forum site with plain old Google is more likely to find something without caring which topic it was posted in.

Ah I see what you mean. I use it a lot. So anything Tom Senior mill is under Tom senior. Not under say Tom Senior motor problems. So Myford will be a search for just that MYFORD. All threads will then be shown. Works great. Also I have a Myford super 7 so maybe I could search for super7 or just Myford . Clear as mud.

Steve.

Ian, I view latest posts but sometimes refer to the topic for insight into what the (sometimes vague) heading is actually about. That way I filter out some posts without reading them.

Martin C

I suspect a few, with specialist topics and who don’t read the forum so regularly would likely go to their own niche section.

3-D printing is one specific area that I have looked in recently - or perhaps I just searched for that topic - knowing that not all 3-D printing threads would necessarily be in the ‘right’ place.

Think about how you look at other forums that you don't often go to, or how you would look for information in a once off basis, say darning socks on a sewing forum.

Latest posts for me, just scroll down to whatever time I last visited and then work my way up. Only tend to go to Topics when I want to start or add to an existing thread.

If it is the post I'm thinking of Neil suggested including the specific machine in the title as that would attract other users. I altered one that said "Riviting" to" Rivit Squeezer Castings" a day or so ago and within an hour there person who I wanted to reply had done so yet the post had been there for about a day with the original title.

I look at latest posts once or twice a day normally, though I'm the opposite of Jason and start at the top and work down to something I think I've read..

I would personally love it if the site search was improved and/or tagging of some kind introduced. I find it hard to re-discover posts that I KNOW are there because I've read them let alone find new material. There's a wealth of information here, but it's not always easy to find.

Iain

Jason, the post that Neil moved and which triggered my question was the one about 3 Phase in a ME workshop. Its certainly had more responses since it moved (but whether that is because it was moved or just chance I have no opinion).

Was your rivet squeezer change of title a typo on your part?

Changing Rivit to Rivit squeezer etc wont help anyone searching for rivet!

Ian P

Edit (using the fairly dumb site search feature)

Edited By Ian P on 13/06/2020 10:29:21

My actual method of using the forum is to open each and all of the latest posts in a new tab (well the posts I know I want to read plus any new ones). I can then read them in whatever order suits me. Very fortunately the text on each tab is the title of that posting (it wasn't always so on this forum, YCAMHIKT)

Ian P

I do exactly what Jason describes but it must help when you are looking for an old subject or post to be in a logical place. The google search limited to this site is useful but there is a skill in getting google to find what you are looking for. It is evident from some of the questions asked on here that some people struggle to get what they want from google. There are a load of logical operators that can be applied to a search to narrow the results to what is relevant to your enquiry’s

Mike

Ian, thread title as "Riviting" as per my quote but was specifically about castings for rivit squeezers. After changing title the person that I knew had made some responded and anyone else looking for a squeezer should be able to find the thread.

Half the problem is people not putting very good headings to a thread they start so the software will miss the subject, searching via the google search on the home page is usually more effective. I think it is also evident that some people don't even search before asking.

I generally check 'latest posts' about once a day to see if anything interesting has popped up. Like Ian P I open each post in a new tab. If I want to find something specific then I will use the search engine. If I'm not sure what the topic heading might be I will just enter a keyword eg 'files' and search all topics but sometimes if it's a topic I already know then I will enter that as well. Usually works fine for me.

I normally go to the latest post, but also have "Tom Senior" in the favourites in my browser, which links directly to all the forum posts for that make of mill.

I think most people use 'Latest Posts' but even if only a minority browse by topic or just look at the topic when deciding whether or not to view a thread, it's worth having the right one.

Also it often helps you decide whether a thread is likely to be relevant to you e.g. there's one asking "What machine to buy?" but the fact it's in the CNC Topic should help focus the responses.

Also the forum is very busy these days, and some people want to focus on their areas of interest.

I think it may also help search engines!

Neil

As the forum is busy at the moment could we extend the number of latest posts so they don't disappear so quickly and get missed. ?

regards Martin

Totally agree with the last one..... When new posts come in thick and fast, a particularly interesting one can slip off the 'Latest Posts' list never to be seen again unless one digs deeper. Apart from the nuisance factor to oneself, new posters probably don't get the replies that they are due. Make it bigger please

Gerry

Its not such a hardship to see posts that have dropped of the top page, it only a matter of clicking 'next' at the top of the list.

We can hope, but its highly unlikely that any software changes will be made to this website.

Ian P