Making people Search the forum

[uncleV]

There in launchpad.net they have an useful feature in the "Answers" section - when a new thread is posted the software firstly does a search on a keywords from the topic and gives you found threads; you are proposed to read them. If you want anyway to post the thread then you can go.

That's a good kind of posting I think. It could prevent our monsters from wasting time to answer all the same answers.

Is it possible with this SMF forum software?

[everge48]

+1

I think that is a great suggestion but I'm not sure it would be possible with the software that is currently being used here. Maybe it would be possible to have a notice or message upon clicking 'New Topic' asking to please do a search first before starting a new topic, I don't know.
But one part that is very possible is adding a sticky or rule that topics must reflect the content of the thread. A lot of people make the topic abstract without a word about the issue they need help with.
Making sure at least one word in the subject line directly reflects what they are posting about will help people who are searching the forum for answers and generally make the search engine better able to find relevant content.

[menotu]

Making sure at least one word in the subject line directly reflects what they are posting about will help people who are searching the forum for answers and generally make the search engine better able to find relevant content.

Ditto +1+1+1

[sixthwheel]

Have you done a search to make sure this topic has not been posted yet?

[Mike]

Have you done a search to make sure this topic has not been posted yet?

  That's Funny!

[uncleV]

Have you done a search to make sure this topic has not been posted yet?

  That's Funny!

Yes of course, I did!
 

[longtom]

Have you done a search to make sure this topic has not been posted yet?

  That's Funny!

Yes of course, I did!
 

Did I see a hint of a blush here ...

[uncleV]

Uhmmm...
at least I thought on Searching but couldn't work out the keywords for this (a little   )
 

[Zero Angel]

Another forum I used to frequent (a vBulletin type) had a mod installed that would read the topic titles right after the user finished typing it and pull up similarly titled topics. It actually prevented me from asking a redundant question or two back when I was a noob to linux.

I don't know if this type of mod is available for SMF.