2009-05-04, 05:03 PM
Before requesting support, please read through this post and make sure you are posting the right information in the right place. This will make it much easier for you to get the help you need, and for us to help you.
General Support Information Outline
The MyBB Merge System is a very sophisticated application for converting and merging multiple supported forums into one MyBB forum.
Most individuals are unaware of the actual complexities that go on behind the scenes to make the process a smooth transition between your old forum and your new MyBB forum.
As such, we try and test the Merge System as best as we possibly can to ensure the process be as easy as possible.
However, it is impossible to find every single problem and correct it. Therefore, we are asking for your cooperation when you report problems on the Merge System conversion process, TO BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE.
In order to help us expedite the process of answering the multitude of questions we receive for the MyBB 1.4 Merge System, please include the following information when reporting your problems:
Also, please make sure you are running the latest version and search before reporting your problem.
What Qualifies As General Support
We feel it was time that some rules were drawn up for the "General Support" forum for the MyBB Merge System. Day to day we're seeing many threads posted without sufficient information to be able to assist you.
The MyBB Group provides support in this forum for:
This is not the support forum for:
We have appropriate forums for such discussion in our Customization sections.
Please also remember to use a descriptive title when posting as this allows us to quickly and possibly identify a problem and provide a solution, as well as provides us with a "priority scale."
Failure to abide by these support rules may result in:
Help us help the users by posting in the correct section.
Tips on Asking for Support (by Ryan Ashbrook)
Original thread
Here's just a few tips on asking for support.
1. Do not use thread titles such as "Help!!" or "Not working!"
Create a title that is unique and is descriptive of your problem.
Generally when the people want to give you answers they'd like to know what they're dealing with before looking at the thread.
2. Use descriptive details of your problem.
It really helps when you quote any errors being shown, and providing explicit detail about your problem. Screenshots are highly recommended. Provide the link to the problem page if possible.
3. Bumping Threads
I see this a lot here. And I think it would help if you only bumped your thread after a day of no response. If your problem is not addressed, don't fret, someone will usually see it. And if they don't I suggest giving the thread a day before bumping it.
4. Versions
Please indicate in your post which version of the MyBB Merge System you are using (copy the exact version from the download you chose from the MyBB Merge System Downloads page on the MyBB Site. Example: "MyBB Merge System Beta 4")
It may also be a good idea to indicate which version of PHP and MySQL you use, available on the MyBB Admin CP Homepage.
5. Try to fix it yourself.
We're glad you use MyBB, and we're glad to help you out with your issue. But, instead of just running to us with an issue, always try to fix it yourself, who knows? Maybe you'll find your answer yourself.
And if your efforts failed, tell us about it so that we know what you have tried to do already.
Sometimes, problems have been fixed in newer versions of the MyBB Merge System or MyBB. So if it is convenient, upgrade your board or rerun using the latest Merge System to see if the problem persists.
6. Do not private message, or instant message, people for help. Important! (Tip from Matt Light)
Private messaging people for help is annoying and it won't help you get an answer quicker. This includes PMing people to ask them to read a thread. Only PM someone for support if they ask you to. Instant Messaging for help is also looked down upon, and extremely annoying.
7. Search The Forums First! Read the FAQ! (Tip from Lucid)
Use the search feature, it is your friend.
Your problem may have already been addressed. Why open a new thread when there is already the same one with the answers. 
Also read the sticky threads at the top of the support forums.
There is a FAQ available on the MyBB Wiki that may answer your question.
8. Use proper English! (Tip from k776)
The last thing we want is to try and understand what the heck you are saying. Also proofread your message, so we don't have to ask you to explain. We understand that not everyone here may be fluent in English, and that it may not be your fault for not having English as your dominant language, so just try your best.
9. Correct Place (Tip from k776)
Please read this thread to ensure that you are posting in the right forum.
Please post your support question in the right forum, I haven't seen much of this but it's always good to leave Bug Reports and Support Questions separate, if a Support Question becomes a Bug, we'll move it accordingly.
Also, don't be afraid to open more than one thread for each question you want to ask. This makes it easier to discuss each question, than all at once in one thread with many problems on it.
10. Don't get annoyed (Tip from k776)
If someone cannot help you, but instead gives you a link to something that might help you, don't get annoyed because you don't have the answer right there and then. Go to the link and check it out. If you cannot make sense of it, say so. Don't get into an argument.
Remember, we, the support team members (and the other members in the MyBB community) are human beings who volunteer our time to help you out. We try to respond to your support requests and to resolve them as soon as possible, and so please bear with us.
11. Helping Out (Tip from k776)
If you know the answer, don't just say "You gotta...." but actually help out. Give them a step by step guide on what they can do to fix it. Not everyone knows what you know. So let them know.
The Wiki
The Wiki contains many pages of information varying from the documentation of the MyBB Merge System to modifications to solutions of common problems.
Start on the [wiki]Main Page[/wiki] or view solutions to common problems on the [Wiki: Help:Contents] (Broken link, head over to docs.mybb.com instead) page.
General Support Information Outline
The MyBB Merge System is a very sophisticated application for converting and merging multiple supported forums into one MyBB forum.
Most individuals are unaware of the actual complexities that go on behind the scenes to make the process a smooth transition between your old forum and your new MyBB forum.
As such, we try and test the Merge System as best as we possibly can to ensure the process be as easy as possible.
However, it is impossible to find every single problem and correct it. Therefore, we are asking for your cooperation when you report problems on the Merge System conversion process, TO BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE.
In order to help us expedite the process of answering the multitude of questions we receive for the MyBB 1.4 Merge System, please include the following information when reporting your problems:
- Detailed description of your problem
- Name of the forum software you converted from
- Version of the MyBB Merge System you used
- The relevant debug logs (located in /convert/logs/)
- Screenshot or error text, verbatim
- Name of the forum software you converted from
Also, please make sure you are running the latest version and search before reporting your problem.
What Qualifies As General Support
We feel it was time that some rules were drawn up for the "General Support" forum for the MyBB Merge System. Day to day we're seeing many threads posted without sufficient information to be able to assist you.
The MyBB Group provides support in this forum for:
- General issues with the MyBB Merge System
- General faults (which could possibly be bugs) with the MyBB Merge MyBB
- "How do I do x and y" discussions
This is not the support forum for:
- "I installed a plugin and now my board doesn't work"
- "This plugin is performing incorrectly"
- Questions relating to the modification of MyBB in terms of code, themes and templates.
We have appropriate forums for such discussion in our Customization sections.
Please also remember to use a descriptive title when posting as this allows us to quickly and possibly identify a problem and provide a solution, as well as provides us with a "priority scale."
Failure to abide by these support rules may result in:
- No support being given for such questions
- Your thread being deleted (extreme cases) and you being notified through the use of a PM
- Your thread being directly moved (with no redirect) to the appropriate forum
Help us help the users by posting in the correct section.
Tips on Asking for Support (by Ryan Ashbrook)
Original thread
Here's just a few tips on asking for support.
1. Do not use thread titles such as "Help!!" or "Not working!"
Create a title that is unique and is descriptive of your problem.
Generally when the people want to give you answers they'd like to know what they're dealing with before looking at the thread.
2. Use descriptive details of your problem.
It really helps when you quote any errors being shown, and providing explicit detail about your problem. Screenshots are highly recommended. Provide the link to the problem page if possible.
3. Bumping Threads
I see this a lot here. And I think it would help if you only bumped your thread after a day of no response. If your problem is not addressed, don't fret, someone will usually see it. And if they don't I suggest giving the thread a day before bumping it.
4. Versions
Please indicate in your post which version of the MyBB Merge System you are using (copy the exact version from the download you chose from the MyBB Merge System Downloads page on the MyBB Site. Example: "MyBB Merge System Beta 4")
It may also be a good idea to indicate which version of PHP and MySQL you use, available on the MyBB Admin CP Homepage.
5. Try to fix it yourself.
We're glad you use MyBB, and we're glad to help you out with your issue. But, instead of just running to us with an issue, always try to fix it yourself, who knows? Maybe you'll find your answer yourself.
And if your efforts failed, tell us about it so that we know what you have tried to do already.
Sometimes, problems have been fixed in newer versions of the MyBB Merge System or MyBB. So if it is convenient, upgrade your board or rerun using the latest Merge System to see if the problem persists.
6. Do not private message, or instant message, people for help. Important! (Tip from Matt Light)
Private messaging people for help is annoying and it won't help you get an answer quicker. This includes PMing people to ask them to read a thread. Only PM someone for support if they ask you to. Instant Messaging for help is also looked down upon, and extremely annoying.
7. Search The Forums First! Read the FAQ! (Tip from Lucid)
Use the search feature, it is your friend.
Your problem may have already been addressed. Why open a new thread when there is already the same one with the answers. Also read the sticky threads at the top of the support forums.There is a FAQ available on the MyBB Wiki that may answer your question.
8. Use proper English! (Tip from k776)
The last thing we want is to try and understand what the heck you are saying. Also proofread your message, so we don't have to ask you to explain. We understand that not everyone here may be fluent in English, and that it may not be your fault for not having English as your dominant language, so just try your best.
9. Correct Place (Tip from k776)
Please read this thread to ensure that you are posting in the right forum.
Please post your support question in the right forum, I haven't seen much of this but it's always good to leave Bug Reports and Support Questions separate, if a Support Question becomes a Bug, we'll move it accordingly.
Also, don't be afraid to open more than one thread for each question you want to ask. This makes it easier to discuss each question, than all at once in one thread with many problems on it.
10. Don't get annoyed (Tip from k776)
If someone cannot help you, but instead gives you a link to something that might help you, don't get annoyed because you don't have the answer right there and then. Go to the link and check it out. If you cannot make sense of it, say so. Don't get into an argument.
Remember, we, the support team members (and the other members in the MyBB community) are human beings who volunteer our time to help you out. We try to respond to your support requests and to resolve them as soon as possible, and so please bear with us.
11. Helping Out (Tip from k776)
If you know the answer, don't just say "You gotta...." but actually help out. Give them a step by step guide on what they can do to fix it. Not everyone knows what you know. So let them know.
The Wiki
The Wiki contains many pages of information varying from the documentation of the MyBB Merge System to modifications to solutions of common problems.
Start on the [wiki]Main Page[/wiki] or view solutions to common problems on the [Wiki: Help:Contents] (Broken link, head over to docs.mybb.com instead) page.