General Support Read Me First: What qualifies as support; Tips & Hints

[Dennis Tsang]

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.

What Qualifies As General Support
Day to day we're seeing many threads posted 'how do i change the code to do this', 'how do i modify the template to do this'. We're also seeing people ask for support for code modifications and plugins which are not written by the MyBB Group.

This isn't the appropriate forum for such things.


The MyBB Group provides support in this forum for:

• General issues with MyBB
  
• General faults (which could possibly be bugs) with MyBB
  
• "How do I use feature x and feature 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. Support questions will be answered on a first come, first serve basis. You must wait your turn before receiving a response.

Forums containing hacking, pornography or any other illegal content will not be supported.

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
Here are 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 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. Screen shots are highly recommended. Provide the link to the problematic page if possible.

3. Bumping Threads

If you try and bump your thread before 24 hours has passed, it will not take effect. This is an automated process within the MyBB System designed to keep the fairness of our policy on "First come, first serve." You may bump your thread after 24 hours has passed, however it is likely bumping it won't achieve anything but annoy our support team. Only bump your threads wisely.

4. Versions

Please indicate in your post which version of MyBB you are using (copy the exact version information from Admin CP --> Version Check. Example: "Your Version: 1.4.11 (1411))" Generally, if you are not using the latest version you will be told to upgrade to the latest version before receiving further support.

It is also a good idea to indicate which version of PHP and MySQL you use, available on the 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.

6. Do not private message, or instant message, people for help.

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. 99% of the time, your PM will simply be ignored. If it becomes an annoyance to our staff members, your ability to receive official support may be hindered.

7. Search The Forums First! Read the stickies, Wiki & FAQ!

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 as they will address problems we've noticed appear in multitude.

There is a FAQ available on the Official MyBB Wiki that may answer your question.

8. Use proper English!

The last thing we want is to try and understand what the heck you are saying. Proofread your responses, 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. If you are unable to communicate well enough in English, you may be asked to move your support request to the internationalization subset of MyBB's support. This subset is run externally by volunteers (sometimes on separate sites) who dedicate their time to helping MyBB users in their native language.

9. Correct Place

Please read this thread to ensure that you are posting in the right forum.

Please post your support question in the right forum. If you have a bug report, please report it on the MyBB Development Site. If a bug is found as a result of your support inquiry, you may choose to file it on the MyBB Development Site.

We also suggest you place separate individual questions in separate support threads, allowing us to keep the flow of the inquiry more consistent and clean.

10. Don't get annoyed

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 (and the other members in the MyBB community) are human beings who volunteer our time for free to help you out. We are provided with no subsidies nor any kind of financial incentives or otherwise. We make our best effort to respond to your support requests and to resolve them in a timely manner. As such, we ask that you bring your best manners and work with us as much as possible. We bring inhumanly patience to us everyday here at MyBB, so we ask that you make your best effort as well. The difference for you to take a few minutes more time to be more clear and descriptive in your inquiry means years more sleep for us.

11. Helping Out

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.

12. Problems logging in or getting your pages to update even though you're sure you updated them? (Tip from Ooka)

Well, a couple of simple steps might fix this.

- First, find your internet options in your specific browser. Once you're at a screen that give you the option to delete things such as cache / cookies / browsing history, try clearing your cache. This will generally fix a lot of errors that involve things not updating.

- If that didn't solve your problem, try clearing your cookies, this will generally solve any log in problems. If you're still having problems with logging in or pages not updating, read any other suggestions you find in these stickies before posting your thread, as they're usually problems that have happened before (http://community.mybboard.net/thread-42123.html).

13. Problems with things missing from your layout, or colors being wierd? (Tip from Ooka)

Here are a couple things that can tend to help out with display problems.

- If it's a specific page missing something like words, just try a fresh upload of that file, although you have to keep in mind to not replace your settings.php or config.php. If replacing the specific file didn't help, try the next step.

- Find the template that is upsetting you, these are all found in your Admin CP under Themes and Templates. Just try finding another fresh template source and just completely replacing your previous one. If it's a highly customized template, you'll be best to post a help thread, but if it's only slighting edited, move your changes over to the fresh one. If you're experiencing the same problem afterwords, it's obviously a problem with the changes you're making to that template.

14. Just having weird problems that didn't happen until after installing a Theme / Plug-in? (Tip from Ooka)

- Just try removing the plug-in that you suspect caused the error, this will generally fix any problems you had afterwords. If you really wanted the plug-in, make sure you followed the exact directions posted in that plug-in creators thread, if you are, then feel free to post in their thread.

15. Website content
Support will not be provided to websites containing either of the following:
-Illegal activity (warez, pornography, hacking, etc.)
-Racism or hate related content


The Wiki

The Wiki contains many pages of information varying from the documentation of MyBB 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.

---

Minimum Copyright

The following shows the minimum line we must find on your forum in order for support to be provided.

Powered by MyBB

Note there must be a link to http://mybb.com. Images that display the above are allowed, so long as they are linked to http://mybb.com.

Users that are found to violate this rule will be denied support temporarily (for the first offense) until rectified, or permanently for repeated offenders.

[Ryan Ashbrook]

Please remember!

This is NOT the forum to ask how to modify MyBB Source Code, or MyBB Templates.

These questions should be asked in their respective forums!

Plugins & Code Modifications. This is for questions regarding modifying MyBB Source Code to get a desired effect, that is not standard to MyBB.

Templates, Themes, and Graphics. This is for modifying MyBB's Templates to change the look and feel of your MyBB Installation.

Please remember to post in the appropriate forum.


Updated for the recent Modifcations forum change. - Ryan

[Matt]

I am just bumping this to put the title in bold so people see it again, and I want to just reiterate a few points that I don't think everybody is aware of.

• This forum is only for issues with MyBB itself. This can include:
  • How do I use this feature??
    
  • A feature doesn't seem to work properly.
    
  • I have no idea how to do something, help!!
    
• This not a forum for plugins or theme issues. Forums for plugins and themes can be found here.
  
• If you are asking how to edit core MyBB files or make major template changes, you also need to ask in one of these forums.
  
• Have you searched, read the Docs, or looked in the User Submitted Tutorials forum?? A lot of questions have answers in one of these 3 places.
  
• Be descriptive. Help us help you!!
  • Descriptive thread title.
    
  • Clear and concise description of the problem.
    
  • URL and test account if needed.
    
  • Screenshots - a picture tells a thousand words, showing us exactly what you see is a huge help.
    
  • Whole error message - something like 'I have an SQL error' or, 'I have an Error 40' is not helpful. We need to know the whole error to be able to give you useful advise.
    
  • What version are you on?? What was a known error on one version may have been fixed in another, so letting us know what you're running can help us help you even quicker.
    
• Read sticky threads. Common issues are normally put into a sticky thread, so always check to see if your problem has it's own sticky thread.
  
• If you have no reply after 24 hours, you may bump your thread. Any posts made within 24 hours with no posts inbetween will be merged anyway.
  
• If you have a problem, tell us what you did to get it, and what you have tried to do to fix it already.
  
• Post in English only, and clear English. Talking IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS or tlking lyk ths makes your posts very hard to read, especially if both of these are combined, and it may take us longer to work out what you're trying to tell us. If you would rather speak in a language other than English, you can use the Internationalization forum.
  
• There is no need to add special formatting to your entire post. This includes posts all in bold, italics, underlined, different colours, different sizes, or center aligned. If an entire post is formatted like this, it can make it a bit harder to read and the formatting may be removed.
  
• Lastly, be patient, and don't get annoyed if we ask you a few questions or take time to reply. We want to make sure you're getting the best help you can.
  

Hopefully people will find this rules refresh useful

[Matt]

Another rule reminder, when waiting for an answer to a support thread, please do not delete your last reply and repost it to bump the thread, and also please do not make another thread on the issue, simply because your first one has gone to the next page. If after 24 hours you have had no reply, you can bump your thread, however until then, please try and be patient and wait for someone to see to it. Having multiple threads on one topic just makes our job harder because if the issue is solved in one thread, we might see the duplicate and go to answer it again. One thread is plenty. Warnings will be issued if either of these two rules are broken.

Thank you.

[Matt]

Important Update: I'm cracking down on people cross and double posting.

Please do not make more than one thread on an issue, link to an older thread in a new thread on a different issue, make a thread just to link to an older thread, or post in some else's thread linking to yours to get help. If your thread has not received a reply for 24 hours, you may bump it. Until then please try and be patient. People who do this from now on will receive 20% warning. This rule has been in place to ensure the 24 hour rule is followed, so that it's fair to everybody, and it's been let slip.

Thank you.