Splitting the other calc projects/ideas section and a technology section?

[DJ Omnimaga]

As you might have noticed, the calc projects and ideas section is growing at an exponential rate. All active topics in the past week won't even fit in one page anymore so for someone who don't visit often, it can get a bit hard to find his topic and the search function may return too many results. So I was wondering if we should split it in 3 categories: games, programming tools and math/science utilities? I do not want to split projects from ideas, though, because it will be a major PITA to move all ideas that becomes actual projects.

Also, someone suggested that I add a technology sub-forum somewhere. While this might be a cool idea, I don't want Omnimaga to lose its focus on calc gaming too much either and Cemetech already got a great userbase for such topic. As a result, if I add such forum, it would land in the Random discussion section, among the gaming, anime, misc talk and randomness sections. That way it wouldn't have too much emphasis. Do you think I should add such section anyway?

Also, should I rename non-calc projects ideas to non-calculator related development? I feel it is weird to have a non-calc project section but non computer programming help section, but at the same time I don't want two section either. Should I rename it and move all computer programming help topics located in misc talk in there?

[ASHBAD_ALVIN]

I think you SHOULD split the projects thing into the three forums.  And also, make a technology based one too -- it will get us a better userbase of non-calc programmers who we could overall convert to also programming calcs

I say make the foums as expansive as possible -- make something for everybody!  That way, people who used to program calcs and now program in things like java or C++ can then stay active in the forums without having to put their computer topics in the "randomness" section or likewise.  Good thinking thus so far!

[yunhua98]

^ This. 

btw, the search funtion returns different results everytime I try.    bug?

[ASHBAD_ALVIN]

...just tested that out.  Same for me

also, another bug (thoguh I'm not sure if this is the right place)  in the omnomIRC, when I click on someone's name, it redirects me to MY user profile.  Another bug

[Deep Thought]

Good idea IMO

^ This. 

btw, the search funtion returns different results everytime I try.    bug?

Nope, you're probably just searching from different pages. By default, it searches only on the forum/topic you're currently on.

[yunhua98]

ah, ok, thanks, that makes sense!

[ztrumpet]

I think we should split it in 3 categories.
I'm on the fence for the technology sub-forum.  Put me down as impartial.
I agree with the entire third paragraph.

Great ideas DJ.

[Deep Thought]

ah, ok, thanks, that makes sense!

No problem First few times I used it, I thought it was broken.

EDIT: I think splitting it into 3 sections would be a very good idea, but uploaded downloads should definitely create a topic in the right section.

[DJ Omnimaga]

I say make the foums as expansive as possible -- make something for everybody!  That way, people who used to program calcs and now program in things like java or C++ can then stay active in the forums without having to put their computer topics in the "randomness" section or likewise.  Good thinking thus so far!

I do not want the forums to be too large either, though. Else it will be hard to find what we want. On Cemetech and UTI there used to be about 30 sections I think and it got a bit hard to find what we want. Since those boards got revamped it is much easier. Also if we expand too much, we will look more generic than specialized in a domain.

^ This. 

btw, the search funtion returns different results everytime I try.    bug?

If for example you are on the board index it will search every section/sub section from boardindex. If you search from the major ti products section, it will only search from there. If you search from this topic, it will only search stuff in this topic. I wish there was a way to select from where you want to search, like on SMF support board.

[Deep Thought]

Would it be possible to get rid of the automatic topic-making when a file is uploaded altogether? Most projects that are submitted already have topics, anyway.

[DJ Omnimaga]

Yeah I thought about it. Most stuff being uploaded is stuff that are just finished. Not much old stuff. I just got worried that people would post files there without bothering to announce anything. For that, I will have to find a way to make new additions stand out more on the front page.

[Deep Thought]

Maybe a checkbox in the upload a file page to create a topic?

[DJ Omnimaga]

Sadly nope, it is admin-side. Either it's enabled for everyone, either not.