OT - Board Suggestions

[JoeBass]

It is frustrating to continually read responses that direct questioners to read the rules and or close topics that may or may not be resolved to the questioner's satisfaction.  I understand the desire for tidiness and efficiency but, it is not fun or helpful to read unnecessarily condescending rebukes.

The Cognos Forums are terribly designed and poorly attended.  The Tek-Tips group is well informed and helpful but, they lack a sense of community; people like me visit when they are frustrated. 

This site has a nice layout and the beginnings of a good community.  It is refreshing to come here and find people who are excited about ReportNet and are interested in stretching its capabilities.  I hope a balance is naturally reached where abusers are shunned and the rest of us are tolerated.

JoeBass

[mallika]

I am new to reportNet, and to this forum and God only knows I need all the help I can get to solve my reporting problems... and so at the risk of putting myself on a limb here, I am inclined to agree with JoeBass. The tech gurus here are the backbone of such an endeavor and it would be terribly disappointing that questioners do not come forth and share their problems for the fear of being rebuked, after all it is the dynamics of questions being asked and answered, problems posted and resolved  that make any site such as this a success.

[sir_jeroen]

I think you are referring to me.
I only refer to the rules when I know it's in the books. We're all here to help you.. But... We're not here to rewrite the manual for you. Personally I've experienced an increasing number of people who start posting right away without searching this forum and/or reading the manual (eg. http://cognoise.com/community/index.php?topic=505.0 ) . This is a forum to HELP YOU and NOT to do it FOR YOU.

And if only everybody used to give an indication to the status of his topic, then I wouldn't have to ask for it. It's for everybody (that's what I think) helpfull to know if the topic is solved or unsolved. And there are some people who keep on posting without closing their topics and who are not sharing their solutions. If they want personal help let them contact Cognos.

If you disagree let me know....

[JoeBass]

I would guess that most people here are professionals.  It is safe to assume a level of competence about all the members.

It would be great if people indicated when they found a solution to their problem and thoroughly searched for their question before posting.

My point is that I would rather see unacknowledged questions and threads go unsolved than strong enforcement of board rules.  My .02

[sir_jeroen]

But I've got a question for you:
What do you think would happen if I and others don't press people to enforce the board rules?

Let me know...

[COGNOiSe administrator]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the post JoeBass and the responses from mallika and CRNAddict.

First of all, we really appreciate the vote of confidence in COGNOiSe. We also thought there was room for an alternative community support forum that might run parallel to COGNOS' and tek-tips forums.

COGNOiSe has really grown on the back of the technical expertise of its users like Darek and ReportNet Addict (just to mention a few). The free time and effort they contribute, I'm sure you'd agree, is remarkable.

My personal opinion (and this I mean - one person one vote) is that COGNOiSe merely provides a virtual meeting place for the COGNOS community. COGNOiSe does not:
- censor (unless posts are derogatory, defamatory, illegal, unethical or are blatant advertising)
- claim rights over any content posted by users
- turn away any requests for technical assistance

My point, thus, is that apart from these guidelines users are free to post as they see fit. This may mean CRNAddict's enthusiastic posting style as well as JoeBass' right to request for some 'toning down' (I hope I'm right in my interpretation).

It's always hard to convey tone in the written word and we also have to cater for the multicultural aspects of the community. Thus perhaps I can suggest a compromise:
- everyone should feel comfortable posting with due regard to all things defamatory, unethical etc
- all our moderators will cease posting requests to check manuals/close posts
- users, where possible, will try to close posts if the problem is solved

This is a community forum and there is no real right or wrong way of doing things (apart from that bit about defaming, unethical behavior etc). Some posts may continue to not be closed, answered etc but that is the nature of the community. (Although a closed post is really handy when you're searching for an answer - speaking from experience I have benefitted from CRNAddict's pursuit of a tidy forum)

Hope that is a satisfactory answer to all. I would hate to lose ReportNet Addict's expertise and friendship - just as much as I would hate to not be able to help a fellow COGNOS user's request for assistance (after all, that's why we're all here!)

What do you think?

Cheers,
Jon

[sir_jeroen]

I agree with you, but... personally I'm here to solve problems for people and not to help people with searching the manual or telling them where to find it in the manual.

I hope that there are more people like that in here, otherwise I see this forum growing out in to a new index for the reportnet documentation.

[BIsrik]

i 2 agree with addict. I don't think someone can demand help from others. There are many cases which are solved but the poster to the problem doesnot even care to close the case properly. This just shows these people are merely here to find solutions to their problem.

One suggestion from my side if i want to post a topic i have search all the pages to look if there is any topic posted like that. I don't feel i may continue this habit for long time. Can u people create a section were in we can find alteast the closed cases.

I am confident that every member here in this group will follow the board rules properly. Its just the beginning, so it takes time people to adjust. (even it happened to me also.)

Srik

[CoginAustin]

If a person asks a question which may be in the cognos docs somewhere or the KB wouldn't it be better to not just answer it if it offends you? I mean, some people here do not mind pointing people in the right direction with page numbers, links, or whatever.

Also, the people asking the question may have looked in the docs but do not understand them or want more real world help with their problem.


I also think a new "index for the reportnet documentation" is not that bad, is it? I mean, it is already heading there. For example, RNAddicts tutorials and tips is like a very advanced manual or how-to guide for things you would never find in the Cognos docs and that everyone needs to know.(or should want to know)

my 2 cents..

[SueC]

I'll throw my newbie .02 in.Ã, 

I can see and understand all sides presented here.Ã,  In some cases, such as PowerPlay, it's difficult to determine WHICH manual to read if you're new to the product.Ã,  In other cases like Report Studio and Framework Manager, I find the manual utterly lacking in practical solutions and examples.Ã,  They are barely more than dictionaries and don't even contain explanations for all of the functions.Ã,  Older Cognos products, like the PowerHouse doc set (at least the older versions, don't know about the newer version) are loaded with examples, usually more than one per topic.

I can't tell you the number of times I've received the response 'it's in the manual' or 'look at the KB' from support.Ã,  That is extremely frustrating coming from a 'service' that my company pays for.Ã,  Many times I have looked and searched first, but if you don't search on just the right keyword or phrase you won't get results.

So hopefully those who are more knowledgeable will continue to have patience with the rest of us and maybe you can help us by suggesting terms on which to search.

Thanks for listening....tuning out now.....