21-Topaz II
September 6, 2011
Question
ISDX - a near miss - Now Forum Vs Email
- September 6, 2011
- 3 replies
- 1635 views
I wanted to follow up on this.
A forum isn't necessarily easier, but it is better in a couple of ways.
1. The entire thread from the original question through all the
responses is viewable in one place. With the email system, you only see
the thread one response at a time.
2. Search. The forum develops a searchable database of questions
and answers.
Now, while it's not inherently easier, it doesn't have to be harder
either. A decent email notification system would allow users to receive
notices of new threads started as well as replies to existing threads.
Ideally, it could email the entire first post but no one of the replies
unless the user subscribed to that thread itself. So, we could get the
initial question via email as we do now, but not get any replies unless
we subscribed to that thread. A 'subscribe' link could be added to the
email itself.
Unfortunately, the system as we have it now fails to provide the
benefits of a forum listed above due to the use of emailed posts and
responses. Threads are a jumbled mess and many times incomplete, making
the search function of limited value. Even this valuable discussion on
the nature of the group will be buried inside a thread on ISDX (which
never got answered) which was converted to a thread on screw threads.
As it is now, it works better as an email list, but as more members log
on and post online, even that is becoming diluted. Unless something is
changed, I see a day coming where I will no longer use PTC/User.
Doug Schaefer
This thread is inactive and closed by the PTC Community Management Team. If you would like to provide a reply and re-open this thread, please notify the moderator and reference the thread. You may also use "Start a topic" button to ask a new question. Please be sure to include what version of the PTC product you are using so another community member knowledgeable about your version may be able to assist.
A forum isn't necessarily easier, but it is better in a couple of ways.
1. The entire thread from the original question through all the
responses is viewable in one place. With the email system, you only see
the thread one response at a time.
2. Search. The forum develops a searchable database of questions
and answers.
Now, while it's not inherently easier, it doesn't have to be harder
either. A decent email notification system would allow users to receive
notices of new threads started as well as replies to existing threads.
Ideally, it could email the entire first post but no one of the replies
unless the user subscribed to that thread itself. So, we could get the
initial question via email as we do now, but not get any replies unless
we subscribed to that thread. A 'subscribe' link could be added to the
email itself.
Unfortunately, the system as we have it now fails to provide the
benefits of a forum listed above due to the use of emailed posts and
responses. Threads are a jumbled mess and many times incomplete, making
the search function of limited value. Even this valuable discussion on
the nature of the group will be buried inside a thread on ISDX (which
never got answered) which was converted to a thread on screw threads.
As it is now, it works better as an email list, but as more members log
on and post online, even that is becoming diluted. Unless something is
changed, I see a day coming where I will no longer use PTC/User.
Doug Schaefer
This thread is inactive and closed by the PTC Community Management Team. If you would like to provide a reply and re-open this thread, please notify the moderator and reference the thread. You may also use "Start a topic" button to ask a new question. Please be sure to include what version of the PTC product you are using so another community member knowledgeable about your version may be able to assist.