MyBB

***DennisTT*** · (This post was last modified: 10-21-2006 06:31 AM by DennisTT.)

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 (by Chris Boulton)
We feel it was time that some rules were drawn up for the "General Support" forum for MyBB. 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, 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. Smile

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 MyBB you are using (copy the exact version information from Admin CP --> Version Check. Example: Your Version: 1.03 (100.10))

It may also be 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. Smile

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 MyBB. So if it is convenient, upgrade your board 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. Wink

Your problem may have already been addressed. Why open a new thread when there is already the same one with the answers. Big Grin

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 seperate, 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.

IRC Channel
If you are looking for a more instant response to your support request, or to just chat about MyBB or anything else, you may try to post a request on our IRC channel.

Network: irc.msgplus.net
Channel: #MyBB

irc://irc.msgplus.net/mybb

If you have a web browser with Java enabled, you can use this applet: http://www.dennistt.net/irc/mybb.php

More information...

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] or view solutions to common problems on the [Wiki: Help:Contents] page.

Ryan Ashbrook · (This post was last modified: 02-03-2008 06:34 AM by DennisTT.)

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

**MattR** · (This post was last modified: Yesterday 09:17 AM by MattR.)

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 Wiki, 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 Smile