I'm just starting to explore Toolset and thought a good starting point is to download Toolset Classifieds which should be a fully working site that shows off the basic functionality of what can be done. Although it should work out of the box, i already encountered a problem when clicking on the MyAccount link - https://toolset.com/forums/topic/toolset-classifieds-demo-myaccount-link-error/#post-288792
This may be a unique issue but i haven't done anything other than follow the instructions exactly to install the Framework and then download ToolsetClassifieds. No modifications have been done at all. So i'm assuming others who do the same should be encountering the same problem. However, from the way the support forums are setup, it's not really possible to easily see all the discussions related to a certain topic.
Unfortunately, in the support request i posted, the reply doesn't really address or solve the problem. From browsing through other posts, i notice that there are a few really good moderators but there are others who leave a lot to be desired.
I think there may be a lot more to be learned from other users who have gone through the same things before and that is why i'm wondering what's the best way for users to communicate & help each other out?
For example, i noticed how one user henkd has posted quite a bit (ie https://toolset.com/forums/topic/admin-in-classifieds-demo/) and had varying levels of success getting good answers quickly. Some of the discussions span over a few days just for him to get his question understood. And in one thread, he even mentioned how he's ready to give up if the support staff can't understand his final attempt to explain his question.
It would be extremely useful to get his opinion about Toolset and what can/can't be done but i'm not sure what's the best way to get in touch with him. Toolset is positioned as a product for non-coders and it would be great to hear what other non-coders have to say about their experience with it.
Is there any way for Toolset users to interact?
PS. It'd be good if the forums allowed a bit of text formatting so that all the communications can be clearer
Let me forward your request to the appropriate person.
Regards
Caridad
You are free to post a reply to any thread initiated by this user.
By default all users will receive notifications about replies to the threads they start, unless they have explicitly disabled it.
The only formatting allowed in the forum are < code > to delimit source code.
I hope it helps.
Caridad
"You are free to post a reply to any thread initiated by this user." ..... wouldn't this take the thread 'off-topic' and clutter the discussion?
It'd be great if there was a Community Discussions forum added to the Community Support forums at https://toolset.com/forums/
There are some really good support threads that are relevant to almost everyone who is starting out with Toolset. But right now, there is no easy way to find them. Seems like we need to take a the long route of:
1. starting with step 1 in the whole learning curve
2. trudge our way through until we encounter issues
3. then search for them in the forum, and
4. post a question if we don't find a solution
Surely, it's possible to make things more efficient so that your customers can get off to as smooth of a start as possible.
For example, you are a top quality Technical support forum moderator, but right now you have to deal with these questions. Why can't Toolset have a forum to hold community discussions?
I would open a new thread for discussion and just leave this user a note in his thread. This way the thread is not going off-topic.
However, I have forwarded your concerns to the appropriate person, please stand by for feedback.
Okay thanks Caridad. Look forward to the feedback.
As you can see - https://toolset.com/forums/topic/are-cred-forms-easier-to-style-now-in-march-2015-compared-to-2013/ - if there were discussions that kept users updated with what's going on and potential solutions, it may cut down the number of unnecessary support questions.
Dear Pat,
This is the feedback I received:
Generally speaking we have a section for case studies were clients that use the Toolset in their projects are asked to showcase their examples and explain how they use our products. So if you are interested in learning from others examples and checking out how the Toolset plugins are used in real examples you can check it out:
https://toolset.com/category/case-studies/
One other possibility to help with the learning curve is our reference sites where examples are present and available to you for downloading and checking them out in your local installation:
https://toolset.com/documentation/views-demos-downloader/
The current forums are for providing support and therefore we are there to offer assistance, monitoring and focus for the content there available.
About creating a new community forum were we do not monitor but with the purpose of clients exchange of knowledge, I’m not sure. This can lead very easily to unattended content.
Thanks for getting back to me Caridad.
Yes, i've gone through most of the case studies. They are very inspiring but lack the technical explanation that novices require to try and recreate the features. The Demos are great, and what would be even better is ... accompanying detailed tutorials/guides on what certain things do.
For example, i have spent some time trying to ask a simple question about the [classifieds-redirect] shortcode, that Adriano misunderstood and had to waste time answering. I then found your perfect explanation in https://toolset.com/forums/topic/display-login-form-my-account/, where another user says "I really want to understand why you use " [classifieds-redirect][/classifieds-redirect]" and how I can find the definition of this shortcode."
If this is clearly explained in a tutorial or some technical reference guide for the Demos, it would have saved Adriano, you, me, laetitiat and lots of other users plenty of time in trying to figure this out.
Seems like this issue of detailed technical tutorials has been requested for quite some time already and has also been brought directly to Amir's attention openly almost a year ago - https://toolset.com/2014/06/can-simplify-types-plugin/
I understand if an unmoderated users forum may generate 'unattended content' but why is it so difficult to get someone to spec out these guides that quite a few users have asked for already? It would save your support team time, make it easier to learn your products and improve the overall experience in embracing Toolset.
I have forwarded your concerns to the appropriate person.
Thank you for your suggestions.
