XF 1.5 How to prompt members for more descriptive thread titles?

[ibrian]

I'm sure I've seen on other xf forums, not least at Digitalpoint, where when a new user posts, they are prompted to provide a properly descriptive title.

So instead of automatically starting a thread called "Help please" they are invited to reconsider and might post something a little more useful for reference, such as "Help with Sony plasma HDTV sound please".

I had a look in the resources and here, but "title" and "thread" are so common that if there is anything it's easily drowned out.

Any pointers would be very welcome.

 

[Mr Lucky]

Four years late, but here's an answer.

Thread prompts have been available now since version 2.0 so the user sees a greyed out maessage in the title filed before composing the title.

Before that I would sometimes use a notice that appears only on the thread create (Content template = forum_post_thread)

 

[beerForo]

I also use the prompt to tell them no promotion or links in their welcome post and it seems to work well.

 

[Mr Lucky]

You can also use custom thread field to hammer it home.

 

[beerForo]

What are you doing in fields for that?

 

[Mr Lucky]

In my introduction forum, I get a lot of people asking questions about saxophones etc. This is bad because that forum is noindex.

So I have a required field with tickbox:

 

[beerForo]

I see. So they click the circle almost like an agreement.

 

[beerForo]

Thanks for that because I also get people jumping into the niche discussion with questions.

 

[Mr Lucky]

I see. So they click the circle almost like an agreement.

Yes, otherwise the post doesn't work. They are more obliged to actually read it than a thread prompt or a notice.

 

[beerForo]

It's actually a good idea also to show a new user some rules. I have my permissions set up so they have to post in the Introductions forum first. Fields could be useful here as I was looking at a few other solutions like the thread auto-reply, and the force to read a thread add-on. Thanks.

 

[Mouth]

So I have a required field with tickbox:

Thanks, great idea.
Prompted a minor bug fix from me - https://xenforo.com/community/threads/custom-thread-fields-description-display-ignores-cr-lf.184871/