Title label a source of confusion.

[John Rostron]

I have just advised another new forum member about the common misunderstanding about the use of the Title field in messages. Can I suggest that you include a post in the Frequently Asked Questions forum which explains the proper use of the Title field.I would not necessarily expect new members to read all the FAQ first, but it would help if, when responding to a new user who misinterprets the Title field, members could provide a link to this FAQ post. This would also ensure that we are all giving the same advice.

Ideally the forum software should be modified to avoid the use of the word Title but, until such times, my suggestion could be more easily implemented.

John

[Move Along People]

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[John Rostron]

32 minutes ago, haakoo said:

Or rename the "title"field to subject(of your topic)

Yes, I agree, but I am guessing that this would have to be done by the website developers rather than the Serif moderators. This would take longer to implement than a moderator posting a FAQ. The request to change the website software would have to come from Serif.

John

 

[carl123]

https://invisioncommunity.com/forums/topic/455709-lots-of-users-putting-mr-or-mrs-in-title-field/?tab=comments#comment-2811167

The last post on (Feb 11th) seems to suggest it is changeable but it's a bit cryptic

Maybe he meant to write "string" not "strong"

[walt.farrell]

43 minutes ago, carl123 said:

Maybe he meant to write "string" not "strong"

Yes, I think he meant "string".

[thomaso]

3 hours ago, John Rostron said:

I suggest that you include a post in the Frequently Asked Questions forum which explains the proper use of the Title field.

It appears people who misinterpret the Title label also may dislike reading FAQ. – I wonder why this content above the bug forums links does not appear above others, too. (Though it is no guarantee to get read, or even seen if coming via a link directly into a specific forum)

3 hours ago, haakoo said:

Or rename the "title"field to subject(of your topic)

The field is named already "...topic_title"

<input type="text" name="topic_title" value="" id="elInput_topic_title" aria-required="true" maxlength="255">

How about a placeholder text in this field? (since even "subject" can be misinterpreted as person, customer, my title and me (some people indeed fill their names here))

[John Rostron]

I acknowledge that the best solution would be a change in the forum software. Many possible ones have been suggested, I like @thomaso's suggestion of some placeholder text. I also acknowledge that this may take some time before it is implemented.

My proposal is for a stopgap solution. I specifically conceded that newish members would not read the FAQs (I know I didn't). My suggestion would simply facilitate letting more experienced members assist newbies by pointing them to the FAQ.

John

[R C-R]

Assuming it can be done without too much effort, I think just changing the field name from "Title" to "Topic Title" should make its intended purpose reasonably clear.

[firstdefence]

[walt.farrell]

9 hours ago, R C-R said:

Assuming it can be done without too much effort, I think just changing the field name from "Title" to "Topic Title" should make its intended purpose reasonably clear.

From that invisioncommunity thread shown above, changing it to "Topic Title" or "Subject" should be a simple change using the forum software's existing language translation capabilties.

[Joachim_L]

I would vote for change "Title" to "Type in here whatever you want to ask or say". This leaves no questions I think ... I hope.

[R C-R]

10 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

From that invisioncommunity thread shown above, changing it to "Topic Title" or "Subject" should be a simple change using the forum software's existing language translation capabilties.

For "Topic Title" or any other multi-word field label I suppose it could be a bit harder than for a one-word label but I still think "Topic Title" would make it clear enough that the field is not for names, honorifics, & such.

"Subject" is maybe a bit less desirable because some users might think things like "I need help!" or just "Designer" or "Affinity" would be appropriate.

[walt.farrell]

4 minutes ago, Joachim_L said:

I would vote for change "Title" to "Type in here whatever you want to ask or say". This leaves no questions I think ... I hope.

Sorry, but I respectfully disagree. It needs to be a short summary of the question, not the complete question.

[R C-R]

5 minutes ago, Joachim_L said:

I would vote for change "Title" to "Type in here whatever you want to ask or say". This leaves no questions I think ... I hope.

I think that is far too vague & open ended, & would often result in new users trying to cram large amounts of text into the field.

[Joachim_L]

Sorry to all. My suggestion was meant to be funny. I miserably failed here. 😭

[thomaso]

Erinnert mich an Karl Valentin:

• Valentin's naïve sense of humour produced sketches that in spirit were loosely connected to dadaism, social expressionism and the Neue Sachlichkeit. Along with Karl Kraus, he is considered a master of gallows humor.^[11] His art centered mostly around linguistic dexterity and wordplay—Valentin was a linguistic anarchist. His comedy would often begin with a simple misunderstanding, on which he would insist as the sketch progressed.

3 hours ago, Joachim_L said:

"Type in here whatever you want to ask or say"

"... and if you exceed 256 characters continue as a new subject"

"Es ist schon Alles gesagt, nur nicht von Allen."