Archiving old posts

[Jeff Waegelin]

As always happens, I've noticed many cases of people posting a new thread on a subject, then having some well-meaning individual do a search on the topic, only to find a thread from over a year ago, and say "Please search before you post". I think it's time we archived some of the threads from previous seasons. I would suggest moving anything with no activity before a certain cutoff date (say, December 31, 2002, or perhaps Kickoff 2003 if we want to base it on the FIRST season rather than calendar year) to a "2002" archive forum, similar to the ones from 1999-2001. We could also simply close threads before a cutoff date. Anyone else have any ideas for this, or think I'm just crazy?

[Bharat Nain]

Originally Posted by Jeff Waegelin

As always happens, I've noticed many cases of people posting a new thread on a subject, then having some well-meaning individual do a search on the topic, only to find a thread from over a year ago, and say "Please search before you post". I think it's time we archived some of the threads from previous seasons. I would suggest moving anything with no activity before a certain cutoff date (say, December 31, 2002, or perhaps Kickoff 2003 if we want to base it on the FIRST season rather than calendar year) to a "2002" archive forum, similar to the ones from 1999-2001. We could also simply close threads before a cutoff date. Anyone else have any ideas for this, or think I'm just crazy?

I second that suggestion. If anyone wants to revive the topic, they can make a new topic and put a reference link in their post to the archieved post. Although I don't know if this is really the right time to do this, because Brandon seems real busy, lets see what he has to say, and others

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally Posted by TeknoBramha

I second that suggestion. If anyone wants to revive the topic, they can make a new topic and put a reference link in their post to the archieved post. Although I don't know if this is really the right time to do this, because Brandon seems real busy, lets see what he has to say, and others

Ahhh, but you have not yet learned how to "suggest" things for Brandon to do. If we suggest it enough, I'm sure he'll get around to it sooner or later

[Adam Y.]

I'd hate to tell you but Brandon all ready did this. He ended up locking threads that dated back before a certain date. Though why the old post about last years chairman's award dinner isn't locked is another question. That's almost a year old. Yup Im right.

[Franchesca]

Originally Posted by Jeff Waegelin

As always happens, I've noticed many cases of people posting a new thread on a subject, then having some well-meaning individual do a search on the topic, only to find a thread from over a year ago, and say "Please search before you post". Anyone else have any ideas for this, or think I'm just crazy?

I think people who want to start threads should definetly do a little bit of search if they think that they are coming up with a whole new topic because chances are that they might not be! This is especially true for those who are new in the forum ... like me ! It's also incorrect to kind of shut someones thread just because it is a topic that has already been discussed ... this new thread may have a different perspective on an old topic.
Anyway, this proposal would work and it would be easier for those who want to revive a thread or to start a new one on the same topic ... would not have to get stuck with quotes such as this one: "Please search before you post". And those who are purposely looking for information from any of those threads which have not been active since a certain time could just go to the archive!

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally Posted by Adam Y.

I'd hate to tell you but Brandon all ready did this. He ended up locking threads that dated back before a certain date. Though why the old post about last years chairman's award dinner isn't locked is another question. That's almost a year old. Yup Im right.

Well, locking is one thing... but I was more concerned with suggesting they be moved into a consolidated archive. And, if we're just locking threads, it may be time for an update on that, anyways. The chairman's award dinner thread was actually what gave me that idea.

[Brandon Martus]

Moving really isn't something I want to do. The only reason there are 1999-2001 threads is because they were on a whole different system and were imported.

Moving would lose the structure (or make us duplicate it multiple times) that keeps things organized. The technical threads are in the technical forum, cad threads are in the cad forum, etc. By having them in these forums, you can go to that particular forum and search easily.

I will probably do the locking of old threads again. I'll have to dig up the old thread and do it exactly like last year.

It's on my todo list. [PM me if something you suggested isnt on that list. Send me a link to the relevant thread too.]

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally Posted by Brandon Martus

Moving really isn't something I want to do. The only reason there are 1999-2001 threads is because they were on a whole different system and were imported.

Moving would lose the structure (or make us duplicate it multiple times) that keeps things organized. The technical threads are in the technical forum, cad threads are in the cad forum, etc. By having them in these forums, you can go to that particular forum and search easily.

I will probably do the locking of old threads again. I'll have to dig up the old thread and do it exactly like last year.

It's on my todo list. [PM me if something you suggested isnt on that list. Send me a link to the relevant thread too.]

Fair enough. I had thought that might be a problem, but I figured I'd suggest it. This might be a ridiculous thought, but what about re-creating the structure in an archive? I.E. having subforums in the "2002" archive identical to the forums from whence the posts came. This might be too much for the database to handle, but it's a thought I had.

[Brandon Martus]

Creating and mapping all of that would be time consuming, too. I'm not sure how vBulletin would handle it. Probably wouldn't be a problem, but I'd rather just let the forum do its auto-archive (by the older ones just dropping out of main view after X days..)

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Brandon Martus

It's on my todo list.

YES!! My topic made it on Brandon's todo list..

[Joe Ross]

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