Forum:Sticky Threads

I'm proposing that the forums have sticky threads so that it will be easier to navigate through the forums. I've done this once here: Forum talk:Index#"Sticky Threads".

I'm suggesting that the sections that would have sticky threads will have this code added to it:

<forum>
namespace=Forum
category={{PAGENAME}} forum sticky
shownamespace=false
addlasteditor=true
historylink=true
cache=false
</forum>

As for the stickied threads, we would change the {{Forumheader}} so that they would be stickied:

{{Forumheader|Forum:General Yu-Gi-Oh! Discussion forum sticky}}

Please tell me is this possible and if I have made a mistake because I am still new to this kind of editing.-- HHTurtle ^Talk   10:13, August 6, 2010 (UTC)

I do a bit of HTML, but I'm not entirely used to wikia stuff. On topic; I was looking through this page a while ago, but it doesn't really give much detail. At least we've confirmed that it is in fact possible to sticky threads. -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 10:24, August 6, 2010 (UTC)

I've seen the other wikis and it seems there are 2 ways. You can either list it with 1 category like this:

"Single-Category" Method

<forum>
namespace=Forum
category={{PAGENAME}} forum sticky
shownamespace=false
addlasteditor=true
historylink=true
cache=false
</forum>

so that threads which are in that specific category will be listed there: or you can do it with 2 categories:

"Double-Category" Method

<forum>
namespace=Forum
category={{PAGENAME}}
category= Sticky Threads
shownamespace=false
addlasteditor=true
historylink=true
cache=false
</forum>

so that threads which are in both categories will be listed there. I'm not sure which is better.-- HHTurtle ^Talk   10:30, August 6, 2010 (UTC)

So, basically you're trying to do something like this. It works, but the problem is that everyone can make their page a sticky, which is kinda bad. -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 10:41, August 6, 2010 (UTC)

Yes, something like that. I'm not sure how to try what you just did in my sandbox. As for the "other people can also sticky their threads too" problem... I'm not sure how we can enforce it and make all forum threads restricted for proper users to edit that. We can just do what we always do. Treat it as vandalism and block the troublemaker if they persist.-- HHTurtle ^Talk   10:45, August 6, 2010 (UTC)

Here's a quick preview of what the first one is. User:Falzar FZ/Sandbox2 updated, see below. -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 11:26, August 6, 2010 (UTC)

Ok, I did more research on the matter. I found that the "single category" method should be more preferable as it will not cause the same thread to appear twice on the same section. I also did my own experimental version: User:Hide Head Turtle/Sandbox. Tell me what you think of it.-- HHTurtle ^Talk   17:08, August 6, 2010 (UTC)

Yea, I was thinking of adding the categories of Sticky and All, but it was getting late, so I left.

btw, if you were wondering, the slightly different tones on my box was not only to make the search stand out a little bit, it also makes up for the fact that I chose not to use an obvious border. -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 22:27, August 6, 2010 (UTC)

Ok, I also added a little header to the search box so that it will show its purpose better.-- HHTurtle ^Talk   14:25, August 7, 2010 (UTC)

I've tweaked with the table settings of the Forum to make the different categories more distinguishable and added a little header to the "New Topic Box". You can take a preview here: User:Hide Head Turtle/Sandbox.-- HHTurtle ^Talk   16:28, August 8, 2010 (UTC)

Personally, I'm inclined towards a single "Sticky threads" category, using the two-category method for forum listings - this is actually cleaner in the long run, since there's only one additional category to manage. I don't think having threads listed both in the sticky section and the main section is really that much of a problem, since we shouldn't end up with enough sticky threads to allow most of the main section to be filled with them. 「ダイノガイ千？！」^{? · Talk⇒Dinoguy1000} 01:31, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

Aren't the 2 methods essentially the same thing; in the sense the they will both create an additional category? Just with a different category name? -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 02:14, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

For casual users, they are almost exactly identical - both can be implemented in exactly the same way in {{Forumheader}} (a {{{sticky}}} param or similar), and the only displayed difference would be whether they might be repeated between sections on forum lists, the appearance of the breadcrumb links in the forumheader, and the exact categories at the bottom of the forum topic itself. For users concerned about site maintenance, and for whoever actually implements the system (it'll probably be me, since I already have prior experience working with the forum system ;) ), however, there are some reasonably significant differences - the main one is the number of new categories. With my preferred method, only a single new category would need to be created, and it would contain all the sticky threads from all the forums. Hide Head Turtle's preferred method, however, would require the creation of a new category for each forum in which we want sticky threads. A related difference is that my method is immediately applicable to any forum, with the only overhead being the addition of another DPL request on the forum's listing page, whereas HHT's method would also require the creation of a new category and possibly also tweaks to {{Forumheader}} each time. One more difference which actually weighs in favor of HHT's method (but only because you're already creating a number of new categories) would be the creation of "global" sticky threads, which would require their own category and a third DPL request in either system. Ultimately, I'll implement whichever method everyone chooses, but as I said, the double-category approach is the one I'd personally prefer. 「ダイノガイ千？！」^{? · Talk⇒Dinoguy1000} 05:27, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

I have been waiting for more comments from the Admins and so far only 1 is here. I would preferably leave the decisions to the Admins. I'm just not sure which Admins are more interested in these proposals. Some like PoirotH, rarely visits here. Hopefully, the other Admins like Deltaneos will comment on the Category method. As for me, as I have said above (scroll up for Italic text) I prefer the "single-category" method.-- HHTurtle ^Talk   05:44, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

Sorry about that, Hide, I actually skimmed some of the above discussion, and thus either misread you or somehow completely overlooked your comment. In light of that, there seem to be at least two of us in favor of the double-category approach, and I am thus mostly just waiting for Delt to comment before I start doing anything with it. 「ダイノガイ千？！」^{? · Talk⇒Dinoguy1000} 06:00, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

Just checking. The line "With my preferred method, only a single new category would need to be created, and it would contain all the sticky threads from all the forums." Isn't that one the 2 categories method? -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 06:26, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

I've added a little title to both methods so that we don't get confused here. Dinoguy1000, it's kinda weird calling me "Hide". It makes me sound like a piece of leather. Haha.-- HHTurtle ^Talk   08:15, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

lol, well, you're username is kinda long. What's your preferred shorthand name? -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 08:50, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

I don't know. Something like "Turtle" or "HHT" should be ok.-- HHTurtle ^Talk   09:16, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

All right, HHT is probably what I'll use from here on (I'm fine with DG or DGk, if you're wondering ;) ). 「ダイノガイ千？！」^{? · Talk⇒Dinoguy1000} 19:52, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

The single category for all sticked threads looks like the better option to me too. It is possible to get around the stickies appearing in both sections. On Central, they use...

category={{PAGENAME}}
category=Stickied threads

... for stickies and...

category={{PAGENAME}}
notcategory=Stickied threads

... for non-stickies. -- Deltaneos (talk) 16:58, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

Ooh, I didn't know about notcategory... That probably covers the last major possible objection to the double-category method... The only question left, I think, is whether there's any preference for the category name: "Sticky threads", "Stickied threads", or perhaps something else? 「ダイノガイ千？！」^{? · Talk⇒Dinoguy1000} 19:52, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

now that you mention it, I prefer "Stickied Threads" (probably because I'm used to seeing it more than "Sticky Threads", but it's barely noticeable for me)... and the "All Threads" isn't exactly 'All' threads, but I don't mind leaving it.

If the "notcategory" works, then I'd prefer that one. Since there shouldn't be too many stickied pages anyway

I'm assuming that it works like the header of Forum:Too many short ruling query forums, except with sticky as the 2nd thing. -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 10:22, August 10, 2010 (UTC)

On second thoughts, I like "Sticky Threads" better, it's all in the font xD -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 11:59, August 10, 2010 (UTC)

I actually hadn't gotten around to considering how (or even whether) {{Forumheader}} would visibly mark a particular thread as sticky, other than the additional category. Do we really even need to do so? 「ダイノガイ千？！」^{? · Talk⇒Dinoguy1000} 17:29, August 10, 2010 (UTC)

I don't think you need to do anything to it; both methods should work the same way, except when, for the 2 category method, if you want to sticky and have it show on 2 boards at once, then you need to extend the header with a third heading. (not sure what to call it exactly; but I mean {{Forumheader|1st heading|2nd heading|3rd heading}}), but I doubt any threads need that. -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 02:04, August 11, 2010 (UTC)

Sticky threads have been implemented in the forumheader (but not in any of the forums yet); just do something like {{Forumheader|sticky=yes}}. 「ダイノガイ千？！」^{? · Talk⇒Dinoguy1000} 02:03, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

Can we agree on something like this?

If a thread should be stickied, then people can go into a thread and say that it should be stickied, once a few people do that in the same thread, then it can become a sticky. -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 02:39, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

I don't think that should be necessary; experienced users should be able to see when a thread is sticky potential, and if another user disagrees, they can unsticky it and bring it up for discussion. =) 「ダイノガイ千？！」^{? · Talk⇒Dinoguy1000} 02:43, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

It works just like the first method, but better; for one, the Categories at the bottom of the page makes more sense. Also, Forum:Sticky test can be deleted if it's not needed. -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 08:36, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

I like what was done for the Lists Discussion section. However, it would be better if there was a more distinguishable table for it like what Falzar and I have done. I like Falzar's because the colour is less than mine.-- HHTurtle ^Talk   07:06, August 13, 2010 (UTC)

I'm getting ready to propose something; it'll be in a new thread, though. =) 「ダイノガイ千？！」^{? · Talk⇒Dinoguy1000} 07:47, August 13, 2010 (UTC)

Selective stickying?

I think there may be one small problem with the current setup. Threads which go in multiple sections like Forum:E-Mailed Rulings from Konami might be worth stickying in one section, but not the others. Adding sticky=true, would sticky the page in both sections. Is there any simple way of getting around this? I'm not thinking of stickying any such threads at the moment, but it might be something that comes-up in the future. It's not a major issue anyway. -- Deltaneos (talk) 00:39, August 17, 2010 (UTC)

I don't see how unless we use the Single-Category method. For example, if you want Forum:E-Mailed Rulings from Konami to be stickied in the Rulings Queries section, but not in the Wikia Community Discussion section, its header will be {{Forumheader|Yu-Gi-Oh! Wiki Community Discussion|Yu-Gi-Oh! Ruling Queries sticky thread}}.-- HHTurtle ^Talk   03:49, August 17, 2010 (UTC)

Or you could just remove it from one side. If it's already stickied on a board, then it probably doesn't need to appear elsewhere. -Falzar FZ- (talk page|useful stuff) 03:51, August 17, 2010 (UTC)

Right now, Deltaneos wants to sticky it in the RQ section but then the thread still belongs to the WCD section.-- HHTurtle ^Talk   03:53, August 17, 2010 (UTC)

I have a feeling worrying about it now would be more trouble than it's worth, if there's nothing you're wanting to actually set up like this. The simplest way to do it would probably be the single-category style, though, like Turtle said.

On the other hand, if there are no sticky threads in the forum you're not wanting the thread to be sticky in, you could simply display sticky enumeration in that forum. 「ダイノガイ千？！」^{? · Talk⇒Dinoguy1000} 04:22, August 17, 2010 (UTC)