As you've no doubt noticed, there's something going on the main forum page that smacks of an attempt at some kind of catergorized organization. Categorization is another thing this software allows. One level of categorization. In a nutshell, here's how it works:

When someone creates a thread (a new topic) there's a pull down menu in the text entry area that lists the available categories, plus a "Don't know" option. If, for instance, you were creating a new thread pertaining to funding, you'd want to select that category in the text entry area. The software attaches that info to your entry behind the scenes, and your posting will eventually "slide off" the "New Questions" list and underneath the "Funding" category on the list of categories on the list of "Older Messages (by category)" on the lower part of the screen. (New Questions - threads - stay on that list for whatever period of time is set in the administrative part of the software. I believe I've got it set to 7 days right now, but that can be changed at any time to any length desired. The idea is to leave them on the top level for as long as it will take anyone using the forum to become aware of and read them, but not so long that the list gets a mile long.)

The categories that exist now were set up based on the items in Cynthia's "Informal Proposal," and are intended as a starting point. If you find yourself posting something that doesn't seem to fit any of the available categories - if you think there ought to be some new category added - by all means, do this...

Leave the pull down menu set to "Don't know" (the default), post it, come to the category this thread is in (Forum Mechanics: Overview, etc.), click this thread's link, make a note of the title of your posting, and what you think the new category it should fall under ought to be. And please include a couple lines about why you think that new category ought to be created. (No doubt they'll be valid ideas, and no doubt there'll be more categories created here. Yet at the same time, we all know it can be easy to get carried away with creating categories sometimes, and it never hurts to understand the reasoning and to think about it a little first.)

Your input on this topic will be appreciated. The general objective is to create the most organized, coherent, and easily navigated body of information possible. I don't know how that one goes for you, but I have often found that concept "challenging," to say the least. But as you'll see, this software offers us all at least a fighting chance...

To make a category suggestion or comment, click on the "Contribute an answer to..." link below.

Bill

-- Bill (billdale@lakesnet.net), May 30, 1998