Oct 23, 2008 9:52 AM
How do I manage questions and topics marked as questions?
Marking a Topic as a Question--or Not
Topics in the discussion areas are marked as questions by default.
Figure 1
(Click images to view full size)
If your topic is not a question, and you do not require an answer, you can clear the Mark this thread as a question check box so that the topic is not marked as a question.
After you post your topic (click Post Message), you have 15 minutes to change it from a question to a non-question or from a non-question to a question. To change the setting, simply click on your posted topic, and click the un-mark this thread as a question or mark this thread as a question link.
Figure 2
Marking a Question as Answered, Part I
You can mark a question as answered as soon as you post the topic.
Figure 3
However, most of the time, you mark your topic as answered after receiving a satisfactory response to your question. As long as the question is still marked unanswered, each time you log in and click on your topic, you have the option to mark it as answered. (See Figure3.)
Marking an Answer as Helpful or Correct
After another member responds to your question, you can mark the response as Helpful or Correct. Helpful means that the response helped you find the answer to the question. Correct means that the response is the answer to the question.
When you mark a response as Helpful, the member who posted the response receives five status points. When you mark an answer as Correct, the member receives 10 status points.
You might receive multiple responses to your question. You can mark multiple responses as Helpful. However, you can only mark one response as Correct. Even after you mark a correct response, you can continue to receive more responses and mark them as Helpful.
Mark an answer as helpful or correct by clicking the Helpful Anwser or Correct Answer buttons inside the response.
Figure 4
If you mark the answer as Helpful, the question changes to Possibly Answered, and you will have the opportunity to also mark the question as answered. If you mark the question as Correct, the question state changes to Answered.
Figure 5
Marking a Question as Answered, Part II
Generally, once you have received a correct response, your question has been answered. Once your question is answered to your satisfaction, click the answered link above the topic. (See Figure 3.)
Note: Marking a response as Helpful does not automatically change the question state to Answered. (Marking it as Correct does.) If you find the answer to your question outside of the forum, you can also mark your question as answered. Help other members by replying to your own topic with the answer. You can't mark your own response as Helpful or Correct, but you will help educate others in the online community.
Even after you mark your question as answered, you can still receive responses and mark those responses as Helpful or Correct.
Viewing your Discussion and Question History
You can view a complete list of all the topics you have marked as questions. The list is categorized into all of the discussions you have started and all of your open questions. You can click on the topic title to navigate directly to the topic and take any available action on the topic (such as marking a question as answered or an answer as Helpful or Correct.)
To view your discussion history or open questions, click on Your Stuff > Discussions or Your Stuff > Open Questions on the top menu. (You must be logged in.)
Message was edited by: Karen Farrell
