[Mapserver-users] Other MapServer mailing lists

[Merrett, Mike]

I think a forum setup might be better -- phpnuke is free (phpnuke.org) and
after a bit of initial setup (not much) is ready to go

Just my $0.02
   Mike Merrett

-----Original Message-----
From: mapserver-users-admin at lists.gis.umn.edu
[mailto:mapserver-users-admin at lists.gis.umn.edu]On Behalf Of
Julien-Samuel Lacroix
Sent: June 17, 2004 8:36 AM
To: Tyler Mitchell
Cc: mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
Subject: Re: [Mapserver-users] Other MapServer mailing lists


Hi all,

Perhaps adding some tools to respond for common questions could solve a 
part of the problem. It will reduce the amount of traffic on the list 
without splitting it (It seems that a majority does not want to split). 
I have two ideas here.

First one, adding a "first time here" (Any other name idea are welcome) 
to the mapserver website. This would be a tool for new users that will 
take them by the hand and will explain them what's mapserver, what are 
the main component and more important, where to look to have the 
information they need (mailing-list, wiki, google, etc.). This would 
have to be very straight forward to do not overwhelm new users with to 
much information. This could also be great for teaching new users how 
they can contribute to community via the mailing-list/wiki. And then 
here's come the second idea.

The wiki is a great tool for user contribution, but it's a bit chaotic 
and maybe sometimes it's hard to find were to look for when you have a 
weird error message. So maybe having a wiki page (pointed by the "first 
time here" page) that list all clickable error messages could be great. 
Then if you click on an error message then you will find all user 
contributed solutions to this problem. For sure it will not apply to all 
error since it always depends on mapfile, installation, permissions, 
etc., but I think it may be worthful to a lot of cases. Also we will 
need to encourage users to contribute to this. It's a kind of FAQ, maybe 
  we should just get a more complete FAQ page or multiple FAQ pages 
(Mapscript FAQ, Raster FAQ, Query FAQ, etc.).

The idea is to not split the list in many multiple sublist since most of 
us will subscribe to all of them anyway. So maybe we should only provide 
more tools to get less traffic on the current list.

My 0,02$

Julien

Tyler Mitchell wrote:
> Some of us have been discussing/debating about how to improve the
> MapServer community, specifically via the mailing lists.  The idea is that
> there might be some benefit gained from creating a new list or two.
> 
> I am not sure how well all the questions get answered, especially
> considering the volume of mail coming through these days.
> 
> - I've heard from more than a few people that they unsubscribe after their
> question is answered because the traffic is so high.  Do you think new
> users would benefit from a less threatening (lower volume!) newbie list?
> - Would some specific technical areas benefit from having a list (i.e.
> Mapscript)?
> - Would an "announcement only" list be useful?
> 
> What do you others on the list think?
> 
> Tyler
> 
> p.s. for those of you who were overcome with guilt for never replying to 
> my surveys, now's your chance to participate ;) ha!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Mapserver-users mailing list
> Mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> http://lists.gis.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mapserver-users
> 

-- 
------------------------------------------------------------
Julien-Samuel Lacroix            jlacroix at dmsolutions.ca
DM Solutions Group               http://www.dmsolutions.ca/
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