Thread starters can mark a specific post as the solution (except for the Lounge Area).
Why?
- It helps future users identify the solution as such.
- The solution will appear right underneath the first post which speeds up the search.
- The status in the thread list will be changed to „solved“ to inform other users that there’s a solution to the problem.
- Marking the right post as solution also serves as a kind of „Thank You“ to acknowledge another user’s effort to help a fellow user out.
How?
- Thread starters see an info box on the right side:
More importantly, they will find a solution checkbox under each post.
All it takes is to scroll to the post that contains the actual solution and to click on the solution checkbox. In case the thread starter has accidently assigned the solution to the wrong post they can reassign the solution by simply clicking on another solution checkbox (for a limited period of time).
Which one?
The post which contains the solution or the most important aspect(s) that lead to the actual solution should be marked as such. Marking one’s own post as solution instead is usually considered bad forum etiquette!
Sometimes, it is difficult to identify a single post which contains or led to the actual solution. It might be crucial to add further information in order to understand how the solution works. It might also be the case that there is more than one post which contains parts of the solution.
It is up to the thread starter whether they want to mark the most important post as solution and supply additional information in a separate reply or if they decide to mark their own post as solution - given it contains crucial additional information. In the latter case it’s a nice gesture to mention the users (@username) who contributed to the solution and leave a like.
