Standardizing Tech support help requests

[achow101]

So I have been seeing here on the Technical Support forum for a while that most tech support requests start with a long back and forth of question and answer. The OP posts a question, but without details and then people follow and post asking for OS, debug.log, more details, txids, addresses, etc.

I propose that we create a standard form for tech support requests where this unnecessary posting is eliminated and all of the necessary details are provided in the OP so that the members here can immediately help the OP without a long back and forth of just details and not actually helping.

Here is my proposed format:

Wallet Software and version number:
Operating System:
System Specs:
Problem description:
Any related transactions ids:
Any related Bitcoin addresses:
Screenshot of the problem:
Debug log if Bitcoin Core:

The screenshot can be uploaded to any image hosting site and the link either posted or the image embedded.
The debug log should be the last several hundred lines and posted in code brackets.

[1715272169]

1715272169

[1715272169]

1715272169

[cr1776]

Maybe add:
System memory: 1GB, 4GB etc
Number of connections to bitcoin core: e.g. 8 or less.  More than 8.
For the Operating system, perhaps O.S. AND version number:
Have you made a backup copy of your wallet.dat file: yes/no

[avw1982]

So I have been seeing here on the Technical Support forum for a while that most tech support requests start with a long back and forth of question and answer. The OP posts a question, but without details and then people follow and post asking for OS, debug.log, more details, txids, addresses, etc.

I propose that we create a standard form for tech support requests where this unnecessary posting is eliminated and all of the necessary details are provided in the OP so that the members here can immediately help the OP without a long back and forth of just details and not actually helping.

Here is my proposed format:

Wallet Software and version number:
Operating System:
Problem description:
Any related transactions ids:
Any related Bitcoin addresses:
Screenshot of the problem:
Debug log if Bitcoin Core:

The screenshot can be uploaded to any image hosting site and the link either posted or the image embedded.
The debug log should be the last several hundred lines and posted in code brackets.

Good format from you and This is more helpful for Newbies who all are recently joining to Bitcointalk and Technical support people could easily understand the problem and they can easily solve issue too. Nice job

[shorena]

Its worth a shot if you can get a sticky for it. If not, it will be missed by most anyway. Regarding the wallet software, only bitcoin core should be here. It might be a good idea to link to the correct sections for other wallets.

Electrum -> Electrum
Multibit -> Multibit
Fancy Wallet x -> Alt Clients
blockchain.info -> Service discussion
etc.

[achow101]

Its worth a shot if you can get a sticky for it. If not, it will be missed by most anyway.

You can at least tell people to check this thread and ask them to post their question in this format instead of having to ask them the same questions over and over again.

Regarding the wallet software, only bitcoin core should be here. It might be a good idea to link to the correct sections for other wallets.

Electrum -> Electrum
Multibit -> Multibit
Fancy Wallet x -> Alt Clients
blockchain.info -> Service discussion
etc.

There already is a sticky for that, but no one pays attention to it. By having them state what easier they are using, the post can be reported to be moved to the right place.

[siameze]

It would be helpful to know this information from the outset, too often I ignore posts where people don't bother mentioning what OS, etc they are using, but I'm lazy like that.

If it gets stickied or updated it will go a long way into reducing the time it takes for people to get an answer for sure.

[Newar]

Just sticky: http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

[shorena]

bump