This one isn't hugely important but I think it's still useful. How about when topics are posted on the forum, we can have a count for how many times it's been read?

This would be an added level of info which we could use (for example) to know if no one has answered because no one has read it, or many have read it but not replied indicating no one has an answer so then we know that we should look elsewhere for a solution.

Not a bad idea Angus, but I have noticed on other forums that often the original poster of a query doesn't check the post as 'Answered' when solutions are given. Granted, sometimes the solutions don't work for the OP, but even when they do work, they're not listed as answered. Human nature?

That said, I think we all could be more helpful here in this forum by simply acknowledging when solutions work ( and many have said so, which is great!), and also if we are the OP, then possibly re-name our original post with the parenthetic (ANSWERED). This will go along way towards helping others find their way. I guess we could also include an 'answered' tag to include in the post once the query is answered.

I noticed when logged in here to the forums, there is an "UNANSWERED" section listed in the left-hand column. Not sure how Zen determines this, but it would be nice keep this section up-to-date when post are answered.

I, for one could also be more diligent in posting in the appropriate category when originating my posts .

Of course, sometimes the answer isn't one we want to hear, but it is an answer.

Hope this helps,

~ trace

Then, I think this is an additional request to be able to have a label for "answered" or "successful solution" or something similar. This I think is a really good idea.

I have participated in a few beta development programs for software I use, and on the forums there would be a big green "solution" tag to let people know. In one forum they were reserved for the moderators and staff, in the other, the OP could mark their own thread as solved. Which I think was good.

The unanswered on the left is simply threads that no one has replied to, rather than ongoing problems.

I think both should be employed - read count and "answered/solved" tag. Though I think the "answered" tag is a higher priority than read count as it's more immediately useful.