Procedure for creating an episode poll

[Danny Stewart]

As everyone knows, I'm very picky about the creation of episode rating and discussion polls on the site. They all have to follow a very specific format, and for that reason, I'm usually the one who has to do it as others don't understand all the requirements involved. The downside of that is that sometimes people have to wait a day or two for me to get the poll online, which people don't always want to do. So with that in mind, I've decided to write up an official guide to how to do the episode polls so that anyone can do it and do it properly. (Please note that polls posted improperly will be closed and possibly deleted.) Without further ado, here goes. (Also please note that some things described here are different from how things have been done before -- this is the new official, accepted format.)

Guide to Abbreviations
(show) - The full form of the show's officially accepted name, e.g. Doctor Who, Torchwood, Stargate SG-1, etc.
(number) - The episode's number, done in season x episode format, e.g. 1x01, 2x04, 3x11, 4x09, 10x19, etc.
(title) - The name of the episode, in quotes, e.g. "Rose", "Day One", "The End of the World", etc.
(author) - The name of the episode's author, e.g. Russell T Davies, Chris Chibnall, Paul Cornell, etc.

Thread Settings
Thread Title: (show) (number) - (title)
Example Thread Titles: Doctor Who 1x01 - "Rose", Torchwood 1x03 - "Ghost Machine"

Thread Body: Should include the phrase "Plot Summary - Written by (author)" (bold and underlined without the quotes, and obviously replacing "author" with the name of the episode's writer), then a line break, then a plot summary of the episode taken from a reputable official source, like the BBC's Doctor Who or Torchwood web sites, Outpost Gallifrey, GateWorld, etc.

Additional Options:
[ X ] - Yes, post a poll with this thread (check this box)
Number of poll options: [ 10 ]

At this point, you may submit the thread. You will then be taken to...

Poll Settings
Poll Question: Please rate (show) (number) - (title)
Example Poll Question: Please rate Torchwood 1x05 - "Small Worlds"

Number of Poll Options: 10 (this should already be set correctly -- leave it alone)

Poll Options:
Option 1: 10/10 - Brilliant
Option 2: 9/10 - Fantastic
Option 3: 8/10 - Great
Option 4: 7/10 - Very Good
Option 5: 6/10 - Good
Option 6: 5/10 - Fair
Option 7: 4/10 - Poor
Option 8: 3/10 - Very Poor
Option 9: 2/10 - Horrible
Option 10: 1/10 - Unwatchable

Poll Timeout: This should be either left blank or set to 0 (zero)

Miscellaneous Options:
[ _ ] - Allow multiple choice (this should be left unchecked)
[ X ] - Make votes public (this should be checked)
[ X ] - Automatically parse links in text (doesn't matter - leave checked)
[ _ ] - Disable smilies in text (doesn't matter - leave unchecked)

Once all that is done, you're ready to post the poll! All done!

Hopefully this will reduce the confusion and mystery, not to mention error, surrounding the making of episode polls here on the site. If you have any questions, please ask them here or send me a PM. When in doubt, though, if you don't think you can do it, rather than making the poll incorrectly, please let someone else take care of it.

Thanks for your support on this!

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Danny Stewart

...surrounding the making of polls here on the site....

Episode polls mind. If you make your own poll about something else ("Do you like my new hair style, as per the photo?"), you can play around as much as you wish.

Edit: Although that said, the above example would probably suit the 10-choice-poll that Danny described above anyway!

[Danny Stewart]

I've edited the original post for you now, Jez. Thanks.

[Danny Stewart]

Note: Please leave the creation of episode polls to the forum staff (administrators and moderators). Thank you.

[Jez]

Sorry, I know this thread is locked and all but I feel that we should start to include episode authors in these polls. I started doing that for the Torchwood episodes last year. I think it's only right that we know who did what.

I think having it as:

Plot Summary (written by [AUTHOR])

[PLOT]

[Danny Stewart]

Good idea -- I approve. I'll work that into my original post.

[Chris Britton]

I know this thread ic closed, but i will add that i will only ever make an episode poll if the situation is required for it, a couple of times i did what i dubbed 'Temporay polls' to fill gaps when danny was not around for whatever reason, untill he could return and rectify it. But usually he would be here to do it. But now i know how to fill in if required, cheers Danny

[Danny Stewart]

No problem, Chris.