How about a thread that replaces RTFM and RTFDataSheet:

[skimask]

When I first started with PICs, nobody really pointed me to the 'Electrical Specifications' section. I found it, read thru a few, found a lot of stuff to be generic across all families, some are family specific, and very few are device specific.
Now you know...and there ya go...
Have fun...don't burn anything up!

[Pic_User]

How to get the most out of the forum. (Draft)
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Suggestions for a successful first post.

The Forum category:
If the category is obvious and clear cut, try to post in the appropriate forum section.
If the subject is difficult to place in an existing category, post in the closest you can.
Just do not post the same question in more than one category (“cross-post”) .
The gurus that answer most of the questions, read all of the posts and get annoyed
when they see the same question spread across many posts. The same question,
asked again, causes the answers to be split between the posts and difficult to research.

The Subject line:
Try to make the subject descriptive enough to help people decide to view your post.
Many posts carry the title, “help”, “code doesn’t work”, or “PIC16F876”.
This may get you an answer, but is useless for someone, searching for help, in the future.

Content:
Try to include a short background on the project and a background on you.
The answer gods like to see that you have invested some “sweat equity” into the project.
They put in many hours a day, helping people solve PICBASIC problems.
They do not do the groundwork for you. That is your job.
At least do enough of the work to get stumped by a NOT so obvious problem.
Search the forum, search the internet look for the answer on your own.

About your project:
Describe what you want your project to do.
List what data sheets you have tried to read.
List what manuals you have read, to find your answer.
Tell that you have searched the forum.
Post what doesn’t work.
Tell what you have already tried.
Post your code. (use VB to put it in a “code box”)
Post your schematic.
List any books or sites you are using for reference.

About your tools:
Which BASIC editor.
Which MELabs compiler; PICBASIC Compiler (PBC) or PICBASIC Pro (PBP)
Which Assembler; Microchip's (MPASM), MELabs default (PM)
Which Programmer; PICkit2, ICD2, EPIC, copy of ________, etc.
Programming method; ZIF, In Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP), In Circuit Debugging (ICD), Boot-loading.
Development board, printed circuit (wiring) board (PCB), Solder-less bread board.
Oscilloscope available.
Time available.

About your PIC:
Which PIC.
Internal oscillator, crystal, resonator, external oscillator, speed
MCLR resistor, software disabled
Configuration Fuses (PIC Defines)
Pull-up resistors
Capacitors; Vdd to Vss, on crystal to ground.
What is done with the unused pins.

About you:
What to call you, we prefer your real first name.
Tell about your ability. PIC experience, electronics experience.
What level answer are you expecting.

How to do it:
Paste this code into the "Post New Thread" box and edit it by filling in the blank lines.

[B]What help I need:[/B]

[B]About my project:[/B]

[B]About my tools:[/B]

[B]About my PIC:[/B]

[B]About me:[/B]

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Please help me “grow” or “chop” this list. What else do you want to know from the poster, besides; “Why doesn’t my project work.”
-Adam-

[malc-c]

maybe if there was a simple thread on how to read a datasheet might be better. It could be just the basiscs, such as setting ports to digital, analogue or a mixture, what the bits do what. My suggestion would be to keep it generic to families if PICs (such as the 12F family that default to analogue rather than digital as this often crops up)

I agree that telling someone to RTFM isn't a lot of help, but I also agree that if you go to deep with this sort of thread you'll end up re-writing the datasheet, and then it becomes a reference manual rather than a sheet !

[Acetronics2]

Hi, All

Thinking to the Basic question ...

My opinion is a special thread giving the appropriate links to find the solution of the so-called " Problem" ( 99% of time LOL ! ) , instead of SOLVING the problem is more than enough ...

Hi, Adam

Just a little humouristic question :

What do the beginners win, having correctly completed the reading of the "suggestions" post ??? ...

being serious ... such thing would frighten them more than help them ...

nobody wants to read anything today, ... just want to stay anonymous and get the "ready to go" solution ...

That's it ... we are old dinausors ...

Alain

[Meriachee]

We are far worse than old dinosaurs.

Having just returned from the Alaska cruise, I've just witnessed first hand that we are hell-bent on "sedentary entertainment". (we are here, entertain us)

Of the approximately 1900 "guests" on the boat, I wonder if anybody else noticed that the "navigation tv" showed the wind coming across the bow from the 2PM position from the time we left Vancouver till the time we returned and tied up at Canada Place. 7 days.

I couldn't help but think of the wind direction pic project. I thought that the folks who were involved with the wind direction thread would maybe get a smile out of that.....

Gary