I'm working on it

type quicker! lol

What happens if whilst you are working on it and you get distracted and forget to uncheck the status.

Somebody coming along see's you are working on it, even though you are not, and moves on. It's possible the post doesn't get resolved, requiring the OP to wait days before bumping their post.

Your best bet is to check those viewing the thread when you decide to start compiling an answer. If you think you are likely to be beaten to the punch then move on and check the post later. If still no reply consider answering it.

@CC,

you can always post your thoughts on someone else's post, giving suggestions or corrections without damaging the rep!

You could post a quick reply along the lines:

"I'm currently developing an incredibly awesome solution to this problem. Please stand by."

Surely the rest of the Excelophiles here would wait to see what you come up with.

Cheers,

I wouldn't. If you have a solution at hand, why not provide it?

Originally Posted by CC

I don't mind when people add alternatives, I just don't like wasting my time.

If I consider those times when I compose lengthy solutions as a general rule I'd say the question has been sufficiently interesting that regardless of whether or not others post to it with the same approach I've still got some benefit out of it myself.

Originally Posted by CC

also we should have a way of "disapproving" people without actually damaging their rep score...

I've received negative rep twice as I recall
Is giving neg rep commonplace ? I think Mods are more susceptible given they hand out infractions and people don't always take kindly to being Moderated by a Moderator in a Moderated Forum

Personally I don't think we need any form of negative rep ... giving positive rep is discretionary thus opting not to give positive rep is in itself a negative act (to some extent). Furthermore (and as pointed out previously) the greater majority are actually trying to help regardless of effectiveness... on those rare occasions where people are being abusive or deliberately unhelpful then that's what the Infraction system is for surely ?

In a post today, poster Huron deleted his/her contribution and replaced it with "Removed my post" and gave Reason for editing as: "better solution already posted"

I was sad to see that. Huron had worked on a solution, submitted it, and found that in the meantime someone else had posted another solution, which apparently humbled Huron into retracting the post.

I think it's up to the OP to decide which of the offered suggestions is "best". It depends completely on the situation, including the skill level of the OP and the degree of complexity they feel comfortable with.

I often find that while I'm working on a solution, someone else posts something different. I consider this a challenge. I study the alternative and either learn from it, or I bask in the pride () of believing that my solution is actually better, more efficient, whatever.

But more often than not, the OP will take the (apparently) less efficient solution (if they take the trouble to specify which solution they mean when they yell "Thanks! That works"). So, have I wasted my time? I don't think so.

Also, for the benefit of people actually searching the forum before they post their own issue, it is helpful to find and study alternatives.

So, you can come up with a convoluted array formula and feel you've really cracked it this time, and someone else says just: "Pivot table". OK. Time to look beyond your comfort zone.

My first post at Mr Excel dot com (may I mention that?) was out of sheer frustration that the experts didn't "get it". The OP had data validation in place for a simple y/n field, but did not want the user to have to select the in-cell drop down list, because the mouse involvement would slow down data entry. Several people came up with convoluted solutions, involving VBA and some such. I stared at that for a few moments, then went to register, so I could could advise the OP to just uncheck the flipping check box for in-cell drop down and type the valid entries on the keyboard instead.

There have been (and still are) lots of situations where I do not see the forest for the trees, and when looking at the contributions of others, I have my own "Duh" moment and swear to go off the blonde hair dye.

So, if you have something to contribute, go do it. If someone else was faster, different, better - go study and learn.

/$0.02

PS: I don't really dye my hair

One more thought: I could easily double my post count, if I posted a ...

"Hang in there, I'm working on it" ...

to every thread I want to answer, and of course every time the OP comes up with a follow-up question. But I'm afraid that wouldn't really paint a more accurate picture about my contributions, and it would not really add value.

Quite to the contrary, it would eventually increase the storage size and database overhead for the forum in an avoidable manner.

My vote is against the "I'm working on it" disclaimer.

cheers

I have my own "Duh" moment and swear to go off the blonde hair dye.

i'm grey ,does that count as blonde?

@MDW

Grey is the new black! (Translation for the US audience: Gray is the new black!)

I've gone off any kind of hair dye, coz it just doesn't do it on grey.

Be who you are.

Post what you think is your best effort!

Just my two pennies (3.3cents) worth -

That was cruel, sweep. Just leave our shrinking little dollar out of this.

Only your money, sweep. We don't take much account of furriner's opines.

These days there almost seems to be more people who answer questions than there are asking them...and so we are bound to bump into each other on many threads... especially when it seems some of those people sleep very little before pouncing back in.