Hans:
The URL in Andy's site was based on the old SI database (DB) design, which used a s number (/s-xxxx) and a reply number (/reply-xxx). The s number is the thread number, the reply number is the message number in that thread.
The new SI DB uses a subject id (subjectid), a start id (startid) and a message id (msgid). The new subjectid is the same as the old s (thread) number, the new startid is the old reply (message in a thread) number. The new msgid counts messages from all threads posted to SI.
Now we know the designs of the old and new DBs. We can use the old DB numbers to find the message. If you go to Andy's site, TC2000 Software, the first URL is
techstocks.com
The number 8225 is the old thread number, which is the same as the subjectid in the new DB. The number 940 is the 940th post in thread 8225. This is mapped to the new DB as msgid 413555. In other words, 'subject8225&startid940' is equivalent to msgid 413555.
Now we can use the old URL to find the message using the following steps:
1. Start SI. Go to the beginning of a thread, say the Charts for Breakout thread. You will see in the address box,
... ... ... ... /subject.aspx?subject=34382
2. Edit (change) the number 34382 to 8225. Press return.
3. Now you are at the old 8225 thread, Technical Analysis - Beginners.
4. Move to the 940th post of thread 8225 (subjectid=8225&startid=940). This is the message you looked for. You'll see the new msgid is 413555.
After you try one out, you can print all URLs of interest from Andy's site and read the messages.
Julius |
