John: My answer to the "View Replies | Respond" improvement / solution.
This is a LONG Post... (a picture is worth 1000 words).
Preface:
I don't know how your database is structured but I'm going to guess.
In each Post Header record, you have the number of Replies (if any) TO that post
and the address of the chain record that contains each reply address.
The address chain record is maintained by adding an address as each reply is made
to THIS post as well as updating the Header reply count.
If your structure is close to my guess, my proposed improvement would not be very difficult at all... In some ways, it would make the overall program simpler by keeping elements connected to a given Post all together.
OK, the following is in two sections... Present Method and Proposed Method.
By comparing the two, I'm sure you will see my point.
Thank you for listening,
Joe Lyddon
.
.
=====>Present Method <=====
.
============== Start of screen #1 ======================
. . . . . . View Replies (1) | View Next 10 Messages | Respond | Previous | Next
_______________________(BOX)_____________________________
To: BryanB who started this subject
From: Joe Lyddon Tuesday, Nov 28, 2000 7:38 PM ET
Reply # 1985 of 1991
.
View Replies: Inside the box vs Outside the box...
Hi John...
When I'm trying to catchup on a given thread and select a given post to view, I get it &
read it... Then, I sometimes like to "View Replies" (which is 'outside the box' for that
post).
When I do that, I may get 3-5 individual reply posts... which I would like follow
thoroughly... In doing do, I read the first reply...
There is NOT a "View Replies" connected to each "Reply" post because it's
'outside the box' of the general routines for processing a given post.
If the "View Replies" option were included 'inside the box' and connected to the
post, one could just take it, follow, etc. til happy, and return to the first reply list to
continue.
What this would amount to is that as part of the general routine that prepares a post for
disply (within the box), the "View Replies" option also be included with the post
display.
I hope I've described my point so you can understand it.
I also realize that it could be an intermediate-major change.
If it could be done, it would sure be nice.
Bounce it around the tank & see if it floats. <ggg>
Thank you,
Joe Lyddon
___________________(BOX)_____________________________
. . . . . . View Replies (1) | View Next 10 Messages | Respond | Previous | Next
============== End of screen #1 =======================
.
.
=== Start of screen #2 after clicking 'View Replies' ==============
1 Replies to Post 1985
______________________(BOX)_____________________________
To: Joe Lyddon who wrote (1985)
From: John Busby Nov 28, 2000 8:27 PM
. . . . . .Respond to Post # 1987 of 1991
.
Joe,
You're singing my song. View Replies has limited utility because you can only go one
layer deep in replies before having to back up & start over. (I hope I've paraphrased
your contentions accurately)
When someone click on View Replies to a message, and there happen to be 3 replies,
how would you propose the resulting page should operate?
John
________________________(BOX)_____________________________
====== End of screen #2 after clicking 'View Replies' ==============
==== Apparently, the end of the line... (NOT) ==================
.
.
-..-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
.
.
========> Proposed Method <=========
.
.
================ Start of screen #1 ====================
. . . . . . View Next 10 Messages | Previous | Next
______________________(BOX)_____________________________
To: BryanB who started this subject. . . . . . View Replies (1) | Respond
From: Joe Lyddon Nov 28, 2000 7:38 PM ET
. . . . . . Post # 1985 of 1991
.
View Replies: Inside the box vs Outside the box...
Hi John...
When I'm trying to catchup on a given thread and select a given post to view, I get it &
read it... Then, I sometimes like to "View Replies" (which is 'outside the box' for that
post).
When I do that, I may get 3-5 individual reply posts... which I would like follow
thoroughly... In doing do, I read the first reply...
There is NOT a "View Replies" connected to each "Reply" post because it's
'outside the box' of the general routines for processing a given post.
If the "View Replies" option were included 'inside the box' and connected to the
post, one could just take it, follow, etc. til happy, and return to the first reply list to
continue.
What this would amount to is that as part of the general routine that prepares a post for
disply (within the box), the "View Replies" option also be included with the post
display.
I hope I've described my point so you can understand it.
I also realize that it could be an intermediate-major change.
If it could be done, it would sure be nice.
Bounce it around the tank & see if it floats. <ggg>
Thank you,
Joe Lyddon
. . . . . . View Replies (1) | Respond
__________________(BOX)_____________________________
. . . . . . View Next 10 Messages | Previous | Next
================= End of screen #1 =======================
.
.
.
=== Start of screen #2 after clicking 'View Replies(1)' ==============
1 Replies to Post 1985
______________________(BOX)_____________________________
To: Joe Lyddon who wrote (1985). . . . . . View Replies (3) | Respond
From: John Busby Nov 28, 2000 8:27 PM
. . . . . . Post # 1987 of 1991
.
.
Joe,
You're singing my song. View Replies has limited utility because you can only go one
layer deep in replies before having to back up & start over. (I hope I've paraphrased
your contentions accurately)
When someone click on View Replies to a message, and there happen to be 3 replies,
how would you propose the resulting page should operate?
John
. . . . . . View Replies (3) | Respond
______________________(BOX)_____________________________
===== End of screen #2 after clicking 'View Replies' ==============
.
.
==== Start of screen #3 after clicking 'View Replies(3)' ==============
3 Replies to Post 1987
______________________(BOX)_____________________________
To: John Busby who wrote (1987). . . . . . Respond
From: Ira Player Nov 28, 2000 9:50 PM
. . . . . . Post # 1988 of 1992
.
.
John,
I think what he meant by "Inside the Box" is:
An individual message is treated as everything from "To:..." until the end of the users
input text.
There are 2 lines of formatted output:
"To: User1 who wrote (number)" at the left edge and a "date/time stamp" on the right
then:
"From: User2" on the left edge and "Respond to post # number of number" (on the
right
Where values in italics are specific to the post and are links.
If, for example, a third line were generate on the right side of the page that said:
View Replies
just under the Respond text, it would be contained within each individual message and
would always be present with a post, regardless of the method used to view it. (It is
also irritating not to be able to look at the replies to a particular post when viewing 10 at
a time.)
Ira
. . . . . . Respond
______________________(BOX)_____________________________
To: John Busby who wrote (1987) . . . . . . Respond
From: Joe Lyddon Nov 28, 2000 10:38 PM
. . . . . . Post # 1989 of 1992
.
.
John, give me a minute... I'm thinking about it... there IS an answer.
Joe
. . . . . . Respond
______________________(BOX)_____________________________
To: John Busby who wrote (1987) . . . . . . View Replies (1) | Respond
From: Joe Lyddon Nov 28, 2000 10:51 PM
. . . . . . Post # 1990 of 1992
.
.
John, Ira came very close, if not exactly, to what I was trying to say.
.
Message 14900790
Starting from a post, and following the replies, you will never return to the starting post
(if your logic is correct).
I'm still thinking about it... be patient...
Thank you Ira... very good.
Thank you,
Joe
. . . . . . View Replies (1) | Respond
_______________________(BOX)_____________________________
==== End of screen #3 after clicking 'View Replies(3)' ==============
.
.
.
== Start of screen #4 after clicking 'View Replies(1)' ==============
1 Replies to Post 1990
______________________(BOX)_____________________________
To: Joe Lyddon who wrote (1990) . . . . . . View Replies (1) | Respond
From: John Busby Nov 29, 2000 11:47 AM
. . . . . . Post # 1992 of 1992
.
Thanks Joe & Ira. I like your ideas so far, and am eagerly awaiting more on the View
Replies issue...
. . . . . . View Replies (1) | Respond
______________________(BOX)_____________________________
==== End of screen #4 after clicking 'View Replies(1)' ============== |
