BS: HELP - Test Data Requested

Subject: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 30 May 01 - 12:47 PM

I'm trying to learn a little about ASP and thought that for my first real play, I'd try to write something that could possibly be useful if I get it working and Max or someone wanted it and could host it - A user updatable version of the Mudcat Resources.

I have got the first bit working on my PC and I could use some data to work with for sorting birthdays, etc and I am also feeling lazy and would be grateful if any kind souls would try to add some data for me (real or imaginary).

The error handling is crude at the moment. Here are a couple of notes: A type mismatch error means the date of birth is not a valid date in DD/MM/YY format, References to duplicates mean a UserName has already been taken. Some fields on the form must be completed - the error message should make it obvious what is missing.

It is here for a while.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 May 01 - 12:58 PM

I can't seem to get there Jon. 404. Is it busy, or is something wrong with the link?

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 30 May 01 - 01:05 PM

I don't know sorch. I have reset the server and changed the link. May be OK now.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 May 01 - 01:14 PM

Jon, woof and meow at Misty and Oedipus for me. They'll know what I mean. I speak their languages, see. (I wish!

Eb

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 May 01 - 01:23 PM

OK, that worked.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 30 May 01 - 01:29 PM

Thanks sorcha and ebbie. At least I now that people can read and post ok now. Going off line - need the phone... I may start up later.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 30 May 01 - 06:28 PM

I can't get to the page either. I'll try later tonight.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 30 May 01 - 06:57 PM

I've only just started up again Mary after freeing the phone, going out for a drink and a thunderstorm in the middle.... I have added 3 crude birthday pages since last time. It will now list birthdays by calender date order, alphabetical list and give an eldest first list together with a hopeful calculation of age.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Snuffy
Date: 30 May 01 - 07:11 PM

That all works fine for me, Jon - better than Shorty (who's apparently also nipped out for a drink), and now Loki died on me. Hurrah for Ragtime!

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Mark Clark
Date: 31 May 01 - 12:03 AM

Looks good Jon. I had no trouble. Have you tried using it from a Mac?

      - Mark

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Noreen
Date: 31 May 01 - 07:21 AM

I've tried a few times, Jon but missed you. Let us know when it's available again. (What's ASP? Anything to do with Cleopatra?)

Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 31 May 01 - 08:41 AM

Mark, I've never used a Mac! I'm pretty sure that none of the posts made were by Mac users.

Noreen, I won't be starting up again as I have upset people and I think what I did was tactless although it wasn't meant that way.

This was only meant as a learning exercise for me but I thought I'd try to develop something that could POSSIBLY be useful to others (although there is no way I could host the final solution) and remove what I thought would be the burden of manualy updating the resources as well as giving users more control.

Shame really, I'm stitting here on the sick (recovering from alcoholism) with lots of time on my hands, looking to try to develop new skills and I thought maybe I'd found a useful project to help me (assuming I succeded - I think I can, I was a hobbiest Pascal programmer for a while and have dabbled in other languages) along that line.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Noreen
Date: 31 May 01 - 11:23 AM

OK, thanks Jon. I know you'll have had the best of intentions. Sorry it's not worked out...

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 May 01 - 11:30 AM

Jon,
You have upset people by trying to do something useful and asking for voluntary participation and info? That is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in a while. Your request did not seem at all tactless to me. Tell 'em to take a hike. And Best of Luck with all your projects.

Sorch

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: John Routledge
Date: 31 May 01 - 11:37 AM

Mudcat strikes again. GB

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: paddymac
Date: 31 May 01 - 11:42 AM

Sorcha's right, Jon. I can't remember a single post by you, anytime, that even remotely approached tactless. Let them sit naked on a fire ant hill and contemplate their nether regions - while they last.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 31 May 01 - 12:37 PM

Paddymac, I only wish that was true. I have had some terrible outbursts of temper here.

As for the thoughts on tactlessness, I do still think that on reflection, it would have been the correct thing for me to have PM'd Pene Azul before doing what I did - thoughtlessness and over-excitement on my part.

Anyway, I will carry on with the project as it is still a learning exercise for me. For the benefit of Noreen and anyone else who may like to see what I was aiming for, I have started it up on line one last time and it will be there for a couple of hrs. I have added 2 new features since last time. The Birthday page now lists any forthcoming (within 14 days) birthdays (I hope) and the locator is working.

It is here

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 31 May 01 - 01:58 PM

Jon, I finally got to see the page! I wish I understood more about how to do that stuff...I think the programming fascinates many of us, even if from a strictly amateur/hobby standpoint.

The only thought I have to add to any endeavor that allows people to "update" their info --- I've noticed several institutions and organizations that have a time lag before the changes are in effect. I've always assumed it was because of censoring/monitoring the info that was posted.

I'll go back and input some info for you. Also, do you have guidelines on the size of photos? I like to play with stuff I've scanned. My ISP has limits on the amount I can put on my web page, and though I've exceeded it, they haven't said anything to me yet.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 31 May 01 - 02:03 PM

WOW, that's fast!

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: hesperis
Date: 31 May 01 - 02:14 PM

Do you use your mudcat password for this, or a new one?

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 31 May 01 - 02:21 PM

Mary, I'm not sure what other systems may do but this one posts the records to an Access database. All the pages that display information run queries on the current records in the database.

heperis, I would advise against using any password that you use for anything else here. I don't think a user would be able to retrieve them (at least not easily) but I can read them via the database.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: jeffp
Date: 31 May 01 - 02:22 PM

Very nice, Jon! That's really pretty slick. We USers have to get used to the DD/MM method of expressing dates, though.

jeffp

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Mark Clark
Date: 31 May 01 - 02:25 PM

Jon, I don't use Macs either but I think some members here do. I didn't see any VB Script in with the HTML so you are probably okay. Active Server Pages (ASP) only run on Microsoft platforms but a non-Microsoft user can still use them as long as the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) doesn't contain any embeded VB Script. JavaScript may be used instead of VB Script to provide platform independence for users.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 31 May 01 - 02:37 PM

Mark, I believe that someone has produced software to enable Appache web server to handle ASP so I think that opens it up to Linux and UNIX servers too.

I have avoided any client side scripting so far but if I was to, as you suggest, I would use JavaScript not VB Script. I have also avoided cookies.

Mary, the photo's is tommorow's project (and possibly the next day) and I have yet to think of size limits. The only thing I feel sure on is the only format allowed will be JPEG.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: jeffp
Date: 31 May 01 - 02:37 PM

Jon - I just went in and changed my profile from a Mac running Netscape Communicator Version 4.04. No problems at all. I put in my username and password, updated the profile and checked to see that the changes took.

There's one positive datapoint for you.

jeffp

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Noreen
Date: 31 May 01 - 03:06 PM

Worked fine for me Jon. Was putting the children in too when it went off- you've got more data to play with now! Hope it finds a use.

Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: HELP - Test Data Requested
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 31 May 01 - 04:02 PM

Thanks everyone for the posts to the database and the useful feedback.

Jon