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Using the Sybase Newsgroups
Having trouble reaching the newsgroups? Behind a corporate firewall?
Try using a web-based newsreader specifically designed to post to the Sybase NNTP
server:
Getting the most out of the Newsgroups
- Don't hesitate to ask simple questions. (People get a sense of accomplishment when
they can answer them.)
- Some people practice Cyberspace Triage: There's too much to read so they make snap
decisions about what to skip. These busy people are sometimes the ones you WANT
to read your questions, so govern yourself accordingly:
- Put separate questions in separate messages. Some people skip messages with more
than one question.
- Use meaningful Subject headers, not vague descriptions like "Help!" or "Urgent!".
Some people only read messages with subjects that interest them, and meaningful
subjects also help folks who are browsing the newsgroups.
- Start each message with "How do I [do some specific task or solve some specific
problem]?" Some people skip messages that don't start with a question. Put supporting
information AFTER the initial question.
- Be patient. If you don't get an answer in 48 hours, try rewording your question
and posting it again, or try posting it on a different newsgroup.
- Keep this in mind: Very busy people in very busy newsgroups sometimes don't read
any messages that already have replies. They figure the question's already been
answered. If you don't get a helpful reply within 48 hours, try posting it again.
- Don't reply to a question unless you're fairly sure you know the answer--unless,
of course, no one else has replied for two days or more, then feel free to take
a guess. But if you immediately reply with a content-free message, you may create
a victim of Cyberspace Triage!
- If you have sample code, don't edit it, just copy and paste the real thing. When
you edit or re-type code, two bad things can happen: (1) you might introduce new
errors that will confuse the reader, and (2) you might remove the real problem without
knowing it. However, everything you post to these newsgroups will be available for
the whole world to read, forever, so be careful with secret stuff. Don't post customer
support ID's, passwords or even database server IP addresses.
- If you are getting an error message, post the exact text of the message. If you
are getting a General Protection Fault or an Invalid Page Fault, please:
- Include the module and address information
- Leave out the Dr. Watson information unless someone asks for it
- Tell us what you were doing when the error occurred.
- Newsgroups and email work together:
- If you are really happy with an answer, send a "Thank You" via email. Please don't
post "Thank You" messages in the newsgroup. The same applies to personal messages:
send them by email.
Exception: Sometimes it's OK to post a "Yes, it worked!" reply in the newsgroup.
It may be helpful to others, especially if there was some doubt in the original
reply: "Try this, but I'm not sure if it will help."
- When posting a question in a newsgroup don't ask "Please reply by email". Other
people may benefit from the reply, and the public nature of newsgroups is one of
their main benefits.
- Don't ask your original question by email either--same reason.
- Post plain text messages only! Don't include HTML tags or strange MIME types...
if you can't type it in Notepad, don't post it. That's because many people read
your messages in ASCII text format and the other stuff gets in the way. Don't attach
any documents or files: no EXE files, no Word documents, no UUENCODED text. And
don't open or execute any attachments to other peoples' messages. Viruses and worms
lurk there!
- Don't post the same question in more than one newsgroup at once.
- Never post advertisments in technical newsgroups. The system operators reserve the
right to remove all inappropriate messages.
- Don't use profanity, obscenities or racist remarks.
- Please use your real name, not an alias. If you want to avoid having your email
address added to spam lists, just code it like NOSPAM__<youremailaddress>.
That way automated newsgroup crawlers will pick up an invalid address but real human
beings can still figure out how to send you email.
- Use groups.google.com to see
if your question has already been answered.
- Use www.sybase.com/support/manuals
to search for documentation, etc. If you want to report a bug, do one of the following:
- When replying to a message, don't quote the entire contents of the original message.
Just include enough to let the reader know what you're replying to. Put your reply
ahead of the quoted stuff. That way, people don't have to scroll down to see new
material.
- Please be polite. Don't get carried away criticizing the products, or other newsgroup
members.
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