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Many articles aren't really written with beginners in mind. For instance, most of mine are written under the assumption that the reader isn't a raw noob just getting started in programming, and indeed, I even sometimes state the assumption that said reader is familiar with the underlying concepts being discussed.
Most of my articles are derived from actual work experience, and for the most part, don't provide "Hello world" level examples.
As for stuff you've downloaded that "doesn't work out of the box", well, that's life as a programmer. When I download code, I ALWAYS massage it to fit my requirements, and I pretty much never use anything the way it's presented unless it's an actual library.
Authors not respoding is a common occurrence, and not just here. I try to respond to all of mine that are still relevant (I havent worked in C++ for about four years, so I can't really comment on anything I wrote before July 2007 - I simply don't have the storage capacity to remember why I did stuff or how it worked.
Like everything in life, using code off the net is a crapshoot. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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Hi.. Thanks. I accept all of your points, I to will utilise etc and I also accept that articles are not all written withthe 'nob' in mind. I thank you for pointing that out in your articles and no doubt I've noticed that and moved on to something which I can understand.
When I find an example which suggested that by setting up 2 simple database tables and downloading the code file the example will enable a certain action to be performed I naively expect it to do that.
And.. it is this point that is being ignored by most respondees to my initial comment.
I am sure that many contributors are diligent in what they produce and again I thank people for that, it is those who produce examples which just do not fuction and I can think of a number which need variables declaring correctly, or adding, or where ids are referred to which dont exist and that sort of error. Those sort of errors show me that the code was not tested because had it been then those sort of sil;y mistakes would be noticed.
Of course, the degree of mistakes are not always as simple as my illustration above so for a newbie it becomes sometimes insurmountable. It has little to do with the level of knowledge but more more to do with ommissions by the author, so all I am simply asking is, please can authors remember that not all readers will be experts therefore they do not have the knowledge to correct error that may be occurring.
Some errors are of course framework errors etc, but many are just bad typing (like mine) and ommissions which are obvious to experts but not new learners.
Thank you
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Speaking as someone who has written several articles, I would urge you PLEASE to leave a comment on the article if the provided source code contains non-trivial errors of any kind. It would also be immensely helpful if you could mention the version of VS, .Net, IIS and other relevant infrastructure you are using, the specific module and line number where the error is, and what the compilation or other error message is. At the very least, the author can reply with a work-around if the problem is minor ("Before compiling the example, change line 27 in HelloWorld.cpp to say if (i == x) ") or republish the article with a new download if it is not.
Errors happen, no matter how careful the author is. Helping to fix those errors will accomplish far more than just pissing and moaning about them.
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I think that raising a point about some of the articles in a general way is perfectly valid, it is not a moan, it is a comment. Of course I will and do leave a comments where I can, but I admit I am getting fed up with doing so.
My 'plea' is perfectly valid and a view of the state of communications on the web in general and is not a 'dedicated' moan but a reminder that it is people that are being communicated with and not just a faceless electronic piece of code.
I accept all the reasons why code might not work, but you along with many others seem little bothered by the standard of some of the postings here and that is really sad, also if you read my comment I am referring to many forums not just Code Project.
Thank you.
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RayH1066 wrote: My 'plea' is perfectly valid and a view of the state of communications on the
web in general and is not a 'dedicated' moan but a reminder that it is people
that are being communicated with and not just a faceless electronic piece of
code.
Oh come on. This is a joke.
If you have specific issues with specific articles there are ways and means of dealing with that and I don't know very many authors who would be anything other than delighted to receive feedback.
If you're complaining that the quality of the internet isn't up to the standards that you demand then frankly....I don't know what to say. The words 'Life' 'Get' and 'A' spring to mind in no particular order.
I don't know about anyone else, but this is all feeling a bit troll like to me.
-Richard
Hit any user to continue.
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A certain level of experience may be expected, especially when the articles may be demonstrating an advanced feature or design concept.
There are plenty of sites that provide noob advice and “Hello World “ examples. For most of the articles that I have taken advantage of here at CP have been very beneficial. And many of them provide the projects link. There hasn’t been one that I’ve haven’t been able to get up and running. For me, that’s part of the fun! 
If every article provided all the ground up info there would be a tremendous amount of repeated information. It might be perceived to be insulting to provide what most take as common knowledge.
There are many great authors here, and I have found most of them very accommodating pertaining to questions, I take advantage of the combined knowledge. CP makes my code look good. 
It was broke, so I fixed it.
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Hi.
Thank you.
In many respects I don't disagree with you, when time and resource is provident. Sometimes a solution is needed fast and spending days touring forums asking questions and being provided with answers which do not do what they claim to do is unneed at that time. Many forums contain pleas from users who have been given a half answer and then 'dropped'. That sort of response is getting very common and while on my onw I can do nothing to change it, maybe, just maybe, a smalkl ripple might grow a bit stronger.
I think my concern is that many people on forums only want to show off how clever they are and do not take a moment to consider the persons situation who is asking the question.
I can remember a chap on the Dojo forum who stated that he wasnt there to answer newbie questions and he would see about getting newbies banned because his attitude was only 'upperlevel' questions should be asked.
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RayH1066 wrote: I think my concern is that many people on forums only want to show off how clever they are and do not take a moment to consider the persons situation who is asking the question.
In my experience of CodeProject an attitude like that will get you voted (i.e. slapped) down very quickly. Check out a few random questions and answers and see how hard people will try to help those who ask sensible and well presented questions. However, people who post questions such as, "Plz sir, I need code to run college administration; it is urgent" are unlikely to get anything other than a raspberry.
The best things in life are not things.
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Thank you.
I used the word Forums NOT CODE PROJECTS. And if you tour forums you will Im sure have encountered the attitudes I've illustrated.
I am concerned now by the level of attitudes that seem to be developing from this forum. NOW I am getting concerned. Emmmmmmmmmmmmm
It would appear from a few responses that I am not allowed to have an opinion.
Wow...
Maybe I ought to take a look at how this site is funded? It is appearing to be too dicatatorial for comfort. And Yes. Im sure I will receive loads of responses to tell me to sling my hook, how juvinle that would be.
Burying a view point is not any way to consider an issue. Reasoned argument is and if this site is not able to provide that then this site is, im my opinion, not an open forum as I keep being told it is.
I am entitled to an opinion and I have merely asked for authors to check sometimes that their code works and a few responses acknolwedge that can be an issue for time to time, so I'm not saying anything which is untrue! If it is a problem of framework etc then a simple sentance posted on the article to say what framework was used might help to eleviate some of the problems I've encountered, and I resfuse to accept that I'm the only one. But to receive some of the comments I receive over what is a simple observation beggers belief. And, if some of the replies I've received are indicative of the 'sites controlling attitudes' then WOW, they must only be in this for the revenue they can gleam and cant give a damm about users? I hope that is not the case, I sincerely do.
Thank you
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As far as your comments about the comments you have received here, I can only say that any opinions expressed on the forums don't necessarily reflect official Code Project policy. At no point in this thread has a member of the CP team spoken up.
I wish people would stop downvoting you.
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Hi.. Thanks
I dont care if they down vote, it just shows their ignorance and the ability to accept that someone has a view different to theirs. Shame really, but that seems to be the way of the world these days. Tolerance, open mindedness, understanding and the service factor seems to have fallen by the way and no longer have value in our global electronic societies.
Thanks
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RayH1066 wrote: It would appear from a few responses that I am not allowed to have an opinion.
On the contrary, you are fully entitled to your opinion. The problem is that you don't readily accept that other people can have a different one. Go back and look at the tone of some of your responses to people (including me) who have challenged, disagreed with, or offered an alternative to what you have said.
BTW I have not been among the downvoters; I may not agree with everything you say but I do believe you are fully entitled to your opinions.
The best things in life are not things.
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I'm sorry, what's the question?
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I posted an observation.
Maybe you might care to read the opening comment and view the rest?
Thank you for your response
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You posted a rant in the Questions & Answers section and marked it as a question. The Lounge is probably a better place for that.
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Hi. Yep, you may be right, nether-the-less, I seemed to be swamped with people trying to tell me that Im not entitled to air my view. Wow. Ho Hum
Thanks
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So, successful troll is successful?
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hahahah. What? hahahahaha well lost on that one. If its an insult, lol, it didnt work cos it went over my head hahahahahaha
hahahahha
bye
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Rick Shaub wrote: troll
Methinks you got it. He's probably of the many "he that shall not be named" using a throw away account.
Why is common sense not common?
Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level where they are an expert.
Sometimes it takes a lot of work to be lazy
Individuality is fine, as long as we do it together - F. Burns
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I seriously doubt this is HWSNBN because he's being nice with me and I'm definitely not HWSNBN favourite person.
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Pete O'Hanlon wrote: HWSNBN
Yeah I know the idiot that you are speaking of. I have no doubt that this is not him. It's some other troll that thinks we should all serve him.
Why is common sense not common?
Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level where they are an expert.
Sometimes it takes a lot of work to be lazy
Individuality is fine, as long as we do it together - F. Burns
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Thanks for starting an excellent thread.
I won't rehash the comments made by others, but the main points are
1. The articles are peer moderated
2. Almost all authors try and ensure their code works. If it doesn't then a quick comment at the bottom of the article helps them find and fix the problem, and alerts others who may come across the article that there are potential issues. Posting any work-arounds you find is doubly valuable
3. Providing good setup explanations is definitely extremely valuable. Can you suggest ways to encourage authors to do this? We have a template that most follow, but not all follow it. Maybe we need a checklist:
- Does the code compile and run?
- Are all setup instructions included?
- Are links to any other downloads correct?
- ...
I agree that there definitely are problem articles, which is expected in such a large collection, but which we have a good comment and rating system in place to help weed out. You've expressed dissatisfaction, but what other concrete and practical steps can be taken by the community to help lift overall quality, and/or flag poor articles?
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project | Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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Is there any interest in a class to read/write/do-other-stuff-to .aco files? These files (sometimes called color swatch files) are used to store color palettes for Adobe Photoshop, and are also used by some other web designer tools.
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It's impossible to say; if you have an article in mind, or ready made, go ahead and publish and see what happens. I am fairly sure there are many CP members who look at articles but don't visit the forums, so publishing is always the best way to go.
The best things in life are not things.
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Thanks, Richard. I think you are right.
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