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Yet another cross posting solution.
I think this one is by far the best yet, but then again im bias.
Cross Posting is something we have always tried to discourage here, and AFAIK most forums do the same. You would have thought that the general populus would have cottoned on by now but they have not. However, I think there is good reason. Say I want to ask a question about a topic such as Threading. I write code in C# and I want all the people in the C# forum to provide me an answer but I dont want to miss out on people who only really look in the .NET Framework forum.
There has always been the rule of "Pick the best forum, and post it there", but this misses the poiint slightly. What im getting at is there is alot of cross-over in our forums (think ASP.NET written in C#, LINQ from a C# app etc etc)
So here's my proposed solution. When you post a new message you should, as normal, pick the most relevant forum to post your message. however before posting you should be able to pick a maximum of 2 other forums that your question should be linked from.
Your message gets displayed in your "Primary forum" and in your selected "Secondary forum(s)" a message is posted which clearly indicates its a cross-posted message. So basically if I post in C# a message shows there as usual:
"How do I create a widget using dowhickies?"
and in the secondary forum(s):
"From C#: How do I create a widget using dowhickies?"
To make sure we dont get replies posted in many forums all "reply" links lead to the primary forum where the message was posted. So all replies to my thread go into the forum I initially chose as the most relevant one.
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Sounds like a really good and usable solution. 5 from me.
Also there could be some ways to modify the UI when reading posts, for example using grouping (group by original forum), filtering (show linked messages, show linked messages from C#...) etc
The need to optimize rises from a bad design.
My articles[ ^]
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I second the idea.
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
"Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon
"Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham
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J4amieC wrote: So here's my proposed solution. When you post a new message you should, as normal, pick the most relevant forum to post your message. however before posting you should be able to pick a maximum of 2 other forums that your question should be linked from.
This is similar to what 'crossposting' means to most Usenet users, as opposed to 'multiposting'.
In January you said "Money in April" -
That was two years ago!
B. Python
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There's a slightly better way to do this that I've been wanting to do for months now. You're close.
I'll let you know when I'm finished. 
cheers,
Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
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But I suppose you already know that. My specific issue is that when I try to go to a specific post of mine (listed in the Profile / Messages Posted page), it takes me to the 1st message in the appropriate forum instead of to the message I clicked on.
"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
-----
"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001
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On it. Will be fixed in about 15 mins
cheers,
Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
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I got a match on a search.
I went to the code project page It wasnt what i wanted so i tried to find some javascript examples. How?
Chapter - Am i in a book, was this a chapter in a book? Are there other books? Is javascript a chapter in this book?
Languages - No Javascript?
Services - Code project Sells coffee? Could this be a project? Wouldnt only Code project people and those involved in it be the only people who know its name? I.E. It is only useful to people who already know what it is and its name?
So I thought I'll go Home and start from the beginning and yet I only get "Current Site: c++ / .net" when i click on Home?
And you click on help, and you get forums. Here's an idea call it "Forums" and call help, Help.
Then I have to pick a forum? You make it harder and waste peoples time.
Could you please send me a billing address so as when i am forced to do Code Project work for them, categorise the help questions, I can at least bill you.
It was easy - Get Javascript examples on a code website. 20 years experience and completely lost.
Are SeeTech and Bullfrog aware that their ads will not appears on the page of more than 90% of hits? People will not scroll down but go to the menu on the left and miss them?
For developers, you have a very poor WEB site.
If I am in the wrong Forum, stiff sh*t, if you think I am going to waste my life putting it in the right place, just for Code Project, hee hee.
Ta Bill 
Moved on Sunday, November 16, 2008 8:13 PM
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I've moved this to the correct forum.
Constructive criticism is always good. So let me try and answer some of the issues you mentioned. Maybe with further feedback I can make this easier for you and everyone else.
>so i tried to find some javascript examples. How?
The homepage has a big 'Search articles' box front and centre. All other pages have the search box at the top centre. Next to the box you can choose if you want to search articles or forum messages (or a job if that's what you're after). If this isn't clear enough then suggestions appreciated.
>Is javascript a chapter in this book? Languages - No Javascript?
No, but Web Development / Client Side Scripting is.
>Yes, we sell coffee. No, we don't advertise this fact or make a fuss. It's just something we have because it was easy and a few of us drink coffee.
>I only get "Current Site: c++ / .net" when i click on Home?
...and the big 'Search' box?
>And you click on help, and you get forums
If you click on Help you should get to the FAQ page.
If this site doesn't work for you that's fine - everyone is different. But how would you like to see things done?
cheers,
Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
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Chris Maunder wrote: Constructive criticism is always good.
I can see he's a fellow-Aussie Chris. But come on. This was too nice a reply even for you What were you really muttering within clenched teeth as you typed in this post? 
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bl1nky wrote: 20 years experience and completely lost.
Well if you were completely lost for the past 20 years, it doesn't seem very likely that it's going to change now. Maybe you picked the wrong profession
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I would say 98% of the advertising at the CodeProject is unobtrusive and offers high quality products that developers would be interested in. However, today I came across an ad (on the top right corner of screen) that I don't feel benefits the site or its users. The following image was linked at the top of the screen: http://c13.zedo.com/OzoDB/3/6/445709/V1/WarningShake_728x90.gif[^].
When I see advertising of this nature I automatically think viruses/spyware/adware/etc. I was wondering whether this type of advertising is really necessary on this site. All of the other 98% of advertising, I have no problems with.
Regards,
Thomas Stockwell
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.
Visit my Blog
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Thomas Stockwell wrote: When I see advertising of this nature I automatically think viruses/spyware/adware/etc
Same here.
Thomas Stockwell wrote: this type of advertising is really necessary on this site
I don't think it is. Just one of those ones I ignore. Many of the others have been of interest though.
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
"Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon
"Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham
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WTF? There is no way - NO WAY - we would ever allow something like that on the site.
Can you please send me a HTML dump of the page you saw that on? That's absolutely not acceptable. It's either (I'm hoping, but unlikely) something sneaking something into our pages on your end, or (hopefully not) a third party ad server we're using to fill inventory slipping in a rogue ad.
I apologise from the bottom of my heart. We'll investigate and, if it's a problem our end, fix it.
[Edit: I've gone through all the ads we run and I can't find that ad in our system. We've just managed to get some great advertisers such as RIM, Nokie and Orange, plus the old tried and true like Acresso, Dundas, Kinook etc but no "Dodgy Borthers Free Casino and Dating Service Advertising Ltd."]
cheers,
Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
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Unfortunately when I saw that ad, I was using a university computer (University of Michigan - Flint), and I have since moved my computing to a different location. So it is sort of hard to get the HTML dump for the page. However the basic url for that ad and where the ad went to were very similar.
Despite the ad being very suspicious, the fact that it was advertised on the codeproject made me click once upon the ad. The webpage it led me to advertised a free laptop computer, and that is as far as I went before I posted my initial post here.
I can, however, assure you that it wasn't a problem with the university's computers as they are re-imaged weekly and have strong anti-virus and anti-spyware applications (I work in the ITS dept. at the university). If their might be something that I could pull from the computer before it gets re-imaged again, just send me an email and I can try to help when I return to the university on Monday.
[Edit:]
Not sure if this helps, but the ad was shown around 4pm Michigan time and the ad appeared on the main page for the codeproject.com
Regards,
Thomas Stockwell
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.
Visit my Blog
modified on Sunday, November 16, 2008 8:45 PM
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Something wicked this way came, I reckon.
Just keep an eye out for it happening again. When using the computers you can't right-click / View Source? If you can, then look for the /script/Adm/Server... bit, and note the ID that appears in the querystring. Maybe I missed something when I went through the ads but the guys in the office all know there would be a delivery of tar and feathers if ever an ad like that were allowed to go up.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
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I will be sure to keep an eye for it and if (when?) it happens I will grab the full source of the page and send it your way. Thanks for looking into it though  .
Regards,
Thomas Stockwell
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.
Visit my Blog
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I don't know if there is such a thing here or not but I've come across an article that is exemplary of the best of what CodeProject can be and if there is a way to nominate it for an award consider it so:
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/recipes/RtfConverter.aspx?msg=2807732#xx2807732xx[^]
Not only is it an excellent article, the code is solid and if you look at the message board below it the author takes problems with it very seriously and goes to great lengths to make sure people can use it properly, all in a polite and helpful manner.
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it."
-Sam Levenson
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It is very possible that the article could have already have been in the running for the monthly award competition. The article was posted in July 2008 and has an excellent rating. This alone should've qualified it to be voted on during the July competition. Maybe you are a tiny bit too late to voice your opinion of this fine article (as far as voting for the monthly competition). You can still show your appreciation in the articles' forum.
Regards,
Thomas Stockwell
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.
Visit my Blog
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It's an amazing article (and is now an Editor's Choice!) but with so many amazing articles coming through it's hard to give them all enough of the spotlight. The 'Feature Article' box on the homepage grabs a random, very highly rated article and rotates frequently, but I'm certainly open to any other suggestions you can make.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
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In SQL.CodeProject, MySQL is separated as it's own forum. Would it be possible to have a similar forum for Oracle specific questions?
Most of the time people are asking SQL Server related questions in SQL and Database discussions, but there are plenty of times where the platform isn't obvious and has to be guessed. Also I believe, that it would be an area that would be a great benefit to this site as long as we can provide answers and knowlegde to Oracle specific questions.
Mika
The need to optimize rises from a bad design.
My articles[ ^]
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I agree. A forum for Oracle would be cool. But, then on the other hand, people might start wanting a DB2 forum, Postgres forum, etc....
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
"Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon
"Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham
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You're absolutely right. Look what happened when they put MySql as a separate discussion group on SQL.CodeProject, immediately someone wanted to separate the other products too
No, but seriously. I agree that it could happen but then again wouldn't that be quite natural separation for database groups. Now there are only two groups: MySQL and SQL and Database discussions. Also I believe that those database specific forums could interest people who now are not necessarily CodeProjet members and perhaps raise even more good discussions.
The need to optimize rises from a bad design.
My articles[ ^]
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Mika Wendelius wrote: wouldn't that be quite natural separation for database groups
Yes, it would be okay.
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
"Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon
"Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham
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I had a post in the subtle bugs section. I started a thread. It was there for 2 days and all of a a sudden it disappeared. It was not a spam and I don't think there was anything abusive in it. It is really surprising.
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