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The Alpha Software Forum Participation Guidelines

The Alpha Software Forum is a free forum created for Alpha Software Developer Community to ask for help, exchange ideas, and share solutions. Alpha Software strives to create an environment where all members of the community can feel safe to participate. In order to ensure the Alpha Software Forum is a place where all feel welcome, forum participants are expected to behave as follows:
  • Be professional in your conduct
  • Be kind to others
  • Be constructive when giving feedback
  • Be open to new ideas and suggestions
  • Stay on topic


Be sure all comments and threads you post are respectful. Posts that contain any of the following content will be considered a violation of your agreement as a member of the Alpha Software Forum Community and will be moderated:
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  • Encouraging of others to engage in the above behaviors.


If a thread or post is found to contain any of the content outlined above, a moderator may choose to take one of the following actions:
  • Remove the Post or Thread - the content is removed from the forum.
  • Place the User in Moderation - all posts and new threads must be approved by a moderator before they are posted.
  • Temporarily Ban the User - user is banned from forum for a period of time.
  • Permanently Ban the User - user is permanently banned from the forum.


Moderators may also rename posts and threads if they are too generic or do not property reflect the content.

Moderators may move threads if they have been posted in the incorrect forum.

Threads/Posts questioning specific moderator decisions or actions (such as "why was a user banned?") are not allowed and will be removed.

The owners of Alpha Software Corporation (Forum Owner) reserve the right to remove, edit, move, or close any thread for any reason; or ban any forum member without notice, reason, or explanation.

Community members are encouraged to click the "Report Post" icon in the lower left of a given post if they feel the post is in violation of the rules. This will alert the Moderators to take a look.

Alpha Software Corporation may amend the guidelines from time to time and may also vary the procedures it sets out where appropriate in a particular case. Your agreement to comply with the guidelines will be deemed agreement to any changes to it.



Bonus TIPS for Successful Posting

Try a Search First
It is highly recommended that a Search be done on your topic before posting, as many questions have been answered in prior posts. As with any search engine, the shorter the search term, the more "hits" will be returned, but the more specific the search term is, the greater the relevance of those "hits". Searching for "table" might well return every message on the board while "tablesum" would greatly restrict the number of messages returned.

When you do post
First, make sure you are posting your question in the correct forum. For example, if you post an issue regarding Desktop applications on the Mobile & Browser Applications board , not only will your question not be seen by the appropriate audience, it may also be removed or relocated.

The more detail you provide about your problem or question, the more likely someone is to understand your request and be able to help. A sample database with a minimum of records (and its support files, zipped together) will make it much easier to diagnose issues with your application. Screen shots of error messages are especially helpful.

When explaining how to reproduce your problem, please be as detailed as possible. Describe every step, click-by-click and keypress-by-keypress. Otherwise when others try to duplicate your problem, they may do something slightly different and end up with different results.

A note about attachments
You may only attach one file to each message. Attachment file size is limited to 2MB. If you need to include several files, you may do so by zipping them into a single archive.

If you forgot to attach your files to your post, please do NOT create a new thread. Instead, reply to your original message and attach the file there.

When attaching screen shots, it is best to attach an image file (.BMP, .JPG, .GIF, .PNG, etc.) or a zip file of several images, as opposed to a Word document containing the screen shots. Because Word documents are prone to viruses, many message board users will not open your Word file, therefore limiting their ability to help you.

Similarly, if you are uploading a zipped archive, you should simply create a .ZIP file and not a self-extracting .EXE as many users will not run your EXE file.
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Establish a new thread (forum) category for Desktop Beginners

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    Establish a new thread (forum) category for Desktop Beginners

    Has anyone considered establishing a new forum category "just for desktop beginners"; of any version? I'm a beginner so to speak, and flowing through a myriad of threads for something as simple as my problem usually is, is just too time consuming. Yes, I'm familiar with the search feature, and have yet to complete a good search, or find anything for which I searched. Usually I am told that I have used too many words, not enough words, words too short or words too long. So, I surrender and just browse. I also think that "newbies" would feel more comfortable seeking help within such a category.

    Just a thought, but I wish it would be implemented.

    #2
    Re: Establish a new thread (forum) category for Desktop Beginners

    Hi Russ,

    On the face of it, your wish seems reasonable, my question to you is this, when do you stop being a "beginner"? I've been working with Alpha for over 18 years and am still learning new things almost every day. OK, so I'm not a total beginner but sometimes I think I am when I cant get something to work the way I expect it to. That is why I make use of this forum so much. I would be lost without it.

    Yes you are right about trawling through all the threads, trying to find the answer to your specific question can be a pain. But, consider this, first as a beginner, you may not be asking the right question to your problem. On the other hand, learn from all the new information that has now been presented to you.
    Regards
    Keith Hubert
    Alpha Guild Member
    London.
    KHDB Management Systems
    Skype = keith.hubert


    For your day-to-day Needs, you Need an Alpha Database!

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Establish a new thread (forum) category for Desktop Beginners

      The forum managers tried that a while back, creating a 'beginners' forum. It didn't really work out because we used the beginner forum and the 'normal' forum without much distinction. Complex questions and simple questions were asked in each, and responses were complex if they needed to be. I would say that the best method is to say that you are "new to Alpha" in your question, but the truth is that ALL posts should be written as though they will be read by both advanced and inexperienced developers.
      Steve Wood
      See my profile on IADN

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Establish a new thread (forum) category for Desktop Beginners

        Originally posted by databaser View Post
        Usually I am told that I have used too many words, not enough words, words too short or words too long. So, I surrender and just browse..
        Less than 6 posts and people are already yelling at you? Yikes! Some people are very fussy & particular about "how" they want you to post questions. Some people even want to control the topics you post. But most people are pretty open to anything. Don't be deterred! I have thousands of posts and I'm still asking questions.
        Peter
        AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

        [email protected]
        https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


        Comment


          #5
          Re: Establish a new thread (forum) category for Desktop Beginners

          I imagine you mean the search engine is telling you there are issues with your search terms?

          You can quote your seach expression.

          Searching for "new thread" will give quite different results than searching for new thread (unquoted).
          There can be only one.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Establish a new thread (forum) category for Desktop Beginners

            Sorry, I did not mention that it indeed was the search engine that was giving me those responses, not the viewers. I am amazed at how benevolent and generous all of the folks are who pore over this forum in order to offer some help to us "wanderers". I've never had anything but courteous treatment.

            After making this post, I began to realize the point that Keith Hubert made... how would one put boundaries on such a "beginner" forum... I can see how it mostly wouldn't work. I'll just continue to jump in with big fish/little fish. Even though I have been tinkering with A4/A5 for a long time, I still have some very elemental road blocks, and with what little ego I have, I find it embarassing to ask such elemental questions. Howerver, I paid my money, so I'll try to get my money's worth and get whatever help I can.

            The generosity of all of the reviewers is amazing. All of them seem to be people you'd like to have for neighbors.

            Thanks to all.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Establish a new thread (forum) category for Desktop Beginners

              Originally posted by databaser View Post
              Sorry, I did not mention that it indeed was the search engine that was giving me those responses, not the viewers... I've never had anything but courteous treatment.
              Oh good. I agree that search engine can be a little kranky. But with sharp-eyed guys like Stan Mathews to answer your questions, you'll be in good shape.
              Peter
              AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

              [email protected]
              https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


              Comment


                #8
                Re: Establish a new thread (forum) category for Desktop Beginners

                Guys like Stan, and many others, are what make the forum so valuable. Thanks for your help, too.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Establish a new thread (forum) category for Desktop Beginners

                  Instead of using the term 'new user' or 'beginner', maybe you could preface your question with 'Alpha 5 V?? experience - x years.' The the person looking at your question doesn't use his/her definition of 'beginner'.

                  Also, keep in mind the old truism : 'The only dumb question is the one you don't ask.' And I'll be that when you ask a question, someone, somewhere will think ' I'm sure glad he asked that question, I was too embarrassed to ask it.

                  Dave
                  Dave Jampole
                  www.customalpha.com

                  Women and cats will do whatever they want. The sooner men and dogs realize that, the happier they will be.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Establish a new thread (forum) category for Desktop Beginners

                    Hi Dave,

                    Haven't seen you since Las Vegas.

                    I think this discussion about posters identifying themselves as "beginners" is irrelevant. Everyone should strive to provide posts that can be interpreted by anyone beginner to advanced. The post will live on past the original poster and be referenced by developers at all levels of ability. If a "beginner" cannot understand the explanation, assuming the explanation was clear and accurate, it is the beginners responsibility to get up to speed. Even complex answers can be provided in clear easy to follow steps, but we have to admit there are some prerequisites to developing software.

                    I assume anyone developing web software has at least a basic, ground-level understanding of HTML, CSS and Xbasic, and javascript. If they don't then it will be impossible to implement any suggestion made on this forum.
                    Steve Wood
                    See my profile on IADN

                    Comment

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