Guidelines for posting threads

[kkfin]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

They can't turn their boat now when v12 is out but I am sure they have paddle, hand bailer and whistle with them.
So lets just wait them.

[mronck]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

Is it, at this point in time, even completely clear to anyone what type of vendor-lock-in v12 will cause to the end user of our work, and under which circumstances?
I know, there is the Application Server that your customer would need to have a subscription for, but is that the only dependency?
Why I downloaded the runtime and installed it on a client computer the install wanted me to activate the runtime? This is new. It could be that instead of the runtime I was installing the FD version since Alpha seemed to have messed up the download links, but I am not even sure. If the runtime now also needs activation one could wonder why that is and what the consequences might be in case this activation gets refused somewhere in the future. Your off-shelf software containing the runtime would be useless from the point you ended your subscription and Alpha (?) maybe refuses any more activation of that particular runtime license.
I for the life of me could not imagine any other reason for wanting to activate the runtime?
Who has more info on this?

[Clipper87]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

Marcel,

I installed the runtime on a clean system as I am working on a work queue processor; it only asked for the runtime license key, no activation whatsoever. I think that indeed you got bad downloadlinks, I've seen other people here that had the same issue (with their developer copy)

[Paullm]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

This thread is [as we Texans say] fixin' to get taken down!

Back to my original request ...

Can someone at AS please outline what is and is not permitted on discussion threads?

[trackmanpete]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

This thread is [as we Texans say] fixin' to get taken down!

Back to my original request ...

Can someone at AS please outline what is and is not permitted on discussion threads?

Hey Paul:
Why not put yourself in Alpha's position. You own the company, you own the product and you own this forum. How much would you tolerate before saying, "Enough already". I have followed this forum since 2005 and I am sometimes surprised how tolerant Alpha is. There were previous "uprisings" over price back when v 10 and v11 came about, some by the same posters now on the present issues.

This is a good company that responds well to their buyers needs and wants. I think common sense would tell you that you don't want to kill off the golden goose just because they don't want to tell you all they want to do or plan to do in the future. How many software companies are still around from the early 90's? That should tell you how strong this company is and how dedicated they are to their customers.

[Paullm]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

Pete,

I am merely asking a question.

Numerous threads have been taken down, so I am seeking clarification of what is and is not permissible.

This bulletin board ... essentially "social media" ... is slowly being strangled, sometimes by seemingly arbitrary decisions from those who hold the keys.

This is not a good situation!

(Btw .. I have no issues whatsoever with AS).

[GGandhi]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

hello

Can someone at AS please outline what is and is not permitted on discussion threads?

this is a legitimate question. since nobody knows the rules, if there are any. they might quote this sticky or that, but in realty there is none. some moderator said they did not remove the thread etc.,
then who removed it?

Hey Paul:
Why not put yourself in Alpha's position. You own the company, you own the product and you own this forum

.

yes put yourself in their shoes.

they don't have good documentation and this board has definitely helped many including some of the longtime users, definitely i learnt a lot from this board. if i were to depend on the documentation i will never be able to learn many of the features this product offers.

if this forum is not the place to vent your feelings where would you?
if alphasoftware company wants only support from the community and not hear any adverse comments then
a> do not sponsor any board, when you reap benefits you will also encounter some negative comments
b> do not allow people to post freely. screen every post and post only that supports the company view. (so you don't have to delete once posted, no knows of its existence)

either have democracy or totalitarian attitude not both.
understand that deleting the thread will not improve the impression people have on the company.

if the company has a view and they have a product to sell they will lose some customers, gain some.
that's the way the market will work. if more people stick to the product then the company will do well.
in what way deleting the thread will help?
so to go back to the point of this thread

Can someone at AS please outline what is and is not permitted on discussion threads?

[trackmanpete]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

Pete,

I am merely asking a question.

Numerous threads have been taken down, so I am seeking clarification of what is and is not permissible.

This bulletin board ... essentially "social media" ... is slowly being strangled, sometimes by seemingly arbitrary decisions from those who hold the keys.

This is not a good situation!

Sorry to disagree with you, but I don't see this "bulletin board" as "social media". It is a location and source where people needing help with Alpha can come and get answers from very helpful and supportive individuals as well as staff members at Alpha. What is not a good situation is to abuse the generosity of these good people, by posting some pretty self serving comments that are negative in nature. Pretty simple from where I see things.


Again, I think the answer to your question can be found when posts are taken down. Go over the line of polite discussion and or harsh criticism and the posts will disappear. No big secret there, in my opinion.

As to the comment about being democratic, I say this. Alpha is a company not a government entity. If you don't like what Alpha does you have the choice to go somewhere else with your money and business interests. That is the good thing about private business. Since when is a business entity "democratic"?

[Paullm]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

Per Wikipedia ...

"Social media refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, and exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks".

Per Merriam-Webster Dictionary ...

"forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos)"

[Ted Giles]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

In the past, Alpha has said it doesn't monitor the Forum. Unfortunately it was hijjacked to an extent and held hostage because some legitimate questions were not answered and there didn't seem to be any other medium to vent the anger some users had built up.
It would be easier, and I have suggested it, that an alternnative place to have arguments with Alpha is created. The Forum should be so we can ask questions related to the use of the product as it is, and not as we would like it to be. That is a separate issue.
If you are unhappy with the service, either move on or ask for your money back. If you feel you have been mis-sold, take it up with Richard direct. He is quite approachable, and before I am accused of bias, he and I have had battles before.

On to business plans. As Marcel said, a plan can be made to infer anything. I know because I have prepared quite a few with hefty cash requirements and got the bank buy in. Just because they have an investor - and we are all investors- this does not mean that a business plan is a given.

Anyway, who here would put up $1000 to join in and take a punt on Alpha coming through and risk losing it? I would if there was a payback agreement. Trouble is, you have to stop grumbling and contribute to the plan and help make it happen. Then you are a real investor!

[GGandhi]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

As to the comment about being democratic, I say this. Alpha is a company not a government entity. If you don't like what Alpha does you have the choice to go somewhere else with your money and business interests. That is the good thing about private business. Since when is a business entity "democratic"?

the comment is not about the company but the policy regarding the forum.
either you let people post or censor. allow only when it supports your company and randomly take down without any major provocation is what i see now.

you can obviously screen all the posts allow only those accepted. no one knows about censoring.
still paul's question is valid. someone has to formulate the rules, then there will be less controversy (possibly)

[DaveM]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

I installed the runtime on a clean system as I am working on a work queue processor; it only asked for the runtime license key, no activation whatsoever. I think that indeed you got bad downloadlinks, I've seen other people here that had the same issue (with their developer copy)

give a bit f daylight. Runtime does not need activation, it is a free to distribute app. Developer needs activation that ties it to the machine installed on.

You can install a license key file in the folder or export and import registry settings for alpha runtime or put it in manually as stated.

[josevelez]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

This thread is [as we Texans say] fixin' to get taken down!

Back to my original request ...

Can someone at AS please outline what is and is not permitted on discussion threads?

lol! Paul!

I'm a fellow Texan and I couldn't agree more!

After seeing a previous discussion thread vanish, that was the nail on the coffin for me. You can't have it both ways Alpha - positive and negative (at least those that have merit) comments should be preserved.

Instead of addressing its customer's concerns, Alpha seems to find it more convenient to ignore and censor. Touching on the cemetery analogy, I plan to do just that - I'll stop by and check out a few discussions and be on my way. No need to participate given that any contribution could be arbitrarily removed.

Read this while it lasts... let the countdown begin....

[forskare]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

give a bit f daylight. Runtime does not need activation, it is a free to distribute app. Developer needs activation that ties it to the machine installed on.

You can install a license key file in the folder or export and import registry settings for alpha runtime or put it in manually as stated.

I asked customer service for my license numbers and the download links. Nearly 2 weeks later, still had not received, the so I emailed Brett. HE talked to CS and told me if I didn't get them by days end to let him know. I waited an extra day and emailed Brett again. He sent eh download links and the license numbers, one for each, AA, AA-RT and the App Server. Brett said these license numbers would be good for the official release as well. Downloaded but the license numbers would not activate, I'm not sure which is worse, the documentation or customer service. No company will survive poor customer service. After all, they represent the company and the company's image. Why would I want to recommend Alpha and run the risk of poor customer service. After all, that scenario is a reflection on me as well and I don't need or want ta=hat. I can't afford that loss of my reputation. Can you?

[Richard Rabins]

Re: Guidelines for posting threads

I asked customer service for my license numbers and the download links. Nearly 2 weeks later, still had not received, the so I emailed Brett. HE talked to CS and told me if I didn't get them by days end to let him know. I waited an extra day and emailed Brett again. He sent eh download links and the license numbers, one for each, AA, AA-RT and the App Server. Brett said these license numbers would be good for the official release as well. Downloaded but the license numbers would not activate, I'm not sure which is worse, the documentation or customer service. No company will survive poor customer service. After all, they represent the company and the company's image. Why would I want to recommend Alpha and run the risk of poor customer service. After all, that scenario is a reflection on me as well and I don't need or want ta=hat. I can't afford that loss of my reputation. Can you?

Ken - we constantly get emails from customers praising the company for customer service - if you had a bad experience then let me know, but please dont extrapolate from that and draw generalized and inaccurate conclusions. We are human and do strive to keep the number of customer service mistakes to a minimum.