Larry Ullman's Book Forums
All of these rules have been created to help ensure that you get the fastest answer to your question (or solution to your problem). Trust me on this: abiding by these rules is in your best interest. By breaking these rules you are likely to get a delayed answer or none at all. Here's the skinny:
PLEASE DO NOT:
...email me a question you have posted in the forum.
...post your message more than once (if you have more information to add, that's fine, but don't post the same message multiple times or in multiple forums).
...post messages that add nothing to the description of the problem.
...post meaningless messages, just to move your thread back to the top of the list.
...reply to one of my postings by emailing me. I would prefer to leave correspondence in the forum so that other readers can benefit.
...be insulting to me or anyone else. Remember that you're asking for FREE help from strangers. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but watch your tone and what exactly you're saying.
...think your situation constitutes an exception to these rules.
If you are going to post a message--and you've read and abided by the above, make sure that you:
...consider searching the forums first.
...consider searching the Internet and any relevant manuals or book indexes.
...are in the right forum (if it relates to a specific book).
...reference the script name, script number, and page number (if it relates to a specific book).
...say what version of whatever technologies you are using.
...say what operating system you are running (if appropriate).
...say provide the versions of whatever other applications are involved.
...show some relevant code!
...be as explicit as you can in saying what is not working, what it should be doing, etc. (including the complete, actual error message, if there is one).
...post the solution or say that a solution worked when the problem's been solved (so that others might benefit).
I see all forum postings and will answer all questions as I have time. I normally answer forum postings three days per week (assuming I'm not traveling) and ALWAYS answer forum postings before emails sent directly to me.
So, you might wonder, how will abiding by these rules help you? Let's consider five examples:
Example A: you post a message and then email me the same question. Or I reply to your forum message and you reply to me via email. In either case I'm likely not to answer your question at all. Time it'll take you to find the solution: a long, long time.
Example B: you post a message, no one replies in a day or two (because I'm busy and no one else can help), so you post another message or post a message saying something like "anyone?" or "help please" or you post a message just to get your thread to show up at the top of the list. This is very rude, and I'll likely delete your thread and not answer it at all. Time it'll take you to find the solution: a long, long time.
Example C: you post a message but fail to include salient details, such as PHP or MySQL version, operating system being used (a common omission), relevant code, etc. The next time I look at your message, I'll most likely ask for those particulars. You then have to come back and post that information. The next time I answer forum messages, I can probably offer up a solution. Time it'll take you to find the solution: a few days to a week.
Example D: you post a message including all of the necessary information. The next time I answer forum messages, I can probably offer up a solution. Time it'll take you to find the solution: a day or two or so.
Example E: you come to the forum, do a couple of searches, find the solution yourself in an existing thread. Time it'll take you to find the solution: a few minutes.
Don't get me wrong: I'm happy to assist and, more importantly, I want you to be able to solve your problem/find an answer to your question as quickly as possible. These policies are intended to help ensure that result. They also allow me to offer up this free support in the face of the oodles of emails I get per day and the actual (paying) work I have to do.
Last Updated: April 16, 2008
PLEASE DO NOT:
...email me a question you have posted in the forum.
...post your message more than once (if you have more information to add, that's fine, but don't post the same message multiple times or in multiple forums).
...post messages that add nothing to the description of the problem.
...post meaningless messages, just to move your thread back to the top of the list.
...reply to one of my postings by emailing me. I would prefer to leave correspondence in the forum so that other readers can benefit.
...be insulting to me or anyone else. Remember that you're asking for FREE help from strangers. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but watch your tone and what exactly you're saying.
...think your situation constitutes an exception to these rules.
If you are going to post a message--and you've read and abided by the above, make sure that you:
...consider searching the forums first.
...consider searching the Internet and any relevant manuals or book indexes.
...are in the right forum (if it relates to a specific book).
...reference the script name, script number, and page number (if it relates to a specific book).
...say what version of whatever technologies you are using.
...say what operating system you are running (if appropriate).
...say provide the versions of whatever other applications are involved.
...show some relevant code!
...be as explicit as you can in saying what is not working, what it should be doing, etc. (including the complete, actual error message, if there is one).
...post the solution or say that a solution worked when the problem's been solved (so that others might benefit).
I see all forum postings and will answer all questions as I have time. I normally answer forum postings three days per week (assuming I'm not traveling) and ALWAYS answer forum postings before emails sent directly to me.
So, you might wonder, how will abiding by these rules help you? Let's consider five examples:
Example A: you post a message and then email me the same question. Or I reply to your forum message and you reply to me via email. In either case I'm likely not to answer your question at all. Time it'll take you to find the solution: a long, long time.
Example B: you post a message, no one replies in a day or two (because I'm busy and no one else can help), so you post another message or post a message saying something like "anyone?" or "help please" or you post a message just to get your thread to show up at the top of the list. This is very rude, and I'll likely delete your thread and not answer it at all. Time it'll take you to find the solution: a long, long time.
Example C: you post a message but fail to include salient details, such as PHP or MySQL version, operating system being used (a common omission), relevant code, etc. The next time I look at your message, I'll most likely ask for those particulars. You then have to come back and post that information. The next time I answer forum messages, I can probably offer up a solution. Time it'll take you to find the solution: a few days to a week.
Example D: you post a message including all of the necessary information. The next time I answer forum messages, I can probably offer up a solution. Time it'll take you to find the solution: a day or two or so.
Example E: you come to the forum, do a couple of searches, find the solution yourself in an existing thread. Time it'll take you to find the solution: a few minutes.
Don't get me wrong: I'm happy to assist and, more importantly, I want you to be able to solve your problem/find an answer to your question as quickly as possible. These policies are intended to help ensure that result. They also allow me to offer up this free support in the face of the oodles of emails I get per day and the actual (paying) work I have to do.
Last Updated: April 16, 2008