• assessing echo life

    From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to All on Friday, April 26, 2019 02:21:00
    Hello All,

    Synchronet has built a very fine online BBS List featuring Synchronet
    BBSes.

    Some of the BBSes in the list utilize a webpage list of Networks of which Fidonet would be one of them.

    I have reviewed a handful of those BBSes that indicate carrying Fidonet
    echos and featured them in a table with additional info.

    The distinguishing thing about the featured BBSes from some of the others
    is that they utilize Synchronet's built-in webserver front-end. This
    option provides access to the Message Groups - Fidonet would be one of
    them. After selecting Fidonet from that list, it is very convenient to see the DATE of the lastest post per echo at a glance - with all the echos
    listed on one page.

    Some of the BBSes use the official fidonet echoname (which Synchronet
    calls a Sub-board), and some others use longer descriptive names for the echo. In the latter case, it is generally very easy to figure out the related fidonet echo name by hovering the pointer over the Sub-board name
    and making note of the link/URL text if you have the Status bar feature enabled in your browser.

    The table is located here: https://kolico.ca/fidonet/echos/future4fido

    Hope this helps!


    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.38
    * Origin: /|ug's Point, ONT, CANADA (2:221/1.58)
  • From Dan Clough@1:123/115 to August Abolins on Friday, April 26, 2019 10:39:00
    August Abolins wrote to All <=-

    Synchronet has built a very fine online BBS List featuring
    Synchronet BBSes.

    Some of the BBSes in the list utilize a webpage list of Networks
    of which Fidonet would be one of them.

    I have reviewed a handful of those BBSes that indicate carrying
    Fidonet echos and featured them in a table with additional info.

    <SNIP>

    The table is located here:
    https://kolico.ca/fidonet/echos/future4fido

    Very nice, thanks for doing that!



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  • From mark lewis@1:3634/12.73 to August Abolins on Friday, April 26, 2019 12:43:00

    On 2019 Apr 26 02:21:00, you wrote to All:

    The table is located here: https://kolico.ca/fidonet/echos/future4fido

    something is wrong with this chart... the header at the top of the group listing of areas shows "Latest" which is the newest or more recent post that has arrived... for the southeast star you show oldest which is not right... i'm

    also using the original default web scheme for sbbs which may make a difference...

    also, your square dog graphic is covering some of the text...

    http://sestar.synchro.net/temp/20190426-kolico-ca-fidonet-echo-activity-tool-01.jpg

    )\/(ark

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  • From August Abolins@2:221/360 to mark lewis on Friday, April 26, 2019 20:43:59
    On 26/04/2019 12:43 p.m., mark lewis : August Abolins wrote:

    https://kolico.ca/fidonet/echos/future4fido

    something is wrong with this chart... the header at the top of the group listing of areas shows "Latest" which is the newest or more recent post
    that has arrived... for the southeast star you show oldest which is not right... i'm also using the original default web scheme for sbbs which
    may make a difference...

    I should add a few clarifications to the chart. Thanks!

    The "Sorted First by" means the ECHO sort order.
    When we open a Sub-board/Echo at SouthEast Star, the first message we see is the oldest.

    also, your square dog graphic is covering some of the text...

    http://sestar.synchro.net/temp/20190426-kolico-ca-fidonet-echo-activity-tool-01.jpg

    Thanks for letting me know! I did not have a Mac/Linux machine to play with. I'll get the graphic right over the edge. Believe me, I *did* try.

    I started building the chart in Excel, and exported to html. Re-edits were in Word. Fairly quick and easy ..and lazy, I know! :( The process adds a lot of filler code, for sure.

    ...A

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  • From mark lewis@1:3634/12.73 to August Abolins on Friday, April 26, 2019 15:11:28

    On 2019 Apr 26 20:43:58, you wrote to me:

    https://kolico.ca/fidonet/echos/future4fido

    something is wrong with this chart... the header at the top of the
    group listing of areas shows "Latest" which is the newest or more
    recent post that has arrived... for the southeast star you show
    oldest which is not right... i'm also using the original default web
    scheme for sbbs which may make a difference...

    I should add a few clarifications to the chart. Thanks!

    ok...

    The "Sorted First by" means the ECHO sort order.
    When we open a Sub-board/Echo at SouthEast Star, the first message we see is the oldest.

    i think that's because it is using the last read for that account... if you are

    not logged in, you see the beginning since the guest account effectivly hasn't read anything... in any case, you can click on the date field header and reverse the sorting so you see the latest and then read backwards... :ugh:

    also, your square dog graphic is covering some of the text...

    http://sestar.synchro.net/temp/20190426-kolico-ca-fidonet-echo-activi
    ty-tool-01.jpg

    Thanks for letting me know! I did not have a Mac/Linux machine to play with. I'll get the graphic right over the edge. Believe me, I *did* try.

    shouldn't need one of those depending on how you are doing it ;)

    I started building the chart in Excel, and exported to html. Re-edits
    were in Word. Fairly quick and easy ..and lazy, I know! :( The
    process adds a lot of filler code, for sure.

    i used to use html generators a long time ago... i always went back into the generated code and cleaned it up... especially when changing fonts and the generator doesn't remove the previous font declaration... it was, actually, how

    i learned html code... very much like i learned B.A.S.I.C. back in the day by modifying basic programs i downloaded :snicker:

    )\/(ark

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  • From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to mark lewis on Friday, April 26, 2019 19:34:00
    Hello mark!

    ** 26.04.19 - 15:11, mark lewis wrote to August Abolins:


    ...you can click on the date
    field header and reverse the sorting so you see the latest and then read backwards... :ugh:

    OMG. I did not realize "Date" was clickable. The blue text and grey background looked the same as all other text depending on the tilt of the screen on my laptop!

    BTW, reading backwards is not the goal. LOL. It is just a quick way to
    get to the end and browse through the list to assess how active an echo
    would be.

    The Sychronet "sub-board" listing and it date-sortable Subject/message listing are a very useful way to judge an echos viability. This Sychronet design is excellent.


    also, your square dog graphic is covering some of the text...

    The image was just a decoration. I reduced its size. I think it is cooperating now. I appreciate you pointing out the problem!


    i used to use html generators a long time ago... i always went back into the generated code and cleaned it up... especially when changing fonts and the generator doesn't remove the previous font declaration... it was, actually, how i learned html code... very much like i learned B.A.S.I.C. back in the day by modifying basic programs i downloaded :snicker:

    Likewise. I left most of my raw html tools behind on an older pc. I
    didn't really need an html editor anymore when I embraced building sites
    and pages with CMS such as Wordpress over 10 years ago. Today, when I
    would like to create a nice looking page, I regret not having the favorite editor I was using. But Word to html is doable for an occassional simple info page or something.


    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.38
    * Origin: /|ug's Point, ONT, CANADA (2:221/1.58)
  • From August Abolins@2:221/1.59 to mark lewis on Friday, April 26, 2019 22:35:27
    Hello mark!

    On 4/26/2019, mark lewis wrote to August Abolins:

    ... i'm also using the original default
    web scheme for sbbs which may make a difference...

    The web scheme looks great. I guess by default it is listing the oldest messages first. Now after our little chat, I see you flipped the initial sort order! <g> Looks good.


    ../|ug

    --- APoint 1.25
    * Origin: And the Point is.... (2:221/1.59)
  • From mark lewis@1:3634/12.73 to August Abolins on Saturday, April 27, 2019 05:29:14

    On 2019 Apr 26 22:35:26, you wrote to me:

    ... i'm also using the original default web scheme for sbbs which may
    make a difference...

    The web scheme looks great. I guess by default it is listing the
    oldest messages first. Now after our little chat, I see you flipped
    the initial sort order! <g> Looks good.

    that's interesting... i would not expect that to stick... especially for the guest account... anyone visiting as a guest can flip it... maybe the order of the sorting is not something that need be noted in a chart?

    )\/(ark

    Always Mount a Scratch Monkey
    Do you manage your own servers? If you are not running an IDS/IPS yer doin' it wrong...
    ... Advert: horse manure 50p per prepacked bag; 20p do it yourself
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  • From August Abolins@2:221/360 to mark lewis on Saturday, April 27, 2019 17:58:59
    On 27/04/2019 5:29 a.m., mark lewis : August Abolins wrote:

     AA> The web scheme looks great.  I guess by default it is listing the
     AA> oldest messages first.  Now after our little chat, I see you flipped
     AA> the initial sort order!  <g>  Looks good.

    that's interesting... i would not expect that to stick... especially for
    the guest account... anyone visiting as a guest can flip it...

    That is even more interesting! After our little chat I thought *you* as sysop

    had changed the default order, but it turns out it seems to remember the last setting by the last known Guest visitor? ...that is, *any* visitor?

    Maybe that explains why when I swore that I saw the list oldest to newest, it had flipped from newest to oldest the next time I dropped by?


    ..maybe the order of the sorting is not something that need be noted in
    a chart?
    It has been since removed. The "feature" is now just mentioned in step "5".

    Thanks a bunch!

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  • From mark lewis@1:3634/12.73 to August Abolins on Saturday, April 27, 2019 11:30:56

    On 2019 Apr 27 17:58:58, you wrote to me:

    that's interesting... i would not expect that to stick... especially
    for the guest account... anyone visiting as a guest can flip it...

    That is even more interesting! After our little chat I thought *you* as sysop had changed the default order,

    no... AFAIK, there's no such global setting in the BBS package...

    but it turns out it seems to remember the last setting by the last
    known Guest visitor? ...that is, *any* visitor?

    AFAIK, yes... any guest visitor... those that have accounts and are logged in should be using their own settings...

    Maybe that explains why when I swore that I saw the list oldest to
    newest, it had flipped from newest to oldest the next time I dropped
    by?

    yup... i'll bring this up with the developer, though... i'm thinking that the guest account should always start with the same settings and reset or drop changes when the guest account is not being used any longer... i can only imagine the possible confusion with one or more guests on the terminal server as well as the web server, all at the same time... but it may not be a big deal, anyway... one simply needs to learn the interface and how to use it ;) kinda like getting a new smartphone and having to figure out how to do everything because there's no manual with them any more :)

    )\/(ark

    Always Mount a Scratch Monkey
    Do you manage your own servers? If you are not running an IDS/IPS yer doin' it wrong...
    ... Nothing's so weird that no one's done it.
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