Re: How to post a query

Jonathan spake thusly: >The information given in the proposed form is comprehensive to the point >of overkill for most questions. [...] I definitely agree! This looks like a shoo-in for the FAQ. How about something along the lines of: How do I post a query? Include all the relavent version and product information, and no more. For example: "I have a problem with I4GL 4.16.UC1 and OnLine 7.21.UC1 on Sun Sparc with Solaris 2.4" Then describe your problem. Be complete enough that readers will be able to understand and replicate it (if appropriate), yet succinct enough that they'll bother to read it. Reduce problems to the simplest form. Don't include your entire production schema or program unless it is absolutely required. Use code fragments. Very briefly list what you have already tried. Hopefully you have RTFM and tried the obvious solutions. For example: "I read the OAG v7.2 (April 96) on page x-12, and it did not specify the benefits of...I tried to implement this using the O/S xxx command and also with a c program. The usually helpful IIUG repository..." Remember that you are going to sign your name to your question. It can help or hurt your professional reputation. Once posted, questions (and answers) are publicly available. Strive for a history of postings that you can be proud of. This could go on and on... Working in Tech Support, these are things I think about a lot. In a very real sense, cdi is a TS body, and would greatly benefit from a "handbook" of how to ask questions, one similar to the Informix Customer Service book. Comments? ______________________________________________________ Clem Akins (aka clema@informix.com) Informix Software, Inc (Standard disclaimers apply) International Technical Support Last seen: Back at work in Singapore--the Lion City