Re: How to post a query
Clem Akins wrote: > > 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? This definately gets my vote, having also worked in Informix support. I don't know if people will find the shoo-in for the FAQ though. Perhaps it should be posted here once a month under it's own subject for non-regulars. Let's face it, it's the non-regulars that make up the majority of questions posted. At the end of the day, you will never get rid of job postings, you will never eliminate spam, you will never get a consistant approach to questions, etc.... So, mail-bomb the job ads, flame the spammers, and be nice if a question doesn't make sense. ;-) Cheers, -- Mark. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Mark D. Stock - The West Solutions Group http://www.west.co.za | | The Informix FAQ is at http://www.iiug.org | |mailto:marks@west.co.za +------------------------------------------------+ |Tel: +27 11 803 2151 |If it doesn't work... force it! | |Fax: +27 11 803 2189 |If it breaks... it needed replacing anyway! | |Cell: +27 83 250 2325 |Well, that's how I code anyway! | +------------------------+------------------------------------------------+