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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on July 15, 2005, at 13:19:25
OK, I've run this sort of bulletin board system, so I know something about how it works. (Mine were much smaller, though.) Since people have been asking about deleting posts or portions of posts, I thought I'd explain what's involved in doing that, so that everyone will have a better understanding of WHY Dr Bob might choose not to do it except in extreme situations.
Now, before I give my explanation, I will say that Dr Bob has modified the base script a great deal, and he may have changed some of these details in the process. This is a general explanation, NOT an explanation specific to BabbleLand.
First, the basic structure of the files involved is kinda complex:
You have the hypertext page that we all see first, the one that has all the posts on it. That, and another page for writing your post, are in the main directory. (Directories are like the file folders on your Windows machine, if you're unsure.)
The individual posts themselves are each a different file, with a different name. They live in a directory that is inside the main directory.
Here at Babble, Dr Bob has set up an archival system, in which every period in the archives is in a separate subdirectory, with all of the posts from that period inside it.
That's the basic structure, or a nutshell version of it.
In order to delete an entire post, Dr Bob would have to use a separate utility, which would allow him to delete that post using its "name" without allowing that same name to be used again. The naming conventions of these posts is simple: it just counts up the number of posts. At this point, Babble has had more than half a million posts. In order to delete one, the utility has to FIND it, and then has to disallow its number from being used again.
Having run this sort of bulletin board, let me tell you: setting up the bulletin board is a heck of a lot easier than setting up that utility! I only used it myself when I really couldn't avoid it, because every time I tried, something unpleasant happened.
If you try to delete a post manually, though, the numbering system gets screwed up, and -- well, let's jsut say that things get even more unpleasant.
Deleting PARTS of posts, though, is even more difficult.
First, you have to find the post in question, using its name. That has to be done, though, using the UNIX file system on the web server involved. Once you have found the post in question, you have to edit it using the UNIX tools available to you. Then you save it, and cross your fingers that it all works without something unexpected happening.
Sounds kinda simple, huh? Well...
To get to your UNIX web server, you start by using either telnet or SSH -- both of which are "command line" utilities on your windows machine. That means that there are no little icons to click -- you have to type in all your commands at a prompt. If you make any mistakes, your command fails. At every step of the way, you have to type everything perfectly -- including capitalization. UNIX, unlike Windows, is case sensitive.
Once you get to the file in question, what you do depends on what editor programs your web server has installed. All of them have "vi" the basic UNIX text editor. Some have easier programs, but they all have vi, so a lot of us use that one. vi has weird little keyboard commands -- since there are no mouse based commands in plain vanilla UNIX -- that you pretty much have to memorize in order to do anything. The most basic version of vi doesn't even allow you to use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move around -- you have to use letter keys to move around, then change the mode to type anything, then change back to move to the next place you want to be!
Don't get me wrong, I kinda like vi. I've used it enough that I'm comfortable with it, most of it is kinda automatic for me, and using keyboard commands doesn't bother me.
That might be a result of my mental illness, though...
If Dr Bob doesn't want to spend half his day editing one line of text in one particular post, can you blame him?
Posted by thuso on July 15, 2005, at 13:38:37
In reply to Explanation of deleting posts or portions of posts, posted by Racer on July 15, 2005, at 13:19:25
This is exactly why I like to you a mysql databases and use phpMyAdmin to control it. Much easier to do everything that you were mentioning. :-D
Posted by AuntieMel on July 15, 2005, at 15:15:36
In reply to Explanation of deleting posts or portions of posts, posted by Racer on July 15, 2005, at 13:19:25
I'm a unix/linux person myself.
Completely windows ignorant (except I can use it and install stuff)
I LOVE vi.
But (grin) I didn't realize it was so complicated. Command line stuff is natural for me.
Posted by Racer on July 15, 2005, at 16:16:29
In reply to Re: golly gee » Racer, posted by AuntieMel on July 15, 2005, at 15:15:36
>
> But (grin) I didn't realize it was so complicated. Command line stuff is natural for me.LOL! These days, I swear that half the people I come across who describe themselves as being "very" computer literate mean that they can use the Microsoft Office programs. Sit them down in front of any command line operating system, and they grab for the mouse and look confused.
Some of us, though, remember when...
And we'd better not tell anyone that, or they'll laugh at us for being ancient!
Glad I'm not the only one who likes vi, too. It's such a cute little program, comfortable and familiar...
Posted by AuntieMel on July 15, 2005, at 17:35:03
In reply to You're dating yourself! » AuntieMel, posted by Racer on July 15, 2005, at 16:16:29
I still use unix/linux and vi
and dbx
There are all sorts of window based editors and debuggers for unix, but I don't use them. My job has involved going to client sites for installations/support so I only use the tools that come with all unix based machines.
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 16, 2005, at 2:09:08
In reply to Re: Explanation of deleting posts or portions of p » Racer, posted by thuso on July 15, 2005, at 13:38:37
> This is exactly why I like to you a mysql databases and use phpMyAdmin to control it. Much easier to do everything that you were mentioning. :-D
I never made it to MySQL, but there is a kind of database here, and a kind of MyBabble...
Bob
Posted by so on July 16, 2005, at 14:31:58
In reply to Explanation of deleting posts or portions of posts, posted by Racer on July 15, 2005, at 13:19:25
> If Dr Bob doesn't want to spend half his day editing one line of text in one particular post, can you blame him?
Not in print on his board. You can apparently call members of a certain religion "creepy" but to blame Bob Hsiung of anything would likely be considered "accusing".However, besides what I know from experience with Matt's BB script and the ease with which posts or parts of posts can be deleted, his routine deletion of posts suggests it is entirely within his capacity to edit the writing of those he publishes via his message board.
Posted by chemist on July 17, 2005, at 15:54:06
In reply to Explanation of deleting posts or portions of posts, posted by Racer on July 15, 2005, at 13:19:25
Posted by chemist on July 17, 2005, at 15:59:19
In reply to Explanation of deleting posts or portions of posts, posted by Racer on July 15, 2005, at 13:19:25
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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