Hi August,

On 20.03.19, you wrote:

That's all I was imagining. A simple online form, that followed all the

How do your thoughts differ from this:
http://www.filegate.net/zone1/bnbform.html

I've seen that before! (I think.) ..or did you just whip it up?

Oh come on Lol...

Anyway.. I played with it. I put in dummy information. A first I left the optional fields blank and the site warned me that the Submit failed. And, it
did *not* indicate what fields where the problem.

True, I assume you can read the information you yourself typed. Mea culpa.

And yes, I got your dummy app and deleted it.. In case you are wondering... As far as indicating what fields failed, I suggest you write an e-mail app and send it to me at janis@filegate.net, then everything will work just as you would like it (maybe).

Then, I simply filled in the
blank fields with N/A. Submit, was success. Off it went, somewhere!

But that is not how I envisioned a better application to fidonet or a NL segment builder.

A form like that needs a much better to way to exclude dummy text the way I pu
it in. It needs to have a verification cycle by netmail or email before it even bothers to proceed with the data.

I'll watch for the app you send me.

It needs to have a Success message to indicate where it was submitted and what
to expect next.

That is where the human comes in.... I have the apps emailed to me direct as soon as someone fills one out. Then I (horrors...) manually email the person to explain where they can find helpful files (nodelist, file echos, backbone.na, etc. etc.).

I'm looking at this 1st from a new applicant's perspective. The more feedback
the better.

I expect your app shortly.

The existing form is certainly better than nothing, but now someone is wasting
their time looking at this garbage. And, it would be far better if that was rejected in the first place.

bleh...

Take care,
Janis

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-4
* Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38)

Hello Janis,

On 3/22/2019, you wrote to August Abolins:

http://www.filegate.net/zone1/bnbform.html

I've seen that before! (I think.) ..or did you just whip it up?

Oh come on Lol...

Well, I'm really glad you are laughing, because I did not mean to upset you. What year did you build that form? I stepped away from most things fidonet after 2006.

..the site warned me that the Submit failed.
And, it did *not* indicate what fields where the problem.

True, I assume you can read the information you yourself typed. Mea culpa.

But if the optional fields are optional, most people would most certainly leave

those blank. Your form required all fields to be filled - even if they are optional. That just sounds confusing. Vestrum flagitium. lol

And yes, I got your dummy app and deleted it.. In case you are wondering... As far as indicating what fields failed, I suggest you write an e-mail app and send it to me at janis@filegate.net, then everything will work just as you would like it (maybe).

I will get right on it! ;)

My concern was that I was allowed to fill in weird info and you have to waste time.

Here's an idea: Since it is an online form, the applicant would most certainly have an email address.
Process the form to produce a hash that is emailed to the applicant and cc'd to

you. The cc'd copy will be your head's up that someone made a submission. But

do nothing until you get a confirmation (with the hash) from the applicant. The email to the applicant should instruct them to include the hash in the Subject field (to be spotted easier by you). Then when you get THAT, then you know it's a legit thing that needs your attention.

You could even give the applicant a maximum number of hours to produce the validation, and if that is not met, ignore it. It would probably be another dummy like me anyway. ;)

I'll watch for the app you send me.

See above for a start. You have all the tools available for that.

..Then I (horrors...) manually email the
person to explain where they can find helpful files (nodelist, file
echos, backbone.na, etc. etc.).

Just send them instructions for all that in a standard pre-written email.

The existing form is certainly better than nothing, but now someone is
wasting their time looking at this garbage. And, it would be far
better if that was rejected in the first place.

bleh...

Glad I could help! ;) Love ya.


../|ug

--- WinPoint Beta 5 (359.1)
* Origin: Reluctantly Revisiting Fidonet (2:221/1.58)

Hi August,

On 3/22/2019, you wrote to August Abolins:

http://www.filegate.net/zone1/bnbform.html

I've seen that before! (I think.) ..or did you just whip it up?

Oh come on Lol...

Well, I'm really glad you are laughing, because I did not mean to upset you.

You didn't upset me August :) I just figured you would know who created that form.

What year did you build that form? I stepped away from most things fidonet after 2006.

I'm not sure, but I think it was done in 2010.

..the site warned me that the Submit failed.
And, it did *not* indicate what fields where the problem.

True, I assume you can read the information you yourself typed. Mea
culpa.

But if the optional fields are optional, most people would most certainly leav
those blank. Your form required all fields to be filled - even if they are optional. That just sounds confusing. Vestrum flagitium. lol

Well, you are the first to say that it is confusing. I think most people just fill it in and don't wonder so much ? When their RCs get a copy, they aren't confused either. :)

And yes, I got your dummy app and deleted it.. In case you are
wondering... As far as indicating what fields failed, I suggest you write
an e-mail app and send it to me at janis@filegate.net, then everything
will work just as you would like it (maybe).

I will get right on it! ;)
My concern was that I was allowed to fill in weird info and you have to waste time.

Doesn't happen.

Here's an idea: Since it is an online form, the applicant would most certainly
have an email address.
Process the form to produce a hash that is emailed to the applicant and cc'd t >you. The cc'd copy will be your head's up that someone made a submission. Bu
do nothing until you get a confirmation (with the hash) from the applicant. The email to the applicant should instruct them to include the hash in the
Subject field (to be spotted easier by you). Then when you get THAT, then you
know it's a legit thing that needs your attention.

Not necessary :)

You could even give the applicant a maximum number of hours to produce the validation, and if that is not met, ignore it. It would probably be another dummy like me anyway. ;)

I'll watch for the app you send me.

See above for a start. You have all the tools available for that.

So do you :)

..Then I (horrors...) manually email the
person to explain where they can find helpful files (nodelist, file
echos, backbone.na, etc. etc.).

Just send them instructions for all that in a standard pre-written email.

As I just said above your text, that is what happens.. Did you read that paragraph? :)

The existing form is certainly better than nothing, but now someone is
wasting their time looking at this garbage. And, it would be far
better if that was rejected in the first place.

bleh...

Glad I could help! ;) Love ya.

Much ado about nothing ? :)

Take care,
Janis

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-4
* Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38)

Hello Janis,

You didn't upset me August :) I just figured you would know who created that form.

*After* I posted the original message, the "filegate" part looked familiar. Then, I realized the form was indeed a subpage of your site. The page/form was

a good idea.

Well, you are the first to say that it is confusing. I think most people just fill it in and don't wonder so much ? When their RCs get a copy, they aren't confused either. :)

A legit submission by a consciencious applicant would mostly likely be "complete" and all the fields would mostly likely have *something* so that the confusing "N/A" wouldn't even be a thought. But I was the rogue, the tyrant, the nefarious nuiscance demonstrating that I can send crap and fake information

- and waste your time. ;)

If was scoping out the status of Fidonet around 2010 and stumbled on your form,

I would have probably sent you a few suggestions then. <g>

My concern was that I was allowed to fill in
weird info and you have to waste time.

Doesn't happen.

Huh? Ok. Whatever. I think there is something lost in this exchange.

..You have all the tools available for that.

So do you :)

Yes. I get that. I can send in proper and honest info according to the instructions. But the form allows garbage too.

Just send them instructions for all that in a standard pre-written email.

As I just said above your text, that is what happens.. Did you read that paragraph? :)

Of course I did. I thought that you meant constomized email for each applicant

each and every time. If it's just a pre-written form-letter reply, very good!

Much ado about nothing ? :)

Be careful when quoting Shakespear: https://www.zmescience.com/science/why-shakespeares-much-ado-about-nothing-is-a-brilliant-sneaky-innuendo/


Anyway, I thought you would be excited about improving "the form". Nevermind.

Stay in the past. lol


../|ug

--- WinPoint Beta 5 (359.1)
* Origin: Reluctantly Revisiting Fidonet (2:221/1.58)