• What is this Message Board for?
• What is this Test Post Board for?
• Can I use html tags anywhere in my posts?
• Can I delete my message once it is posted?
• Where did my post go?
• How do I include a "Paradox OPAL Code Example" in my message?
• New Messages are at the end?
• What is the "Optional Link URL" field?
• What is the "Link Title" field?
• What is the "Optional Image URL" field?
• How do I find information?
• Search by "Words".
• Search by "Author".
• Search by "Subject".
• Search by "OPAL Example".   Powerful!
• Search by "Date Range".   Powerful!

 

What is this Message Board for? This message board is designed to help spread the "good news" about the awesome power and ease of use that Paradox (the application) and Object Paradox Application Language (OPAL) offers todays programmers. This message board provides the capability to share OPAL code snippets, in its native format, and also provides a forum for open discussions on the OPAL code provided. In addition, users may link (from within their messages) to files stored on other servers for sharing and downloading. All information contained on this message board is public.  By providing samples of code or links to files in this public forum, you are guaranteeing that the code and the files are not covered by any copyright or patent laws that would make it unlawful to post the code sample or provide access to the files in a public forum and you are also agreeing that the code you provide or any files you link to are free to use by anyone and for any purpose. By using this message board, you also agree to hold Automated Retail Systems and its owners, harmless from any claim or damage, be it real or imagined. Automated Retail Systems and its owners retain the rights and privilege to edit, delete or delete entirely, any content on this message board at any time, without prior notice or recourse. Enjoy! Rodney Wise     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

What is this Test Post Board for? If you plan to post an OPAL code sample, you will find it easier to post it first on the "Test Post Board". The results of the OPAL formatting translation are not apparent until after you have posted your message.  If there were TABs in your code, the formatting may not be what you expected.  At this point, it is too late to change your post.  By pre-posting your code on the "Test Post Board" (especially if it is being pasted directly from Paradox), you can see the final results before you commit your post on the Message board. The "Test Post Board" will only hold 15 post.  After it receives 15 post, it will start overwriting previous post, starting with the first post.  In this way, your test post will not be hanging around forever. Use the "Test Post Board" as much as you like.  It is better to get it correct, then to have to look at a mistake for time eternal. :)     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

Can I use html tags anywhere in my posts? Yes. You can use HTML tags within your message.  However, they will not Hypertext to anywhere and they will not effect your text formatting (Bold, Italic, etc.). If you wish to include a Link to another site, or provide a file for downloading, use the optional  "URL Link field"  to link to the other site or to your file. ( the web site or file must be located on a server accessable through the Internet )  If you use the optional "URL Link" field, then you must also include a description of that link in the "Link Title field". Example: If the link is to a page,  then use a description such as:  "Go to PageName". If the link is to a file,  then use a description such as:  "Download FileName". A button will appear centered below your message text and will contain the caption you've entered in the "Link Title" field. One URL link per message.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

Can I delete my message once it is posted? No. You can not delete your message once it is posted. If you wish to have your message removed, email your request to  support .   Make sure to include the messages "Subject"   and "Time/Date"   stamp to insure the correct message can be deleted by our staff.  Allow a few days before the message is deleted.  Do NOT post a Followup to any message you want deleted because the "thread" will be destroyed when the message is deleted.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

Where did my post go? Automated Retail Systems reserves the right to edit and/or delete any message. Messages may be edited or deleted because of any of the following: Unacceptable language. Content not relevant. Inaccuracies. Original posters request. Redundant content. Outdated content. Just because. This "Support board" is not intended for typical "Chat" type messaging. Messages that are perceived to be not suitable for "Reference" purposes, will be either edited or deleted.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

How do I include a "Paradox OPAL Code Example" in my message? This message board uses POC© **  technology to give it the unique ability to translate your "Paradox® OPAL Code" into an HTML format similar to what you may be familiar seeing in your Paradox® editor. (depending on your configuration settings).  By following the steps listed below, you can easily insert OPAL code into your posted messages. Type your message as usual. When you are ready to insert your OPAL code example, start a new line by pressing <ENTER>. On the new line, type <--Start_Opal Now you can either "Type" or "Paste" your OPAL code example. When you've completed your OPAL code example, press <ENTER> to begin a new line. On that new line, type <--End_Opal Press <ENTER> again so you are on a new line. If you want, you can continue on with your regular message. You can enter as many OPAL examples as you want in a single message. The results will not be visible until AFTER you've posted your message. NOTE: Because <TAB> settings can be set to 3 spaces, 4 spaces, 6 spaces, or what ever... the POC© **  does NOT Recognize <TAB> key spaces.  If you used Tabs in your OPAL code, the final result will not line up as you might expect.  For the best results, delete ALL TAB's and replace them with spaces. ** POC  © (PERL OPAL CONVERTER) is copyrighted technology by Rodney Wise.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

New Messages are at the end? New messages are added to the end of the board.  So the oldest message is always first. This may not be what you are commonly used to seeing on other message boards, but following the logic that a "Followup" thread message always falls after its parent, I thought it was important to maintain this same logic with the primary root messages also.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

What is the "Optional Link URL" field? If you see an "Optional Link URL" field on the form that you use to post a message, then you have the capability to include a Link, within your message, to another Web Site or to a File that is available over the Internet. If you wish to Link to another Web Site, or to provide a file for downloading, the file must be located on a server accessable through the Internet.   In addition, if you use the optional "URL Link" field, then you must also include a description of that link in the "Link Title field". Example for the "Link Title" field: If the link is to a page,  then use a description such as:  "Go to PageName". If the link is to a file,  then use a description such as:  "Download FileName". A button will appear centered below your message text (after you post your message) and will contain the descriptive text you've entered in the "Link Title" field as its caption. One URL link per message.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

What is the "Link Title" field? If you see an "Optional Link URL" field on the form that you use to post a message, then you will also see the "Link Title" field. The "Link Title field" provides a description of the URL Link entered in the "Optional Link URL" field and is required to be completed if you enter any URL Link information into the "Optional Link URL" field.  If you leave the "Optional Link URL" field blank, then nothing is required of this field. Example for the "Link Title" field: If the link is to a page,  then use a description such as:  "Go to PageName". If the link is to a file,  then use a description such as:  "Download FileName". A button will appear centered below your message text (after you post your message) and will contain the descriptive text you've entered in the "Link Title" field as its caption. One URL link per message.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

What is the "Optional Image URL" field? If you see an "Optional Image URL" field on the form that you use to post a message, then you have the capability to include an image with your message.   The image will appear centered above your message text. Allowable image formats are: *.JPG, *.JPEG and *.GIF. The image URL must be accessable though the Internet. One Image per message.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

How do I find information? This message board has a powerful search engine that can find just about anything you need.   On the "Main Page" of the message board, near the top, is a link named [Search].   Click on it to go to the Search options. You can search by "Words" or by "Date Range". You can NOT search using both.   If you try to use a combination of both "Words" and a "Date Range" in your search, the "Date Range" will be used by itself and the "Words" will be ignored. Use spaces between Words. Do NOT use comma's,  quote's,  +  or  -  signs.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

Search by "Words". On the "Main Page" of the message board, near the top, is a link named [Search].   Click on it to go to the Search options. You can search for a Single Word or Multiple Words by entering the Word(s) into the field named "Search for Text". Use spaces between Words. Do NOT use comma's,  quote's,  +  or  -  signs. Setting the "Boolean switch" to "ALL Words", will locate only messages containing ALL of the Words you've listed. Setting the "Boolean switch" to "Any Word", will locate messages containing any one or more of the Words you've listed. Setting the "Case switch" to "Insensitive" or "Sensitive" will further expand or limit your search. You can NOT use a combined Word and Date Range Search.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

Search by "Author". On the "Main Page" of the message board, near the top, is a link named [Search].   Click on it to go to the Search options. To search for any post by a particular "Author": Select the "Posted by" option. Enter the Authors name into the "Search for Text" field. (Make sure to leave one space after the word "By") Set the Boolean switch to "All Words". Press the "Search" Button. Your result may include messages NOT posted by the Author because the Authors name may appear in other post (as a followup author, for example). You can NOT use a combined Word and Date Range Search.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

Search by "Subject". On the "Main Page" of the message board, near the top, is a link named [Search].   Click on it to go to the Search options. To search for any post by a particular "Subject": Select the "Subject" option. Enter a Subject topic into the "Search for Text" field. (Make sure to leave one space after the word "Subject:") Set the Boolean switch to "All Words". Press the "Search" Button. You can NOT use a combined Word and Date Range Search.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

Search by "OPAL Example". On the "Main Page" of the message board, near the top, is a link named [Search].   Click on it to go to the Search options. To search only for messages that contain an OPAL example of a particular nature: Select the "OPAL code Example" option. Enter an OPAL word into the "Search for Text" field. (Make sure to leave one space after the word "EXAMPLE") Set the Boolean switch to "All Words". Press the "Search" Button. This is a very powerful feature. For instance, if you press the "OPAL code Example" option, then enter the KeyWord Filesystem, only messages containing an OPAL example using the OPAL KeyWord "FileSystem", will be located.  This can quickly show you working examples and Demo's of specific OPAL custom methods, etc. You can NOT use a combined Word and Date Range Search.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.

 

Search by "Date Range". On the "Main Page" of the message board, near the top, is a link named [Search].   Click on it to go to the Search options. To search for messages that fall within a date range: Click on the "Calendar Icon" located to the right of the "Messages from:" field and select a beginning date from the pop-up calendar. Do not try to manually enter a date into the field because the query requires a specific date format. Click on the "Calendar Icon" located to the right of the "Messages to:" field and select an ending date from the pop-up calendar. Do not try to manually enter a date into the field because the query requires a specific date format. Press the "Search" Button. This is a very powerful feature.  By selecting a date range, you can quickly view only new massages for a given time period. You can NOT use a combined Word and Date Range Search.     Copyright © 2003 Automated Retail Systems. All Rights Reserved.    All Content is Public. By posting a message here, you agree to make your information public and free to use.