Hi, Appearently not many wants a second MapInfo-L, and I can only agree. The idea of adding a prefix to the subject could be a solution and it could be extended to cover more than just MapInfo (MI) and MapBasic (MB). For instance MapX (MX), MapXtreme (MXT) Routing J Server (RJS) and SpatialWare (SPW). But this is up to each person asking the question to remember to add this prefix. And another problem with this is that a not MapBasic question might result in a MapBasic solution using the MapBasic window, so the distinction isn't always that clear.
Now let us get back to the problem. How do we tell the users of MapInfo-L that the list/server is broken ? We can't for obviuos reasons use the list. And I guess if the list servers are down the is a huge risk that the DirectionsMag servers also are down. Otherwise DirectionsMag could put a message on their website. Another solution could be that we ask MapInfo Corp. to put a short message on their site. Or we could create a dedicated site like www.mapinfo-l.com, that could show the status of the list. This site sould also be used for other usefull information. But I don't see this as a replacement for the list. Moving the list to a web site is not an option as I see it Just my 5 øre Peter Horsbøll Møller GIS Developer, MTM Geographical Information & IT COWI A/S Odensevej 95 DK-5260 Odense S. Denmark Tel +45 6311 4900 Direct +45 6311 4908 Mob +45 5156 1045 Fax +45 6311 4949 E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cowi.dk/gis COWI har fået ny hjemmeside. Ydelserne GIS og IT, kort, kortlægning, 3D visualisering og arealforvaltning ligger under SAMFUND. Se mere her : www.cowi.dk COWI has changed its homepage. Our services within cadastre and landadministration, geodataproducts, mapping and GIS can be seen under SOCIETY. See our services here: www.cowi.com -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bill Thoen Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2005 3:41 PM To: MapInfo-L Subject: [Mapinfo-l] MapInfo-L Blackout Here's what happened. Over the last weekend, Directions Magazine upgraded their servers and switched from a Microsoft OS to Linux. Differences in the systems caused some things not to transfer smoothly, so the mailing lists went dark for a while. Did you miss it? ;-) Anyway, we need to get a plan together for what to do when the next meltdown comes. The biggest problem is that when a list winks out suddenly, nobody can connect with anyone else to find out what's happened. Or as many of you did, you contact me. Not that I mind answering mail, but I'd rather there was some sort of news source you could check for this sort of thing. Perhaps if we set up a distributed, mirrored web page that carries current news, status, resources, etc. for the list then we'd have a way to get the word out when needed. Another thing we should think about is redundancy. Right now there is only one host for MapInfo-L, and that's Directions Magazine. While I think they've generally done a great job, if they have problems, then we have problems. So if there are any list members with the resources and skills to bring online a temporary mail server in times when the primary server has gone south, we ought to explore that option. Or we could set up a second list on a different server with a different focus that would run in parallel with the general MapInfo-L list. Perhaps the second list might focus primarily on programming topics related to MapInfo while the orignal list would retain its user-oriented focus? That way we'd have two lists running so if one fails the other can take up the load temporarily. Hopefully we could also find another one or two poeple to act as moderators too. I, too, could use some backup. I'm not immortal and I do like to take a vacation now and then and forget about MapInfo-L... So if anyone has any interesting ideas or proposals, or if you have opinions about any of these issues, let's kick them around and get some things in place before the next blackout. - Bill Thoen GISnet - www.gisnet.com _______________________________________________ Mapinfo-l mailing list [email protected] http://www.directionsmag.com/mailman/listinfo/mapinfo-l _______________________________________________ Mapinfo-l mailing list [email protected] http://www.directionsmag.com/mailman/listinfo/mapinfo-l
