NOTE: This message is posted periodically to the MySQL List on behalf
of all members of the MySQL mailing list. Please read it
carefully before posting. This document can be retrieved from:
ftp://ftp.workmate.ca/pub/MySQL/mysql-posting-guidelines.txt
The Short Version:
- Be Polite. Respect others.
- Post a SUMMARY of the answers you get to your questions.
- Trim your reply. Quote only the needed text.
- This is the MySQL list -- stay on topic.
- No SPAM.
The Real Version:
Dear prospective MySQL List poster,
We ask your kind co-operation in making the MySQL list a more valuable,
effective resource for all of us in our community who use it.
Before posting, please stop for a minute and consider whether or not your
posting is suitable for the MySQL List. The list is not intended for just
any possible question related to database software and development. The only
appropriate questions for the MySQL List are questions about the use of the
MySQL database software products that are NOT answered in the manuals or
system documentation, in the mailing list archives, or in the MySQL FAQ.
These are the rules for posting to the MySQL list:
- Remember that busy people are giving freely of their time to help you.
Respect that.
If you want help from the best, don't waste their time. You are expected
to have done your basic homework -- the list is not a place to go because
you 'don't have time' to read the manual. The list is there for when
you've tried your best, made a real effort, and are genuinely stuck.
- You have to repay the favour.
You are required to post a single SUMMARY of the email responses to your
question. The SUMMARY contains the original question, explains the
solution that solved the problem, and names and thanks the folks who
helped you. This solution will then be in the archives, available to
everyone. This increases our community's store of knowledge, and helps to
prevent the same questions from being posted to the list every other day.
- Those who don't post a SUMMARY are likely to find future questions
going unanswered.
- Don't post off-topic questions. Eg. PHP questions not directly related to
MySQL go to the PHP list.
- Replies should usually be directed to the POSTER and not to the list. This
keeps traffic and clutter down.
- When you post a message with a SQL query in it, take the time to make the
query easily readable. It's easier on the people who want to help you, and
you're more likely to get a timely, helpful response.
- Never be rude or talk badly about other people or products.
By avoiding things like this, you are much more likely to get help
when it's your time of need.
In particular, the following kinds of postings are -NOT- appropriate:
- Subscribe and unsubscribe messages.
See your email headers/footers for subscribe and unsubscribe instructions.
- Test messages of any sort.
- *Extended* discussions about anything, including discussions about the
list itself, or numerous followups to any posting.
Concise, polite discussion of MySQL pertinent topics, however, is
encouraged.
- Postings not related to MySQL software or its use.
Use the appropriate newsgroup or mailing list instead. For example, if
your question concerns "sendmail," please consult the comp.mail.sendmail
newsgroup or the www.sendmail.org website.
- General OS, network, or software questions.
Use the appropriate newsgroup, eg. comp.unix.questions instead.
- Postings claiming to be 'URGENT!' when they are not are particularly
inappropriate. They are also dishonest and disrespectful of the other
list members.
If your needs are time critical, you might want to consider having a
commercial support agreement with MySQL AB (http://www.mysql.com/support).
- Questions already answered in the Archives or FAQ.
Read the Archives or FAQ instead. If you're not sure if the question is
in there, please look before asking. You can find the archives at:
http://lists.mysql.com/ or http://archive.workmate.ca/myarchive
and the FAQ at: http://www.bitbybit.dk/mysqlfaq
- Questions that are answered in the excellent on-line manuals or system
documentation.
Read the manuals instead. If you're not sure if the question is answered
in the manuals, please look first!
- Job postings, requests for jobs, sales pitches, etc.
Get permission from the MySQL staff first ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), or use
the appropriate newsgroup instead.
- Please, no postings in HTML, rich-text-format (RTF), Microsoft Word, Word
Perfect, or any format that some people on the list would not be able to
read easily. Also, the business language of MySQL is English, so please
post in English. You're also much less likely to get a response to your
question in other languages. See http://www.mysql.com for information
about discussion lists in other languages.
Please note that we are not saying these postings are necessarily "bad" or
"stupid." They are not. They are merely inappropriate for this list. There
are many other lists and newsgroups for which the question may be completely
appropriate, and we encourage you to submit the posting there.
Note also that there's a good chance your question has been answered in the
past. Please spend a minute or two checking one of the MySQL List archives,
eg. the one at the MySQL site (http://lists.mysql.com/) or at
http://archive.workmate.ca/myarchive.
Here's an example of an appropriate question:
I have a SuperServer X99 running BigLinux 9.8.7 with the fizbozz patch and
the jumbo kernel patch version 158. I'm using MySQL v.52.4.1 After I
installed the MySQL-WonderTable plug-in version 343.2, the machine locks up
every couple of hours. When it locks up, the following message appears on
the console:
zz0: out of futzbufs. WonderTable space is full.
I couldn't find this in the manual, and I need to get this database back
online as soon as possible.
Has anyone encountered this? Please send email and I will summarize to the
list.
When you submit a question, please indicate all relevant information,
including machine type, OS and patches, MySQL version, the table structure,
and the query, if appropriate. Collect email replies, and then summarize
them to the list. If your question was posted with a subject of "foobar",
for example, then please post your summary with a subject of "SUMMARY:
foobar".
Why are we asking that only certain types of postings be submitted to the
list? Very simply, the reason is this:
we want the list to have a very short turnaround time, and the only
reasonable way to do this is to keep it unmoderated. But this means that
every message sent to the list ends up in the mailboxes of all the list
members. To keep all the members of the list from being deluged by
inappropriate messages, we need everyone's co-operation in ensuring that
only appropriate messages are sent to the list.
Please remember, the person reading your message may be your boss, your
future boss, your customer, your seminar instructor, your colleague, or
someone else that you work with today or may find yourself working with
tomorrow. We do not want you to embarrass yourself by sending an
inappropriate or poorly thought-out posting.
Regards,
Robert Alexander
Maintainer of the MySQL Posting Guidelines.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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