Re: FAQs: What to do?

.----- On Fri, 26 Mar 1999 13:41:36 GMT, Martin Atkins posted:
\
 > I'm sure we all know what's in this by now, so SNIP
/
'--------------------

OK, this is a summary of what's going on ATM...

Matthew has nominated myself to produce what he dubbed the 'ASCIIArt
Documents Archive', which I am currently working on. This has raised a few
more arguements.

VK is against all of the FAQ mirrors being identical, as are a few others
who want to use their own colours and in some cases logos/navbars on the
site.
Since these people feel so strongy about this, and refuse to be on the
mirror list if they can't add their stuff to the pages, I have made
allowances in my HTML for the addition of navbars, logos, colours etc. I
hope that this will bring back the people turned away by the fact that all
mirrors had to be identical.

Donovan is argueing that the FAQ documents have got good placement in search
engines. I tried an altavista search for 'alt.ascii-art faq' and found three
instances of the main faq on the first results page, so I can understand
where he is coming from.
I have therefore been humming over this for a while, and have come up with
this...
People who want to host mirrors of the ADA can do so, and this will require
hosting of all of the documents (which ones will be included are still up
for discussion). These sites will be listed on the Mirrors page.
People like Donovan who want to just keep a copy of the main FAQ itself, not
the other documents, and would like to keep the URL/filename they already
have, will go on a different list. I'm not quite sure how to handle this
yet, but it will probably we quite a complex feat since everyone has
different selections of documents on different filenames... I don't know if
I'm willing to go hunting for FAQ documents on peoples websites so I will
have to go on volunteered info, unless someone else is willing to go on a
FAQ hunt.

As for the main FAQ, Donovan wants it to include everything from all of the
documents and possibly end up being one huge monster of a document... while
Matthew Thomas (are you still here?) has begun doing exactly the opposite
and shifting the majority of the content into separate files. This is not a
matter for me (thank goodness) as it is Matthew's FAQ, but I include it here
because it is relevant.
When thinking of size we not only must think of usability, but also of the
fact that all of us regulars will have to download the FAQ every week (or
whenever it is posted, anyway) and if it is monster this download time will
get annoying.
If it is all in one file, Donovan argues, it will be easier for someone to
print out for later perusal. I have no comment on this matter, as I am
really unsure of what needs to be done. This is one for Matthew, I think.

With regards to the ADA, there is no longer a requirement that you keep the
style of the site and you can add whatever code you like to the top and
bottom of the pages. The ADA will come bare with a default .css file which
can either be ditched or changed to suit the style requirements of the
host(ess).

Ilmari is currently sorting out a request system where you can email a
request at an email address with a code in the subject line and have a FAQ
document sent to you in reply. I will have to talk to Ilmari about this, and
work out exactly what it will do and how the emailing of the Mirrors will be
done. I have a system in place where I can automatically email a message to
everyone in my hosts database (the same database that generates the mirrors
list), which currently includes Ilmari (do you still want to be in it?) and
so can you put the FAQ files included in the mirror mailout in place for
your replier thingy when I send them, or would it be better for you to do
all the mailing and me to just "write the damn thing!"

There has been no disagreement to the posting of the main FAQ only, once a
week -- therefore that is how it shall be.

Let's see if we can find a compromise to all of these arguements in the next
few days, or maybe weeks!

Kind regards,
-Martin.
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