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Everything posted by DemonGoddess
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okay. there is no easy way to do this. The quickest way would be to reupload the whole thing to originals, and I can earmark this for move, and then merge once we get to that subdomain. So, you would still have your old reviews, rates, and hits, it'll just be awhile.
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Actually, I do believe there is already a FAQ for this. But if not, I can certainly make one.
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Okay, looked up the user requesting forum help and emailed the user. Deleted all the unstuff
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I'll finish putting the mods back in order and fixing the skins after I get my new glasses (on order now). Not safe for me to mod or anything like that when I can barely see words.
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yes it gets backed up nightly, as part of the hosting package. BUT, what I'm talking about is potentially corrupting the tables themselves and really screwing it up, and not CATCHING it right away. That can easily happen when you're talking about transferring data around within tables. And, if that happens, and it's caught after the backup is replaced, it's replaced with bad data. A good example of that is this latest forum upgrade you know. I didn't find the cause of the problem (corrupted skins) until AFTER that 24 period was up. Restoring the old skin files would simply make things worse, so redoing the skins themselves is the only thing I can do about it. Would have to have been done in any case. However, before doing something like that, I'm in the habit of making sure I have all data available locally anyway, as is manta2g. So that we have a set to go back to. But, in that sort of for instance, then anything it's restored to, (say we didn't catch it for a week), that entire week's worth of data is gone. Yes, we do indeed plan on testing software very thoroughly before unleashing it upon the archive at all. The idea is to have a rather seamless transition, with very little down time. Actually, this site is set up with a series of sub domains. So what happens is that a copy of the program is installed to each and every sub domain, with a central point of some scripts being only at the root domain itself. There are also a series of tables which govern the archive per subdomain. That's where the difficulties come in, as the tables are identical in set up, and we have to find a way to append it without overwriting what someone else may be adding while we work. So that means we look for blank blocks in the record structure. The split, or divide as it was referred to at the time, was done because the OS (LinuxBSD) did not allow anything bigger than a 2GB database. So, by doing this (all the sub domains), one could trick the OS into believing the database never exceeded that size, even though it already had. Which was the cause of the large crash 4 years ago. As you know by looking at those old stories, most of the data is horribly corrupted. Hence the clean up project, and earmarking and repairing the stories. And, as to the moving of one subsection entirely, yes, before even doing something like that, I would've posted it in the archive and asked about it, rather than just doing it. It came to mind BECAUSE during the sorting, we (the other gals who help with that and I) noticed that there are quite a few Angel the Series stories uploaded to the Buffy sub domain, and STILL being uploaded to that sub domain. I expect once we get to tv and the Angel section, we'll see a similar pattern. Again, it goes back to certain things that fit certain fandoms and would be unique to their particular sub domains, like the character centric thing here, and categorizing by the ages for LotR. As you can tell, we won't know 'til we actually GET there and take a good look at the data itself. This sub domain is only a couple away from being worked, which is why I'm asking this now, even though much of it cannot be done yet. Even still, for cataloging purposes, it's good to know so we have it recorded for later, and can hopefully come up with something that might possibly work in the interim before the deeper sub leveling can be implemented. At that point, it then becomes a matter of moving sub categories around and the stories in them (for the most part), rather than moving individual stories, which is what happens this time around. Aside from that, there's also the matter of the current search engine which was never designed to handle a database this size. So, certain changes already made (like AU/AR and Crossovers becoming top level categories), simply make it easier on the USER to find things that the search engine will not find for them now. It only returns the first 100 results of any search, so if you search something that has 1000 results, you'll never see it all, unless you manually go THROUGH each and every story wherever they happen to be uploaded/added to.
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The Whole Lists Section is Deleted in Originals
DemonGoddess replied to madlodger's topic in Fiction Archive
Actually, as you know, we already have a Hall of Shame. I see NO reason why not to have a Hall of FAME as well. I think it's a good idea to bring recognition to writers for achievement. You guys work hard at it, ya know? Something we have in the works for the archive itself (field is already in place to do it), is to have a link like the "new stories" link, only it would show stories that have been nominated, and then awarded, for excellence. So, for example, one would click on the menu option for it (I believe it's called Hall of Achievement) and whereas for "new", you see the newest updates, this one would only display, per sub domain, those stories which were ultimately picked as being exceptional stories. Of course right now the link is dead, as this is still very much a work in progress. Back at the ranch here, so why not come up with a definitive structure, as to what should, and should not, be in such a forum, and I'll make it happen. -
Link to topic giving you trouble? It could be that you've set the view for the topic in such a way that it won't show the posts when you look, and the default is to show all the posts when you click a topic. Now, if for whatever reason, you've set your forum default to show "outline" instead of "standard", that will give you the links rather than the posts. So what you do is change the (upper right corner of the topic) display option from outline back to standard. It could also be that I missed a forum when resetting them all from moderator preview for posts and topics after the upgrade. Since I'd set them that way in the first place pre upgrade because of the spam that the forum was getting in the guest posts/topics allowed forums.
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that depends on the coding and what we can do with it, while keeping the database intact. Everything hinges on being able to preserve the old data as well as integrating it into a new software structure. Personally, I find it easier to just go ahead and alpha sort stuff anyway, as far as category names. But that's a "thing" for me. But, what I'm thinking as well, is because we'll have a new very strong search engine in place when this happens, is that the category names will work as search tags as well. I don't particularly care for multiple categories covering the same pair, kind of redundant. Unless, of course, it's because it belongs AU/AR, Crossovers, or something like that. That's a bit different. Then again, we'll see how it all it falls together once we get to that sub domain for sorting in the first place. It's hard to say exactly HOW it'll all come together, until we're actually working there and really looking at all the data that is there, and how it can be made to work, both with current structure, and for future structure. Because that's also part of it, setting up as much as possible before the software is changed, so it's not difficult to then move the stuff around to where it'll ultimately end up. Now, going back to character-centric type stuff, that is the ONE thing that kept coming up when I was asking various writers opinions before I made the initial post. And I can also see that by doing it that way, it'll make it easier to do something about the OFC/OMC pair with canon characters stuff, in such a way so as to not overtax the database and/or cause instability in the database. That's the big thing, you know, keeping the database itself stable. With an unstable database, we have no archive. So, as we work in each area, certain things become apparent when sorting that are going to end up unique to the sub domain we're in, such as character centric in this one in the future. The threesome stuff will remain as it is, I think, and when we get to sorting it, where it's warranted, a specific threesome+ will have it's own sub sub of the threesome subcategory. You can actually get a good idea of much of it, if you look at the buffy sub domain. One of the things we've been looking at there, and very seriously considering, for example, is moving all the Angel fanfiction from the tv sub domain to there, as Angel is a spinoff series. But, until we figure out a way to do it across tables and sub domains without losing or corrupting data, it's going to stay the way it is. Latest updated, or new link shows what's new in the entire subdomain. It has never sorted that list by category or subcategory, but by date and time of update. Whether a new story, or a new chapter. Edits don't count, of course.
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Okay, I've been talking to some people who write in this fandom, for when we have the software written capable of supporting what this subdomain needs, so it can be done in such a way as to not overload the database server. One of the biggest suggestions I've gotten is when we get to that point, where I am no longer restricted to 3 levels of categories, is to make (under pairing type, etc), a category that is character specific. Then, as a sub of THAT sub category, would be the specific pairs. So, for example, where now you have HP>Het>Hermion/Ron, it would be HP>Het>Hermione>Hermione/Ron. And so on. I can't do this now, of course, as the current software simply won't allow it. Thoughts?
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The Whole Lists Section is Deleted in Originals
DemonGoddess replied to madlodger's topic in Fiction Archive
Explain this Hall of Fame thing to me. It sounds like a good idea. We will eventually have one for the archive, (hence the Awards thing still in the works), but what you're talking about is forum related and different, I'm sure. -
The Whole Lists Section is Deleted in Originals
DemonGoddess replied to madlodger's topic in Fiction Archive
Against the rules? D'ya mean cross posting? Cross posting is certainly frowned upon, whether here or the archive. There's absolutely no restriction to posting several posts to your own topic, or any other topic for that matter. Especially as the forum has built in limitations to how many links can be made in one post. I'd have to look it up to be sure, but I believe the limit is 20 links per post, and 5 images per post. That's actually a built in spam protection. The only time I could see me doing something about that (many posts to one topic), is if a user was actually spamming the board, not building a link list. Very different purposes. Glaringly obvious differences too. Now, if I'm understanding right, these lists are sort of a resource, for some of the subdomains, yes? If so, by all means post 'em in the respective resource forums. If, for example, a post doesn't belong in a forum it's been posted to, I move it. I do that all the time. No big deal. Certainly no need that I can see for me or any one else moderating in forum to get irritable over posts like this, or about moving 'em to their proper homes if misplaced. -
The Whole Lists Section is Deleted in Originals
DemonGoddess replied to madlodger's topic in Fiction Archive
The lists sections were listed elsewhere insofar as being taken away from the archive. Lists are not really stories, so would more properly belong in the forum anyway. The advantages to putting the lists here are that any links you have in your list are clickable, for one. Discussion is encouraged, for another. Whereas, in the archive, links are not clickable, we discourage review board discussion at all. Takes up too much space in an already huge database. Once the subcategories are deleted, there's no way to retrieve data that existed within them. -
The Whole Lists Section is Deleted in Originals
DemonGoddess replied to madlodger's topic in Fiction Archive
Oh hell, that was announced months ago with the initial restructure. I just happened to miss this one when I did this throughout the rest of the archive. -
It's actually a feature we are planning to put in the new stuff. While we'd like to port in more things to the current software, we'd rather not make much more in the way of drastic coding changes. That has everything to do with not wanting to crash the software entirely before we have the new stuff in place. Keep the suggestions coming, and what we can write in to the software that's in development, we certainly will. Also, if we don't immediately see a way to do it, that doesn't mean we won't research a way to incorporate a good idea anyway.
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hehe, go to the casino, and click wallet from the menu. Transfer your points (up to 500). I haven't redone this mod, so it may, or may not be working yet. Won't know 'til you try it. The arcade is working, and it's by the same people. So the casino very likely will as well.
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This one not only took someone else's work and passed it off as their own, they tried to pass THEMSELVES off as the author they stole from. Isn't that special? Take a look at the user's AFF profile. He/she created a login using SOMEONE ELSE'S pen name, in order to post that very person's story. Mind you, the original author who was plagiarized, is well known in this fandom as herself, at other archives where she publishes. As one can see by the screen caps, quite obviously as well, this person simply ripped Romaine's work from another site before posting it here. Here's what was changed from the real author's profile... Age of the children, changed from 5 and 10, to 4 and 9 Pets-changed from two dogs and one cat, to two dogs. Other than that, the profile listed by the fake Romaine (the REAL Romaine is romaine24, here and Romaine elsewhere), is verbatim to the real user's profile on her LJ. The work that was stolen was NEVER posted here. It was posted at two archives specific to the fandom. Interestingly enough, this user who wanted to take credit for someone ELSE'S work, has shown minimal activity here. It appears the whole purpose of signing into OUR archive was to plagiarize the author, as the author has never posted here in the first place. Thankfully, we have users who spotted the problem, notified us as to the problem, as well as notifying the author who was plagiarized. She ALSO got in touch with us about this, and provided me with much in the way of screencaps which cut down my work load for this particular problem. For your viewing pleasure-- The original story The plagiarized version Notice there is almost NO change at all. The changes that were made were - the original story says- Other than that, what was uploaded here was a verbatim copy. The fake has been deleted, and is not welcome to return here. EVER.
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Okay, did the first step in dealing with this ...cretin. The fake Romaine has been deleted. I find it interesting that the ONLY activity I could find from this user in the archive anywhere was that he/she simply created a login to upload a story not their own. No reviews of other stories, nothing else. In any case, the offending story and user have been removed, and I have some other things I have to do, and then it's Hall of Shame time for this one. Of course, I'd LOVE to see the real author post her story here as well.
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transfer them to your casino wallet, and play I think it's Slingo Slots. Thing pays out like crazy.
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The very first HoS entry was for a similar incident. I have much to do before I have to flatside it and go back to work, but this will be handled.
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now that's really weird. It should not have zeroed out your points. I randomly checked several different forum members and the utility did what it was supposed to. Oh, the limit on the open points should be gone now.
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You mean the not banked money? I ran a utility to match posts to open money, after modding the store back in. I don't do that very often, but it DOES need to be done occasionally
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IPB BattlePro is ported back in IPB Store is ported back in
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Sorry, but this has slowed down to a crawl lately. There are several reasons for that. First, is the need for active moderation of the archive itself, and getting that going again. That's a higher priority. Second, is the fact that of the volunteers I have for this, I have one with computer problems, one who is overloaded with schoolwork, and another who is overloaded with work and rl stuff. So, that leaves me and one other actively doing this at the moment. Last, but certainly not least, I'm having to fix what the upgrade messed up in the forum. As I work full time, this means that the major mods that don't work, I can only work on repairing on my off days. As well as my own chores at home, and other real life commitments I have. ugh. As I also have many other things on my plate at present, that means I cannot focus strictly on this, much as I would like to. However, doesn't mean I've been ignoring it, just means we're going slow. So, we're still in Buffy, but the finalization of sort for AU and Crossovers is complete with some changes which will apply in all the other single fandom subdomains as well. Hopefully, these changes will help people to find things easier, and compensate for the search engine. Which, as has been mentioned before, is simply not capable of handling a database of this size. It was never intended to. So, what that means, is that I try for more visual ways and means. In AU, the changes are as follows: It is now a top level category It now has as 2nd level categories, pair types Where, in the pair type second level categories, we have pair specific categories, the same rules apply here. A pair with 10 or more stories gets its own 3rd level category. Link to Buffy AU Click around, you'll see what has been done to date. Also, as we finalize the sort elsewhere in this subdomain, I expect the amount of 3rd level categories to grow. Changes in Crossovers It is now a top level category As 2nd level categories, it has pair types, as well as crossover worlds (5 or more stories written with that crossover). In some of the more heavily populated subdomains, I'm expecting I may have to go with two Crossover top level categories. I'm not sure yet, will know when we get there and see what's there, exactly. Third level categories are set up by pair type, in the world sub category where there are 75 or more stories, just as with the multi fandom subdomains. Link to Buffy Crossovers Just as with AU, as we continue to finalize the rest of the subdomain, I expect the number of 2nd level world categories to grow. Currently, only the Angel 2nd level category has enough to qualify for the 3rd level categories. That could change, depending upon what else we find in the sort and catalog. You'll notice there's a second level category called "General-misc". That would be stories where there is no pair type stuff, and stories that I flat out didn't know what to do with them, as the content did not allow me to determine where they belonged, exactly. In any event, this will hopefully make it easier to find things.