|
|
This thread is almost like CCC:
The - article
s**t - expletive
happens - verb
Mircea
|
|
|
|
|
Part of me is thinking this is a wind-up, right? I mean; power goes off, computer dies; and with the last few spare electrons the dedicated "XML File Writer" chip is enabled and the special write-only head on the slowing diskdrive momentarily lights up to zap the file to all zeros. Or wait, does it convert them to spaces? Or re-write the entire file removing the data between the XML tags? But surely it also needs to adjust the sectors after the end-of-file, or maybe even move the file elsewhere, which means updating the FAT, which means knowing where it is... Man, that chip has some pretty intense logic hard-wired into it.
But seriously; a power failure causing a specific type of file to have a specific type of corruption written to it?
However, having read that SO issue, it does begin to sound like there is some logic to it. All I can say is that in 25 years of using Windows, with a fair number of power failures and OpSys crashes along the way, I'm not aware of such a situation arising, ever. That's not to say it hasn't; maybe the software has corrected itself or maybe I've never needed to access affected files. That XML configuration files are frequently the victims, though, suggests to me that there is something in the CLR that is inappropriately readying the XML file for a write FAR too soon. This smacks of just really poor design within the MS subsystem, or an actual bug. This doesn't surprise me.
Thank for highlighting it here!
|
|
|
|
|
It might also have to do with the complicated way the settings are written by several applications to the same config file. We use Mutexes to prevent applications accessing this file at the same time.
In the past the applications just wrote to their own config file, but it was decided that everything should be written to the same file ... 
|
|
|
|
|
See my reply to dandy72, above.
Phil
The opinions expressed in this post are not necessarily those of the author, especially if you find them impolite, inaccurate or inflammatory.
|
|
|
|
|
Years ago, I ran into something similar with compiles. I eventually tracked it down to "endpoint" software which would "see" a change and try to back up files that would stop them from being written correctly.
|
|
|
|
|
Rivers of Nihil - The Silent Life[^]
This week's SOTW is from Rivers of Nihil, who are releasing their new album, The Work, next week (out on the 24th!).
Funny thing, some years ago, YouTube recommended me some of their songs and I listened to them and for some reason I filed it under "soft rock" (and so never listened to it again).
Then two weeks ago, I read an interview with them and they said they play modern death metal with various influences.
So I decided to give it another listen and you can say a lot about Rivers of Nihil, but not that they are soft 
I really don't know why I made that conclusion all that time ago.
Anyway, looking forward to their upcoming album now.
Also gave their previous album, Where Owls Know my Name, a listen and it's very much worth it!
And as such, this week's SOTW is from that album.
There's a nice twist at 3:20 
|
|
|
|
|
I listened to this one all the way through. While I'm not a fan of the growling (pretty much indecipherable) vocals, I understand it to be a hallmark of death/black metal. The musicianship is very good, especially the double-bass. Indeed, that is a nice twist in the middle...my favorite part.
BTW, thank you for your weekly picks. It's something I look forward to every Friday! 
Also, since I believe it's a shame not to share good music (subjective) I thought I'd share what I think is one of the best metal concept albums (cover to cover) ever released.
Symphony X - V:The New Mythology Suite - Bing video[^]
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
"Hope is contagious"
|
|
|
|
|
Good, their music is quite complex and there are engaging moments, but it's not my cup of tea ... In the past they could create heavier moods I think, for instance The Walls of Babylon - YouTube
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A good one ... best part starts at 1:15, I nearly started jumping around ...
But, I have still work to do ... Cheers,
|
|
|
|
|
Nice one.
There used to be a local punk band here named the Cenobites.
I may or may not have seen them back in my day and I may or may not know these guys who may or may not went to my school
Anyway, thought of them: CENOBITES - Murderer's fate[^]
I like your Cenobyte A LOT better though
|
|
|
|
|
Nice ... there is indeed a nice style transition around 3:20 and, later on, a great DM part around 4:30 with really good vocals there. I didn't pay attention to Rivers of Nihil either, thus .. note taken . And, in spite of very busy days on my side, I lately rediscovered Fear Factory ... wonderful stuff 540,000 Degrees Fahrenheit - YouTube. Checking their latest album as we speak ...
|
|
|
|
|
Funny you should post a song from this album...
Transgression is the album where I stopped listening to them.
Loved Archetype, the album before Transgression, and Demanufacture and Digimortal are straight up metal classics.
Their latest album, Aggression Continuum, is probably their best since Archetype (and maybe even better).
So those are my Fear Factory recommendations 
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings Kind Regards "...looking forward to their next album..." Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman Below is my Revenge of the Week I enjoyed the "un-twist" at 3m Thank You Kindly - Cheerio
11 Composers Enchanted by Space | WQXR Editorial | WQXR[^]
"I once put instant coffee into the microwave and went back in time." - Steven Wright
"Shut up and calculate" - apparently N. David Mermin possibly Richard Feynman
My sympathies to the SPAM moderator
|
|
|
|
|
I'm surprised Holst isn't at #1 
|
|
|
|
|
We have this large HMI application that splits into 3 distinct softwares. One is an editor which user uses to define the plant and other stuff related to it. Pretty big software!
We have pollshed it through the years and I'm sure we have little to zero bugs.
In it, users are informed about their input mistakes by message boxes and it's pretty common that a client calls and complains about the bugs the software has. When we ask them to whatsapp us an image of the bug they usally send an image of a messagebox. They don't event try reading the message it shows. Their first assumption is always is every messagebox shows a bug!
This has lead me to think about different way of showing user erros/mistakes.
Behzad
|
|
|
|
|
Whenever you post a dialog you should post all the needed information in the application's logs. You can then get them just to send you the logs which should contain all the information you need.
|
|
|
|
|
This, but even better: if you are showing an error dialog, include a button that will email the log to the development team.
I've still received mails with a screenshot of the error dialog where they did not bother clicking the "Send report" button 
It's quicker and simpler to click the button, it helps the devs get the full log and analyze the issue... but no, they would rather take a screenshot that has next to zero information, put it in an email and manually send it 
Cheers,
Vikram.
|
|
|
|
|
I think the replies you got to your question show what the problem is. Me, I read your question as being about message boxes generated by user error, not program bugs. The previous replies give you ideas how to improve your bug reporting!
So the issue is that people don't read carefully or undertstand different things from what they read. Being a cynic, I don't think you can change human nature and you'll just have to live with it. Budget accordingly for customer support and include that cost in your product cost or support plan.
Mircea
|
|
|
|
|
Can you clearly explain to your users why they're getting those messages boxes? Do they understand the explanation? If so, why do they keep coming back?
If it's because they're simply not reading the messages, then eventually they'll have to realize they're wasting everybody's time, most importantly their own, when they become aware the same things are being explained to them over and over again.
And if they're simply not reading the messages, you might think there's no point adding more details or rewording things so they're clearer. But I'm a strong proponent of the "covering your own ass" principle...if the messages are as clear and concise as can be, and all the information is there, then the idea is to make a third-party arbitrator side with you. And it doesn't hurt to ask your users, how would you like it to work under those same circumstances?
Another consideration:
What's the nature of the errors? If users are expected to type in digits, and they type in letters, then you can mitigate that by limiting what can be entered as the user types things in character by character - make sure your form shows the expected format somewhere near the textbox taking the input. Or perhaps present a pick list, if that's an option. The point is, don't allow users to enter invalid values to begin with, so that you can avoid having to look at what was provided and report that the data's no good. (That's not to suggest you can then get rid of validation code by assuming it will always be valid)...
Some forms will display a message, in red, next to a textbox that's in an error state, rather than interrupt the flow with a message box. I'm not convinced your users will complain any less about that however than a message box showing the same content--especially if they're prone to not reading it anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
It amazes me that the longer society uses computers, the dumber and more impatient we (as a society) seem to become...to the point that messageboxes are an annoyance. Why do I need to be bothered to make a decision?...Can't the program just make the decision for me...you know like AI or in the movies?
Seriously though, messasgeboxes and documentation while vastly underappreciated are still necessary evils. I suppose the only thing one can do is regarding messageboxes is to not overuse them to the point that they become an annoyance or just something the user regularly clicks through without reading.
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
"Hope is contagious"
|
|
|
|
|
If it's a (simple) data entry error, these days I usually define a collapsed message line below each input field that shows the error message (in red), for that field, if there is one. (using WPF / UWP)
This way, it's easy to tell which field is in error (without having to border it, for example).
Also avoids having to constantly dismiss message boxes that only have an "OK" button.
Don't know if this is a "different way", or if your messages simply need to be "better".
It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it.
― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food
|
|
|
|
|
Not one bit. People have never read message boxes.
|
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
