long discussions

BrummieJim · l33t Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 683

Hi,
It would be excellent if very long threads could be dumped to a file, rather than have to click though 21 individual pages, for example, on the XGL problems as of today. This could then be read on-line or dumped to a printer, which would be very useful if you were unable to connect to the internet. I think it might also encourage people to read all the way through them, without starting a new thread. Alternatively, there could be a option on how many comments per page are displayed. <just thought, this might already exist!, eek!>

I appreciate the limiting factor might be phpBB though.

Maedhros · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:01 am Post subject:

This would need to be done very carefully, or the database load from people viewing long threads could overwhelm the forums. It's definitely a reasonable request though, and one we have heard occasionally before, so I'll have a think about how we could implement it.

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beatryder · Veteran Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 1138

why not just dump them to a static html file... since people should not be posting in them any how, lock the thread, and add a link to the static html...
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smiffy · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:14 am Post subject:

Static means cacheable - could ease load on the forum servers, once they get out to proxies the world over...
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beatryder · Veteran Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 1138

BrummieJim · l33t Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 683

Thank you for the positive repsonses. I forgot to mention one other reason. If you search the forum for a relatively rare term, it often turns up in these large threads. Static HTML would be fantastic as it would mean you could search once rather than once per page, much more efficient.

Cheers and I wish you luck if you decide to do it. I'd offer to help, but my tech skills aren't really up to it. Also phd to write up, I'm scared.

smiffy · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:07 am Post subject:

Would it be fair to say that what is required is a way to dump a phpBB thread to an HTML file?

I could knock up a tool for that without too much effort, it that would help. Sysadmins - just say and I will see if I can make it so...
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Matthew Smith

Maedhros · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:23 am Post subject:

tomk · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:07 pm Post subject:

smiffy · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:36 pm Post subject:

After a couple of PMs with the eldest son of Fëanor*, I will be drawing up a specification for a "long thread dump" facility for phpBB - details will be posted on this thread for comments.

* Maedhros, for those who have not read Tolkein's "Silmarillion".
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Matthew Smith