Indicate latest beta version number?

[sklain]

As a nice little added convenience, on the home page, where you show the link to the "latest BETA version" would it be possible to also indicate the specific version number? That would eliminate folks possibly downloading and installing the same version that's they're already running. Or am I missing something?

[admin]

As a nice little added convenience, on the home page, where you show the link to the "latest BETA version" would it be possible to also indicate the specific version number? That would eliminate folks possibly downloading and installing the same version that's they're already running. Or am I missing something?

Too much work. I would rather like to link to the last post in the "Future history of TrackerV3 and BETA version" thread. But I never found a way to do that with phpBB.... help me!

[sklain]

Two suggestions:

Suggestion #1: Clicking on the "here" link to download the latest beta version takes the user to the message you posted back on March 5, 2005, which, contains a link calling up the beta download dialog. What if every time you posted a new beta you also edited that old message to ensure it has the current date? (I suspect clicking on "Edit" and then "Submit" without even making any changes would be enough to insert the current date.)

Suggestion #2: If you added the version number as part of the name of the Zip archive that's to be downloaded, the Download dialogue that comes up after clicking on the link in the above-mentioned forum message would display the version number, so the user would know to either continue downloading a new beta or abort the download of an already installed version.

[admin]

#1: extra work I want to avoid
#2: will clutter up my web space with obsolete versions

[sklain]

#2: will clutter up my web space with obsolete versions

With suggestion #2, when you create a new Zip archive that has the new version number as part of its name, wouldn't you automatically delete the previous Zip archive containing the obsolete beta? So where's the clutter?

[admin]

#2: will clutter up my web space with obsolete versions

With suggestion #2, when you create a new Zip archive that has the new version number as part of its name, wouldn't you automatically delete the previous Zip archive containing the obsolete beta? So where's the clutter?

If I delete the previous Zip archive then I leave a dead link in the forum, which I don't want to.

[jacky]

probably can't be done in phpBB, but you can add it:

Code: Select all

--- OPEN ---
viewtopic.php
--- FIND ---
	if ( $HTTP_GET_VARS['view'] == 'newest' )
--- REPLACE WITH ---
	if ( $HTTP_GET_VARS['view'] == 'lastpost' )
	{
		
		$sql = "SELECT topic_last_post_id FROM " . TOPICS_TABLE . " WHERE topic_id = $topic_id";
		if ( !($result = $db->sql_query($sql)) )
		{
			message_die(GENERAL_ERROR, 'Could not obtain last post id for topic', '', __LINE__, __FILE__, $sql);
		}
		if ($row = $db->sql_fetchrow($result))
		{
			$post_id = $row['topic_last_post_id'];
			redirect(append_sid("viewtopic.$phpEx?" . POST_POST_URL . "=$post_id#$post_id", true));
		}
	}
	else if ( $HTTP_GET_VARS['view'] == 'newest' )

then using a link like "forum/viewtopic.php?t=123&view=lastpost" it should always open the last post in that topic

[admin]

Works great, thanx!

[sklain]

This is great, boy are you fast!

Now, how about the following additional refinement: Why not take the user who clicks on the "Latest BETA version" link on your home page directly to the "Future history of Tracker V3 and BETA version" forum message, which provides the version number and has the Download link as well? The "BETA version" forum message, which evidentially also gets to the same place but by a roundabout way, is now superfluous, isn't it? (Although you might want to keep it for folks who are just browsing through the forum and don't use the home page link.)

[admin]

... The "BETA version" forum message, which evidentially also gets to the same place but by a roundabout way, is now superfluous, isn't it?

I think it's okay because it provides the small text about how to install. And also: sometimes the last post is not my recent upload but some user comment, in which case it will be confusing to link there directly.
However, that the link opens a new browser window is not very nice...

Please answer this post:
http://www.trackerv3.com/forum/viewtopi ... =2831#2831

[Gandolf]

...that the link opens a new browser window is not very nice...

I think it's extremely nasty to open a new browser window.

The "BETA version" forum message, ... is now superfluous, isn't it? (Although you might want to keep it for folks who are just browsing through the forum and don't use the home page link.)

I want to go via the forum because I can then follow the history of any changes / additions and why they have been made. Besides I want to know what is in the latest beta because there may be :
1. A bug fix to something that I reported, in which case I want to confirm that it has been cured on my system (and thank Donald appropriately).
2. An update that I want to check because I'm interested in it.
3. Nothing that interests me so I may not update to that beta.

I don't want to be linked to downloading something and then finding that I didn't really want the changes.

[admin]

...that the link opens a new browser window is not very nice...

I think it's extremely nasty to open a new browser window.

Yes. But phpBB does not allow me other.

I don't want to be linked to downloading something and then finding that I didn't really want the changes.

So you mean to say that the home page BETA link should lead directly to the last BETA post?

[Gandolf]

So you mean to say that the home page BETA link should lead directly to the last BETA post?

If by the last BETA post you mean the post that gives the version number, date and code - yes. Not the last post in "Future history of TrackerV3 and BETA version" because that may well be replies by users or by yourself. I don't know if you would want to have a "BETA versions" only page and any replies / comments on another page - I think that would make it more complicated.

[admin]

Agreed. There's no perfect way unless I double my manual work on every upload, which I won't. Other sites who upload a new BETA only every week or or even more rarely can easily update other places on the website, too.
I rather think the BETA should be reserved for forum users, so I should simply take the link off the home page. But on the other side, it does not harm there. So what the heck, I just leave it as it is. It's really not that important.