Semi OT: WHY so many MISposts to this group?

[REM7600]

Anyone?

Do people not know what Microsoft Access is? I know the group is called
access but Word questions? I guess I could stretch access to mean e-mail if
I were using "really fuzzy" logic...

TR

 

[Van T. Dinh]

Posters often think of it as general computer "access", i.e. for all sort of
things about computer.

 

[Mark M]

Not to mention that it's the first entry listed when you look at the
newsgroups that start with microsoft.public... and people are either too
stupid, too lazy, too "busy", or too intimidated by technology to take an
extra second or two to scroll down the list to find an appropriate
newsgroup.

 

[Guest]

This is a newgroup dedicated to the use of Microsoft
Access, the database prodoct. Please post in your
question in the random ramblings newgroup

 

[John Vinson]

Not to mention that it's the first entry listed when you look at the
newsgroups that start with microsoft.public... and people are either too
stupid, too lazy, too "busy", or too intimidated by technology to take an
extra second or two to scroll down the list to find an appropriate
newsgroup.

I think a great deal of the inappropriate posting is due to the way
Microsoft implemented online help. If you are in an Office2003
application and search the online help (the default), one of the
options is "Get help from other users". This brings up a screen with
only a subject line textbox; entering a subject therein searches the
newsgroups, and then gives the option of posting the question. There's
a dropdown box directly under the subject line with "Access" in it -
nothing else, no explanation, with a "Search Again" and a "Post Your
Message" button.

It's very easy for a user new to the system to ignore the Access in
the dropdown - heck, they got to Help from Word or Outlook or
wherever, and they've never heard of Access - and just click the Post
button.

If you've got an Office2003 program installed, try it. You'll see how
misleading it is. I've got a screenshot if you'ld like to see it
(email me at jvinson <at> wysard of info <dot> com, remove the blanks
and replace the punctuation).

John W. Vinson[MVP]

 

[Nick Coe \(UK\)]

Valid question by TR (REM7600).

You're being obtuse Mr/Ms/Mrs Anonymous, in are you not in
random? Ramblings?

Me, a sense of humour? That's a joke!
--
Nick Coe (UK)
http://www.alphacos.co.uk/
pAnimal - Pedigrees and Breeding - Free 30 day trial
AccHelp - Skeleton Help for Access Apps
http://www.pjandcoe.co.uk TShirts with Bark factor...


In (e-mail address removed) typed:

 

[Pieter Wijnen]

wow, even more junk postings ;-)

Pieter

I think a great deal of the inappropriate posting is due to the way
Microsoft implemented online help. If you are in an Office2003
application and search the online help (the default), one of the
options is "Get help from other users". This brings up a screen with
only a subject line textbox; entering a subject therein searches the
newsgroups, and then gives the option of posting the question. There's
a dropdown box directly under the subject line with "Access" in it -
nothing else, no explanation, with a "Search Again" and a "Post Your
Message" button.

It's very easy for a user new to the system to ignore the Access in
the dropdown - heck, they got to Help from Word or Outlook or
wherever, and they've never heard of Access - and just click the Post
button.

If you've got an Office2003 program installed, try it. You'll see how
misleading it is. I've got a screenshot if you'ld like to see it
(email me at jvinson <at> wysard of info <dot> com, remove the blanks
and replace the punctuation).

John W. Vinson[MVP]

 

[karen]

I think a great deal of the inappropriate posting is due to the way
Microsoft implemented online help. If you are in an Office2003
application and search the online help (the default), one of the
options is "Get help from other users". This brings up a screen with
only a subject line textbox; entering a subject therein searches the
newsgroups, and then gives the option of posting the question. There's
a dropdown box directly under the subject line with "Access" in it -
nothing else, no explanation, with a "Search Again" and a "Post Your
Message" button.

It's very easy for a user new to the system to ignore the Access in
the dropdown - heck, they got to Help from Word or Outlook or
wherever, and they've never heard of Access - and just click the Post
button.

Is there any way for them to easily figure out how to see responses to their
posts? It doesn't sound like it.

-karen