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OOOPS!
Thu Aug 31 2000

Apologies. A coding glitch has meant that adverts have been inadvertantly appearing on users diaries if the right conditions were met, despite our assurance here.

I'm actually surprised that no-one complained, but anyway, no-one did so perhaps you all don't mind them as much as you said you did a while back! But either way, the glitch is fixed and adverts no longer are being delivered on users diaries again... For those that are interested, it came about because the code for delivering the ads is in a common file, shared by all files. It knows which script (editor.cgi, custom.cgi, viewer.cgi etc) called it, and filters itself out if its called from viewer.cgi, index.pl and a few other places.

When I changed (or rather, added to the) way diaries could be accessed, to add the /show/diaries/username method, the ad banner script didn't realise it wasn't allowed to show ad's for that script, because I hadn't told it. So it happily did deliver them... Its now been notified of its mistake and promises not to do it again :-)

Which reminds me, you can now get to your diary by the following methods;


  • www.deardiary.net/show/diaries/username
  • www.deardiary.net/show/diaries/username/latest -- latest entry
  • www.deardiary.net/show/diaries/username/welcome -- welcome page
  • www.deardiary.net/show/diaries/username/index -- index page
  • www.deardiary.net/show/diaries/username/random -- random entry
  • www.deardiary.net/show/diaries/username/entryid -- specific entry, when replaced with a number.

Replace username with your specific username of course :)

Steve.

3 Comments
  • From:
    Kristi (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 04 2000
    Re: Display ads on pages.

    Why not ask? In fact, asking in such a way as to say, "remember, this is free and to keep it free, we'd like to ask you if it's all right to put ads on your page..."

    But then again, I'm not sure if your code will be able to handle "some, but not all" or inclusive statements.

    I wouldn't mind them on my page if it meant keeping everything free. You guys deserve to be paid for your work.

    kristi

  • From:
    DeLancie (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 04 2000
    Hi Kristi - you didn't leave an email address so I have to reply here and hope you read it again :)

    The software currently wouldn't cope with some people allowing banners and some not, though it could easily be modified.

    Thank you for your kind words of support. I just want to re-assure you that our prime motivation for developing the site was for our own use. It grew from that into a service for others, but the costs involved haven't changed. So money isn't really the motivating factor. It would be nice if we can one day earn a living from it, but its a while off yet...

    On that note, it means it will be free and will always be free. We just intend on adding features and functionality so that people stay logged in longer :-)

    Thanks again for your kind words though. The best way you can help us to grow, if you want to, is to link to us from other sites (if possible), and tell your friends about us.

    Feel free to give us any feedback at [email protected]

  • From:
    Kristi (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Sep 06 2000
    Hi there. Sorry. (re:email address)I figured you were god-like creatures that knew all and were all. (grin).

    Anyway, good luck with your projects.
    I hope you will always enjoy it if you can't produce the cash.

    When I can edit my site again (I just got roadrunner service and have no permissions once again), then I'll link it here. I found you on a bubble page (was looking for bubble recipes).

    Thanks again,

    kristi