Forums Feature Suggestions New Forum - commands

replied to the last post, but a generic comment ...

I'd personally like to see a download available that's just the mirc executable (maybe zipped for a smaller size) and have the help file (and all other files) available for those installing for the first time. Of course I know this will never happen because of all the newbies that would download the smaller file then wonder why it didn't work.

/me sends ParaBrat a dozen homemade peanutbutter cookies

*perk* pb cookies! pouncechomp

Since the help file contains info specific to each version, and as you said many new ppl are downloading for the first time, i personally wouldnt like to see that taken out of the download.

Besides... it's not that big of a file to begin with... even for modem users.

Heh, I'm being unclear. Mea culpa. To clarify: I find the lack of a truly comprehensive, updated help file to be a question of professionalism and respect for customers.

In the example I gave about the me prefix in remote definitions, it was necessary to go back to notes on version 3.8 (released in November 1995!!) to find documentation of a feature which works in version 6.12.

I challenge anyone to find another piece of software (excluding operating systems) in which it is necessary to review documentation for an eight-year-old version to learn not only how to use a feature that is still current, but that the feature exists at all!

Things mentioned on these fora as not documented in the help file within the last 6 months (see especially this thread) include:

$*, $beta, $pnick, $nickmode, 'Flush files', $lof, /action, $colour(), $iaddress, $naddress, $raddress, $token(), $mp3(), $shoe(), $r(), $yes, $no, $cancel, !===, /setlayer, $pi, $evalnext(), /registration (!!!!!), $nopnick(#, N), $nvnick(#, N)...

There are of course others.

While there may be reasons for non-inclusion, the fact is that they're there and they work (for the time being, at least). So why not document them, including where necessary a note that a particular feature is present for backwards compatibility only or is slated for removal?

I just do not see how anyone can argue that this is a satisfactory situation. It's not going to stop me from using mIRC, which I registered years ago - but neither do I believe that mIRC is up to scratch in this regard. And these forums are in part here to provide user feedback, yes?

PastMaster

Many of the identifiers you just mentioned are deprecated versions of the ones that *are* documented. There's no need to document them.
(Edit: maybe it would be good if these were mentioned as "past versions" of the current ones, only to avoid confusion, but that's it..)

By the way, $yes, $no, $ok and $cancel *are* documented, as $input values (AFAIK, that's what they're there for - no other specific functions, no need to have their own sections).

Anyway, though, I agree the help file isn't satisfying.

/me dcc's Para the neverending milk glass for all those cookies (s)he* seems to be getting from us all.

* no clue if you're a guy or girl hence the (p)ronoun ;-)

Brat changes the milk into coffee and sips happily.

Btw, No peanutbutter cookies == cranky bratty :tongue:

coffee it is Oh, and I only do chocolate chip cookies........ not a fan of PB unless it's with J ;-)