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1) Spam, spam, spam, spam:

No spam. For the purposes of this discussion, I consider spam to be traffic that's not technical in nature. If you've got a product that you'd like to tell the list members about, it had better solve one or more *very* common problems, and be of general interest to a majority of the C++Builder community.

I also put religious discussions about "C++/VB/Optima++/PowerBuilder/Etc versus C++Builder" postings in this category. If someone slams your favorite tool in the midst of describing a problem/solution, let it go and save your energy for Usenet flame wars. :->

2) Double postings:

Don't double post "just to make sure it makes it to the list." This may not seem like a big deal, but it's an annoyance and makes people think that either the list is malfunctioning or their e-mail server is malfunctioning.

3) Language:

Use language that's appropriate for a mixed, multi-cultural audience. IMHO, it doesn't matter how steamed you are at Borland's tech support hotline, there's no point in making several hundred people listen to foul language. If you post a message/response that contains inappropriate language, we won't edit it—you will be warned once, privately. Upon the second occurrence, you will be removed from the list and your subsequent postings will be discarded.

4) Chatter:

Avoid "me too" messages. If someone asks for help and someone else responds by offering to e-mail a file or other help, don't post a "send me a copy" message to the entire list. E-mail the second party directly.

5) Conduct:

No personal attacks. Even if the person *is* a bozo.

6) Comments/Suggestions/Complaints

Send list comments or administration suggestions/complaints directly to me at chip@nospam.orionsystems.com. I'm the "List Owner" for BCB-LIST.

7) Summarizing a solution:

Unless you're pretty sure that a problem requires Borg-style "collective mind" brainstorming to solve it, see if you can follow-up privately in researching the problem. If and when you come to the "fix," post the solution to the list so we can all benefit from it. When you post the solution summary, add SUMMARY to the subject as follows:

[SUMMARY] Calling Delphi code from C++Builder

8) Message Size:

Please consider the size of the message before submitting it to the list. The size limit imposed by the list management software is 38K. Please be aware that any message larger than 38K will not be posted and you will not be notified directly. I will make an effort to notice these rejections and inform you privately when I do.

Whenever possible, use URLs to point to actual large content. For example, if someone asked for an example of how to use the ToolHelp32 APIs and you had a project on your web page that did just that, simple reply with the URL instead of posting the code, as in:

If you don't have a web page or FTP site to use for this purpose, please send the file to me at chip@nospam.orionsystems.com. I'll put on our WEB site and e-mail you the URL for posting.

9) Before Posting:

This list may be the first place you turn when stuck on a problem, but it may not be the best way to find a component. Since C++Builder can use any Delphi component, if you are looking for a specific component, always check large Delphi sites first such as

Delphi Information Connection (http://www.delphi32.com/)

Checking these resources first is not mandatory (use your best judgement), but doing so is a courtesy to other list members. You will save all of us time and effort by checking them yourself before posting.

10) Announcements:

Job postings and contract programming opportunities are welcome as long as they are free from hype and a sales job on a prospective product. If you post a job announcement, please provide a phone number or appropriate e-mail address for follow-up.

11) Digest version:

If you'd rather receive a digest of the lists messages (sent out based upon the level of activity on the list), send the following message to bcb-digest-request@nospam.orionlink.net:

subscribe

to stop delivery of the digest, send to the same address:

unsubscribe

Finally

please keep the number of subscribers in mind as you post. What you send e-mail, it will hit several mail boxes, and will occupy at least a few minutes of a fellow developer's time. I consider carefully what I'm going to say before I click "Send," and ask that you do the same.

Chip Petersen
Director Research & Development
Orion Systems Group, Inc.
chip@nospam.orionsystems.com