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The TYPO3 community continues to grow at a rapid rate!

As a result, the mailing lists / newsgroups are becoming much busier, so we felt it was time to post some basic rules and guidelines on how they should be used.

We aren't trying to lay down the law to the community, but if we all follow some basic, common sense guidelines, the lists will be easier to use, and more effective, for everyone...

 

Rules...

• Answered your own question? - if you find the answer to your question before the list does, please post the answer as a reply to your own question, so that others using the archive will find it as well
• FAQ's & HOWTO's - we are trying to build a useful store of TYPO3 knowledge from the mailing list. If you have received a precise and workable reply to your question, you are obligated to give something back...please log onto typo3.org and create an FAQ or HOWTO from the thread (just open the thread and click the "make FAQ or HOWTO" link), so everyone else can benefit from the knowledge that you just gained!
• Autoresponders - please do not use them...they are a pain for everyone and you will be removed from the list if you do!
• Correct list? - make sure you are posting to the correct list...the complete list is available from the list subscription page. The main lists are...
• User list - for general questions and discussion...in English only
• Install-linux list - for all installation questions/discussions if you are using a Linux/Unix system, including other server software
• Install-windows list - for all installation questions/discussions if you are using a Windows system, including other server software
• Install list - for install-related discussions and questions about that are non-operating system specific
• Sandbox list - for discussion relating to projects, ideas, development of extensions, community stuff
• Developer list - for discussions on core stuff, and extension development...not for the newbie ;-)
• German-speaking list - if you want to discuss in German, use this list. There are also a number of German user-group lists available
• User Group (UG) lists - please do NOT post technical / user questions to these lists. They are intended for discussion regarding the UG and its members (for example meetings, seminars, socials, local projects). Please post technical or user-related questions to one of the above lists
• Read before you post - read the available documentation, and search the mail archives before posting
• Subjects - you must put a short/accurate subject on your post...many people won't read threads without subjects, and subject lines like PLEASE HELP!!! are unlikely to get the right (or possibly any!) response!
• Questions - make you question or point as short and concise as possible...if you need to include a code listing or debug information, include just the relevant part. Only include ONE question per post...others will get lost!
• Install/debug info - install lists only - if you are asking a question about an install related problem, you must include debug information or phpinfo(), and other relevant details of server platform, TYPO3 & other software versions, etc. Please see below
• Mail format - send plain text emails...no HTML please
• Attachments - do not send them to the list...make them available on-line, or send privately
• Junk in posts - please remove all unwanted junk from your reply before you hit "send" (e.g. quoted text that is not necessary, redundant footers etc.)...some posts are huge because people don't bother with this...it just makes them unreadable
• Quoting - please do not top-quote - leave the quoted text at the top, and your reply following...only quote the bit of text to which you are replying...delete the rest
• Replying - unless the thread is very complicated, or has a lot of points, don't interweave your replies with the quoted text (e.g. quote | reply | quote | reply etc.)...this makes managing the thread in the archive very difficult
• Hijacking - do not "hijack" an existing thread with your question...if a thread makes you think of something else that you want to discuss, start a new one...if you start a new subject in the middle of an existing thread, it makes it harder to manage on the archive, the thread referencing gets messed up, and you may not get an answer
• Courtesy - be polite...don't shout, swear, flame or make any derogatory comments
• Mailing the developers - please ensure your ask your questions to the mailing list before sending directly to the developers...they are all very busy, and if they are bombarded with requests for help, they can't do any development!

 

Suggestions...

• News - would you be better using the news facility? Many people find it much easier than a mailing list...point your newsreader to news.netfielders.de
• Names - please use your real name - we're a friendly list that likes to know whom we're talking!
• Read the replies - if you post a question, make sure you read the replies, and try the solutions, before you post again
• Off-topic - keep OT discussions to a minimum, and please put OT in the subject
• Personal - please conduct personal discussions off the list

 

Finally...please remember 2 points...

• None of the TYPO3 lists are moderated. That means that they are not read and vetted before being forwarded to all list members. For this reason, read your post carefully before you hit "send"
• From yours, and everyone else's mails, we are gradually building a valuable resource in the list archive. Please think before writing, and generally keep in mind the future value of your question or answer. Thanks for helping to make the lists become even more effective resources.

If you are posting about an installation, server, server-software or performance problem, you will need to include certain technical information if the people who might help you have any chance of succeeding...

 

• You should post to one of the install lists
• Describe your problem as exact as possible
• If possible supply screendumps at some URL to see (do NOT attach to your post)
• Bugs: If you have found/discussed a true bug in TYPO3, please report it in our Bugtracker at bugs.typo3.org. Bugs which are discussed on the mailing lists may be overlooked!

 

For all installation and server-related problems, go to the Install Tool, click "phpinfo()" and copy the "DEBUG information" into the mail:

 

 

This supplies information about your system which the people helping you might need; which version of Typo3 you use, PHP version, server OS (Windows server/Linux server), server type (Apache, ISS, PWS), if PHP running as a CGI or module.

 

In addition please state:

• Which distribution-file did you download?
• With strange performance errors; how fast is your server and how much RAM does it have?
• Your client browser and OS 

 

Generally, be very specific, or you won't get the help you need!