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Ron

Administrator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-05-19

Posts 8669
Michigan, US

0 posted 2001-08-25 01:38 PM

A few years ago, when the main site was new, netpoets.com was the first poetry site to allow visitors to directly email a poem to a friend or loved one. It took almost a year, I think, before I started seeing other sites incorporating it into their format. But today it seems to have become fairly wide spread, and most of the larger poetry sites now do it.

So, I figured it was time to raise the stakes.

The program for sending a poem has been completely rewritten and will include a few new features. Our visitors will be able to send a poem in plain-text, as always, or in a much prettier HTML format. (This is a harbinger, BTW, for sending Digital Passions as a formatted magazine.) They can also keep an Address Book on the netpoets server, saving them some typing, and just like here in the forums, the server will "remember" them when they return.

My problem is that almost all of the new features depend on factors outside my control. Some depend on the format of the visitor's email address, some depend on their ISP, some depend on their email client. I "think" I've covered all the bases, but can't really be sure until people besides myself start using it. And that, of course, is where YOU come into the picture.

I'd appreciate it if you would follow the link below and give the new program a whirl. Send yourself a plain-text version of the poem, then an HTML one. Save yourself into your Address Book. Things like that. Then report back here and let me know if you had any problems with it. Or if you have any suggestions to improve it.

This is a "test" program, obviously, with the poem already selected and most menu links on the page will bomb because the whole netpoets site isn't loaded on my testing domain. Please don't send the poem to non-Pippers, because they'll get confused over links not really designed to work at this domain. But this page should be enough to let me know if I'm on the right track.

THANKS!

http://pipworld.com/cgi/friends.cgi

Acies

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-06-07

Posts 7665
Twilight Zone

1 posted 2001-08-25 02:48 PM

I'll go try it Ron

Ok, I'm back.....

1. plain text is definitely plain text
2. the HTML looks much better, but I'd rather see more colors and graphic designs around the poem
3. when I tried clicking on the poem by ron carnell, it led me to a page that cant be opened

I'll think of more to say, I'll be back

hi Sweets, Lizzy, Kris, Ina, Allysa, Erica, Minna, Kit, Kamie, Javi, Jenn, Sharon, Nan, Cawlee, Cherish, Ashley, Sara, Justine, Leah, Jess, Kimmie, Ma

[This message has been edited by acire (edited 08-25-2001).]

Ron

Administrator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-05-19

Posts 8669
Michigan, US

2 posted 2001-08-25 03:06 PM

Thanks, acire.

The HTML is pretty plain right now, I know. And generic. If this early version flies okay, the next version will give more options to the user (similar to the way you can format poetry for greeting cards here in the forums).

And, yea, as I said before, most of the links on that page go to never-never land.

Alicat
Member Elite

since 1999-05-23

Posts 4094
Coastal Texas

3 posted 2001-08-25 03:19 PM

Looked pretty good. I sent both plain and HTML to self. And the greetings card link on the right hand menu did take be back to the main pipworld greeting card center. I understand that the links don't work yet. What I was wondering deals with 1) multiple recipients, and 2) back link (though I know I can simply click the back button on my browser) which would take me back to the specific email greeting card page.

Ron

Administrator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-05-19

Posts 8669
Michigan, US

4 posted 2001-08-25 03:39 PM

Thanks, Ali.

The old "Send Friend" script allows only one recipient. This new program (and it's in the page instructions) allows you to simultaneously send one to yourself, one to the address entered, and one to an address in your Address book. What is not in the instructions, because I want to discourage spamming, is that entering multiple email addresses using the usual comma separater will send a copy of the poem to each person. Even then, I've limited it to a total of five.

The "Thank You" page after you submit the form has a link back to the poem. It doesn't work on the test page ONLY because the poem doesn't exist on that server.

Alicat
Member Elite

since 1999-05-23

Posts 4094
Coastal Texas

5 posted 2001-08-25 08:24 PM

Gotcha...well, other than those two small things which you've addressed, there were no other probs on my end. Looking good there oh Passionate Guru!

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

6 posted 2001-08-26 06:21 AM

Ron~
Tried it several times~
Worked fine for me~

Text only worked fine.
HTML is relatively plain right now-
but I'm sure you'll finesse it later on~
~*Marge*~

~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com

Poet deVine

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-26

Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley

7 posted 2001-08-26 08:56 AM

Did it...works perfectly both ways. I wrote and wrote and wrote on my message as I wanted to see how much text it would take. So I guess there is no limit to the number of words in the message field right?

(btw I loved the poem too - it's one of my favorites)

Munda
Member Elite

since 1999-10-08

Posts 3544
The Hague, The Netherlands

8 posted 2001-08-26 12:14 PM

It works fine with me - text and html. I also tried sending myself a copy... alas, those did not arrive. Looks great Ron.

Romy
Senior Member

since 2000-05-28

Posts 1170
Plantation, Florida

9 posted 2001-08-26 12:30 PM

It worked great for me too! No problems.

Ron

Administrator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-05-19

Posts 8669
Michigan, US

10 posted 2001-08-26 01:04 PM

Thanks, guys. I've made a few minor changes, both to the HTML and the database, based on your help. Keep it coming!

Munda, if you were emailing it to yourself and ALSO asked to get a copy, you should receive only one. The program is smart enough to make sure one email address doesn't get hit with multiple copies of the same thing.

It seems the HTML is working in at least Outlook and Netscape, and I also tested it at hotmail.com. It is far more limited, though, than what you can do on a web page. I'm hoping we can get someone on AOL and maybe webTV to try the HTML version? Any Eudora users out there?

Titia Geertman
Member Ascendant

since 2001-05-07

Posts 5182
Netherlands

11 posted 2001-08-26 01:05 PM

I did send the poem in plain-text to myself, that went oké, but when I tried to send it as HTML I got the following when I opened the mail.

I found this lovely poem today, and it made me think of you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and perhaps think of me, as I thought of you...

Titia Geertman

Courtesy Passions in Poetry http://netpoets.com/

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Winter's Roads
by Ron Carnell

I cannot speak for all who stem

'Long roads less traveled as their way,

Nor question choices made by them

In days long past or nights long dim

by words they spoke and did not say.

Each road is long, though short it seems,

And credence gives each road a name

Of fantasies sun-drenched in beams

Or choices turned to darkened dreams,

To where each road wends just the same.

From North to South, then back again,

I followed birds like all the rest

Escaping nature's snowy den

On roads I've seen and places been,

Forsaking roads that traveled West.

This journey grows now to its end,

As road reflections lined in chrome

Give way to roads with greater bend

And empty signs that still pretend

They point the way to home sweet home.

But all roads lead to where we go

And where we go is where we've been,

So home is just a word we know,

That space in time most apropos

For where we want to be again.

For even home, it seems to me,

Is still a choice we all must face

From day to day and endlessly,

To choose if home is going to be

Another road - or just a place.

This poem is sent courtesy of Passions in Poetry.

Please respect the rights of the author and Passions in Poetry.
You can find this poem, formatted and with descriptions, at
http://pipworld.com/poems/life/0001042.htm
Please join us, and browse our wide selection of poetry
and poetic greeting cards.

That's not good uhhhhh?????

Titia

A rose is a rose is a rose...I guess...
Feel free to use the pictures on my website. http://communities.msn.com/Titiasplace/

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

12 posted 2001-08-26 01:20 PM

Tried it again, sending the original to another address I maintain and the copy to my noles1 address -
They both arrived within seconds of sending !

Looking good, Ron~

Question - when you 'perfect' the HTML program, will I have an option of CENTERING the text of the poem, instead of the left margin justify ?

Now you just KNEW I was going to ask that, didn't you ?

Because I do so much 'center-formatted' poetry, that would be an important feature to me.

I presently don't use the 'send-an e-mail poem' or 'E-card' features for the very reason that they don't allow me that option.

I currently either format the poem in an e-mail presentation -
or I just send the link from Passions.

~*Marge*~

Denise

Moderator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-08-22

Posts 22648

13 posted 2001-08-26 01:45 PM

Everything seemed to work well. In the HTML format I received the same thing that Titia did in the box with the Passions logo and menu along the left hand side...which is not a bad thing, just didn't know if that is how it was supposed to come through. Very nice, Ron. Fabulous poem, too!

Ron

Administrator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-05-19

Posts 8669
Michigan, US

14 posted 2001-08-26 06:47 PM

Wow, Titia - you sure managed to s-t-r-e-t-c-h the poem as far as it would go.

Not sure what caused the double-spacing, though I suspect the shifting to the left at the end of the mail is caused by monitor resolution. Do you know what your resolution is, Titia? Do you know what browser and version you used? Would you mind terribly forwarding that email to me so I can see if it does it at this end?

Marge, that's a good idea, but I think we need to take it back to the beginning of the cycle. I'm also rewriting the routines for submitting a poem to the main site, and I think THAT is where the author should be able to specify at least some formatting options. Coming soon!

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

15 posted 2001-08-29 02:17 AM

Thanks, Ron~

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

16 posted 2001-08-29 02:32 AM

Check out the background and font colors !
COOL !
AND the centering feature and font options !

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