Roy Lambert wrote:
> Jim
>
>
> Just thinking laterally - why not set up a private Yahoo group?
>
> Roy Lambert
>
I didn't even realize they existed.

This group is a great resource for information far and beyond dbisam. I
found that my hosting service includes a free message board capability
(phpbb). It took a couple of days of stops and starts but I think I'm
good to go now.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

Jim Margarit

Related to this topic ...

I've just set up a newsgroup server with SmartNewZ using the trial edition - dead easy to set up - look at the newsgroups on jeffcook.dynalias.net.

Question - how can I programmatically start the default newsreader and point it at the appropriate group?  

If it is too hard, I probably won't bother - not convinced that a newsgroup is an appropriate support tool for our users anyway!

Cheers
Jeff
--
Jeff Cook
Aspect Systems Ltd
Phone: +64-9-424 5388
Skype: jeffcooknz
www.aspect.co.nz

"Jeff Cook" <jeffc@aspect.co.nz> wrote in message
news:2B0AADBB-10AD-47FF-B64B-82FC4BBD1CC4@news.elevatesoft.com...
> jeffcook.dynalias.net.
>
> Question - how can I programmatically start the default newsreader and
> point it at the appropriate group?

Use this link, like any other URL:
news://jeffcook.dynalias.net/cookfamily

Regards
Uffe

Jeff


First problem - most people's default newsreader will be OE which doesn't have any automation.

You can find the default newsreader - I think the key is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\News so that will give you the program to start. How you then get it to look at a specific newsserver/newsgroup I have no idea, and it probably differs from reader to reader.

You'd probably be better off building the reader into your app - I can let you have a wadge of source if you want.

Roy Lambert

Roy and Uffe

Coding:-

procedure TmainForm.mnuNewsClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
 ShellExecute(Application.MainForm.Handle, 'open',
   'news://jeffcook.dynalias.net/apm.discussion', '', '', SW_SHOW)
end;

was ridiculously easy.  Of course, as Roy said it started the default newsreader and in my case that was OE - even though I use Roy's TMaN myself.

Thank for the offer of the code Roy - it strikes me as something fun to add to my application when time permits, but at the moment I have literally 111 requests for changes/enhancements/bugfixes(!) to look forward to, so this is definitely back burner stuff.

Thanks

Jeff
--
Jeff Cook
Aspect Systems Ltd
Phone: +64-9-424 5388
Skype: jeffcooknz
www.aspect.co.nz