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08/01/2011 04:38:50 PM · #1 |
This is an old thread (last reply was in 2007) but I'm reviving it because I can't get to the link at work and with a reply and set to "watch" then I can find it again easily when I get home.
Just more for curiosity than anything else. I don't fret over the votes. They are what they are. |
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12/19/2007 09:18:58 PM · #2 |
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12/19/2007 06:47:08 PM · #3 |
Marcus,
Your response to  L2 was out of line. She made a polite request. Keep in mind that neither you nor the Site Council own the site, and that the Admins have the right to know if someone is using automated data collection methods that could potentially impact the usability of their site, and thus the experience of the rest of the community.
While I personally would expect that your query would be no more taxing on the site than the update button, it would simply be common courtesy to submit it to the Admins for review.
Since you've declined to do so, I've taken the liberty of submitting it to them myself. |
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12/19/2007 08:12:51 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by L2:
Marcus,
Glad2badad is right. Any time you write a program that automatically downloads information from DPC at predetermined intervals you need to have Langdon's permission, for the reasons outlined in the TOS previously quoted.
If it truly has no impact on DPC performance, I'm sure he won't mind. Nonetheless, you should Contact him and use the Admin Inquiry button so it gets directly to him. |
I'm sorry but I will not ask for the permission. Delete this thread if you want.
The Admins of this site are not god. They cannot interfere or have authority about the way I choose to get my own statistics on my own computer. From a technical standpoint, the spreadsheet does not get the information from the website. It is the Internet Explorer browser that does that (needs IE cookie and uses it on the web query). The spreadsheet only records the statistics for my own convenience.
You cannot prohibit someone to choose his own preferred browser, right?
You cannot prohibit myself to the maths and guess my votes, right?
Ok, thanks.
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12/19/2007 08:08:44 AM · #5 |
| Marcus, just get permission from Langdon, OK? |
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12/19/2007 08:02:25 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Never said it was "illegal", but I was curious as to how your spreadsheet worked and it's relationship to the site terms of service. |
Curious you are, huh? What's the purpose of your innocent curiosity?
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Now there's a funny statement. It's not me that's worried about tracking every single vote and updating every 10 seconds. Now who has a life? :-D |
You don't have for sure, since you are taking your time to analyze my spreadsheet's "relationship to the site terms of service". That is the point.
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12/19/2007 07:53:09 AM · #7 |
Marcus,
Glad2badad is right. Any time you write a program that automatically downloads information from DPC at predetermined intervals you need to have Langdon's permission, for the reasons outlined in the TOS previously quoted.
If it truly has no impact on DPC performance, I'm sure he won't mind. Nonetheless, you should Contact him and use the Admin Inquiry button so it gets directly to him.
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12/19/2007 07:33:25 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
hahaha Where the hell is slappy when you need him |
Check your hands. Now put him away. You know, wouldn't want to go blind or anything. :)
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12/19/2007 07:31:18 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by marcusvdt:
... You look to be more interested than me on making decisions on behalf of DPC, judging the spreadsheet as illegal, without having any technical argument. |
Never said it was "illegal", but I was curious as to how your spreadsheet worked and it's relationship to the site terms of service.
Originally posted by marcusvdt:
... I suggest you take your time to care about your own life. |
Now there's a funny statement. It's not me that's worried about tracking every single vote and updating every 10 seconds. Now who has a life? :-D
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12/19/2007 07:12:26 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by marcusvdt:
Mr. Glad Daddy, are you noticing the web site slow?
A: No.
Mr. Glad Daddy, what do you know about web servers load?
A: Nothing.
These 2 questions describe the nature of your comments.
And FYI, I'm not trying to make any decisions for DPC. I'm just telling you that the spreadsheet does not hurt. The spreadsheet is free, I'm telling everybody about it, and I hope people enjoy it.
You look to be more interested than me on making decisions on behalf of DPC, judging the spreadsheet as illegal, without having any technical argument. I suggest you take your time to care about your own life. |
hahaha Where the hell is slappy when you need him |
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12/19/2007 06:33:37 AM · #11 |
Mr. Glad Daddy, are you noticing the web site slow?
A: No.
Mr. Glad Daddy, what do you know about web servers load?
A: Nothing.
These 2 questions describe the nature of your comments.
And FYI, I'm not trying to make any decisions for DPC. I'm just telling you that the spreadsheet does not hurt. The spreadsheet is free, I'm telling everybody about it, and I hope people enjoy it.
You look to be more interested than me on making decisions on behalf of DPC, judging the spreadsheet as illegal, without having any technical argument. I suggest you take your time to care about your own life.
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12/18/2007 08:31:34 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by routerguy666:
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Isn't this putting a load or draw on DPChallenge by making such frequent connections/polling of data? |
Look at it this way. Even if the spreadsheet were automatically refreshing your home page once every ten seconds, the effect on the site is that of a gnat kicking an elephant in the knee. As opposed to providing free T&A via the nude gallery, which likely has the relative effect of crashing a bus into the elephant on an hourly basis.
And of course in both situations the big dumb beast continues to lumber along, so all is well. |
Love the analogy! :-P
Here's what I was thinking of. Nearly a year ago now. Could've sworn it's happened more recently also.
DPChallenge really slow
DPC has been digged...
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12/18/2007 07:27:54 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Isn't this putting a load or draw on DPChallenge by making such frequent connections/polling of data? |
Look at it this way. Even if the spreadsheet were automatically refreshing your home page once every ten seconds, the effect on the site is that of a gnat kicking an elephant in the knee. As opposed to providing free T&A via the nude gallery, which likely has the relative effect of crashing a bus into the elephant on an hourly basis.
And of course in both situations the big dumb beast continues to lumber along, so all is well. |
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12/18/2007 07:03:45 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by marcusvdt:
The spreadsheet gets the information from the DPC site according to the frequency that you choose when opening it. If you choose, say, 30 seconds for the update frequency, the spreadsheet will get the latest vote count and score at each 30 seconds. ...
... The best you can get is to lower the frequency to 10 seconds... |
The above quote is what I read that made me wonder about whether this was cool in the world of DPC or not. From the way you've described it, it seems that if I had this app running on my PC it would "poll" DPC every 10 seconds to get data.
In the past there have been issues with sites like Digg or others, that have increased the load on the server that DPC resides on creating slow loading pages for those that use this site.
Originally posted by marcusvdt:
Why do we have the update link on the DPC web page?
I think most people keep pressing that button during all the day. |
Not at 10 second intervals, or on an automated basis.
Originally posted by marcusvdt:
If they don't want people pressing that link all the time, they can easily provide a way to track all the votes within the site. |
Ahh, I see - so you're making decisions for DPC now. Since "they" don't offer this "service" you're going to provide it?
Originally posted by marcusvdt:
The spreadsheet cannot be considered illegal since it does the same that I can do manually. |
I doubt any of it is "illegal"...however, just because you can do it manually doesn't mean that that is cool either.
Originally posted by marcusvdt:
Just curious, why do you care to raise that flag Mr. Glad Dad ??? |
Well, since you've been quite the promoter of your little spreadsheet application in various forums it's been hard to miss. It made me wonder since I know DPC has had some issues of a similar nature in the past...so I took a look at the terms (had heard it brought up before). Personally, I could care less what you do on your own time, but I do like DPC and as a paying member have a right to be interested in the continued access of it. That's all. No biggee.
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12/18/2007 04:46:18 PM · #15 |
Why do we have the update link on the DPC web page?
I think most people keep pressing that button during all the day.
If they don't want people pressing that link all the time, they can easily provide a way to track all the votes within the site.
The spreadsheet cannot be considered illegal since it does the same that I can do manually.
Just curious, why do you care to raise that flag Mr. Glad Dad ???
Message edited by author 2007-12-18 16:51:47. |
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12/18/2007 03:12:25 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Isn't this putting a load or draw on DPChallenge by making such frequent connections/polling of data?
I would think this is in violation of DPChallenge Terms of Use,
section 4.3.iv: "(iv) use a robot, spider or other device or process to monitor the activity on or copy pages from the DPChallenge.com Web Site"
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section 5.7: "Registered Users may not: (a) use any device, software or routine in any attempt to interfere or disrupt the Website; or (b) take any action that imposes any unreasonable or disproportionately large load on the Website or DPChallenge.com’s infrastructure. DPChallenge.com reserves the right in its sole discretion to actively pursue any Registered User which DPChallenge.com believes to be engaging in such activities and terminate that Registered User’s membership." |
This spreadsheet does not refresh your web browser or apply any type of load on DPChallenge.com When you, the user, "MANUALLY" presses the update link on DPChallenge.com's home page, all this tracker does is reads the cookies that you've allowed to be downloaded. The only way that it can get updated information is if you leave it running and are cruising around DPC for long periods of time(more than 1 hr). It will then read the updated info whenever you arrive back on the home page.
AS far as 'interfereing or disrupting the Website" this tracker can not or at least DOES NOT access any information online. Again all it reads are the updated cookies that are downloaded (because you checked the "automatically log me in" box). Does this make sense?
PS. I am not the author, only a user of this program but I want to help explain (as much as I can) how it works. Maybe somebody else can refine my answer a little better? Thanks, BB
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12/18/2007 12:34:09 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Originally posted by marcusvdt:
The spreadsheet gets the information from the DPC site according to the frequency that you choose when opening it.
...since it reads the information from the DPC website at the frequency that you choose. |
Isn't this putting a load or draw on DPChallenge by making such frequent connections/polling of data?
I would think this is in violation of DPChallenge Terms of Use,
section 4.3.iv: "(iv) use a robot, spider or other device or process to monitor the activity on or copy pages from the DPChallenge.com Web Site"
- and -
section 5.7: "Registered Users may not: (a) use any device, software or routine in any attempt to interfere or disrupt the Website; or (b) take any action that imposes any unreasonable or disproportionately large load on the Website or DPChallenge.com’s infrastructure. DPChallenge.com reserves the right in its sole discretion to actively pursue any Registered User which DPChallenge.com believes to be engaging in such activities and terminate that Registered User’s membership." |
I am not sure that they can go around wiping out account because of this. I am sure that there are enough people using the Vista utility and now these spreadsheets to point out an obvious need for improvement on their web site. This activity is more likely to grow than shrink. All the utility designers will do is design in random time intervals in order to avoid detection.
DPC needs to adjust and improve rather than outlaw. IMHO. Of course this is the more labor intensive option. They need to provide real-time data rather than punish people for really enjoying DPC and wanting to get more functionality from the site. |
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12/18/2007 10:56:55 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by marcusvdt:
The spreadsheet gets the information from the DPC site according to the frequency that you choose when opening it.
...since it reads the information from the DPC website at the frequency that you choose. |
Isn't this putting a load or draw on DPChallenge by making such frequent connections/polling of data?
I would think this is in violation of DPChallenge Terms of Use,
section 4.3.iv: "(iv) use a robot, spider or other device or process to monitor the activity on or copy pages from the DPChallenge.com Web Site"
- and -
section 5.7: "Registered Users may not: (a) use any device, software or routine in any attempt to interfere or disrupt the Website; or (b) take any action that imposes any unreasonable or disproportionately large load on the Website or DPChallenge.com’s infrastructure. DPChallenge.com reserves the right in its sole discretion to actively pursue any Registered User which DPChallenge.com believes to be engaging in such activities and terminate that Registered User’s membership."
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12/18/2007 10:07:10 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by Venom:
Originally posted by AperturePriority:
Does it work with Excel 2007? It appears to be running, but I still have 0 for the previous number of votes and 0.0000 for the previous score.
No other cells have values in them, except for the SC announcements and such. |
Yes, it does work with Excel 2007. I have MS OFFICE 2007 PRO and it runs great.
As far as seeing SC announcements the only time that I saw those was once my current challenge ended. I don't know how you were logged into DPC but  marcusvdt said you have to be logged in to DPC AND have the "auotmatically log me in" box checked. As soon as your current challenge ends the "Score Tracker" can only see the SC announcements in the upper left-hand corner.
I'm not sure if this helps but I did notice the same thing when I tried using the tracker with no entry currently being voted on. |
You are correct.
Also, if I can remember, I've included an additional check on the latest version that does not show the announcements in any case. This latest version should update the spreadsheet only if you have a photo currently being voted. |
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12/17/2007 10:38:41 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by AperturePriority:
Does it work with Excel 2007? It appears to be running, but I still have 0 for the previous number of votes and 0.0000 for the previous score.
No other cells have values in them, except for the SC announcements and such. |
Yes, it does work with Excel 2007. I have MS OFFICE 2007 PRO and it runs great.
As far as seeing SC announcements the only time that I saw those was once my current challenge ended. I don't know how you were logged into DPC but marcusvdt said you have to be logged in to DPC AND have the "auotmatically log me in" box checked. As soon as your current challenge ends the "Score Tracker" can only see the SC announcements in the upper left-hand corner.
I'm not sure if this helps but I did notice the same thing when I tried using the tracker with no entry currently being voted on.
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12/15/2007 12:50:26 PM · #21 |
Yes I know this. I have it set at 10 seconds and it still skips updates.
Originally posted by marcusvdt:
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
This program would be a lot better for me if I was entered into a challenge.
Oh and BTW I noticed that sometimes it misses the update. I will leave it alone and when I come back it see's that 2 or 4 votes have been casted. (before my DQ) anyway just an FYI
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The spreadsheet gets the information from the DPC site according to the frequency that you choose when opening it. If you choose, say, 30 seconds for the update frequency, the spreadsheet will get the latest vote count and score at each 30 seconds. Then, if in 30 seconds you get more than 1 vote, the spreadsheet will act accordingly, updating the latest vote count and score, and it will try to guess what each vote was.
What I mean, is that there is no way to make the spreadsheet count each individual vote for sure, since it reads the information from the DPC website at the frequency that you choose. The best you can get is to lower the frequency to 10 seconds, and you will have less votes between the updates, making it easier to figure out what each individual votes are. |
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12/15/2007 10:02:05 AM · #22 |
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
This program would be a lot better for me if I was entered into a challenge.
Oh and BTW I noticed that sometimes it misses the update. I will leave it alone and when I come back it see's that 2 or 4 votes have been casted. (before my DQ) anyway just an FYI
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The spreadsheet gets the information from the DPC site according to the frequency that you choose when opening it. If you choose, say, 30 seconds for the update frequency, the spreadsheet will get the latest vote count and score at each 30 seconds. Then, if in 30 seconds you get more than 1 vote, the spreadsheet will act accordingly, updating the latest vote count and score, and it will try to guess what each vote was.
What I mean, is that there is no way to make the spreadsheet count each individual vote for sure, since it reads the information from the DPC website at the frequency that you choose. The best you can get is to lower the frequency to 10 seconds, and you will have less votes between the updates, making it easier to figure out what each individual votes are.
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12/15/2007 09:52:30 AM · #23 |
Originally posted by AperturePriority:
Does it work with Excel 2007? It appears to be running, but I still have 0 for the previous number of votes and 0.0000 for the previous score.
No other cells have values in them, except for the SC announcements and such. |
I have tested it on Excel XP (2002) only.
Did not test in Excel 2007. Will do that later. Did you setup your Excel to enable macros? Depending on the level of security, it does not allow you to run macros.
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12/15/2007 03:29:08 AM · #24 |
Does it work with Excel 2007? It appears to be running, but I still have 0 for the previous number of votes and 0.0000 for the previous score.
No other cells have values in them, except for the SC announcements and such.
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12/14/2007 10:42:45 PM · #25 |
This program would be a lot better for me if I was entered into a challenge.
Oh and BTW I noticed that sometimes it misses the update. I will leave it alone and when I come back it see's that 2 or 4 votes have been casted. (before my DQ) anyway just an FYI
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