I'm considering the possibility of creating a POV-Ray help site and I want
to get some feedback.  Basically, what I have in mind is a website with the
following:

1. All the text from the newsgroups.
2. All the tutorial text that's floating around on the net.
3. All the example code floating around on the net.
4. A search function that accesses all of the above.
5. Any good ideas that other people have.

I've already talked to an ISP about hosting it, and I'd be willing to do
the work myself if enough people are interested.  Please let me know what
you think of the idea.  I'm certainly not going to waste my time if no one
is interested, so BE HONEST!  If you do like the idea, let me know what
you'd like to see on such a site.

Please don't hesitate to give me your opinions and suggestions, either here
or by e-mail.  My e-mail address is:   dou### [at] nlsnet

Thanks for your feedback.

-Doug

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Doug Eichenberg wrote:
> 
> I'm considering the possibility of creating a POV-Ray help site and I want
> to get some feedback.  Basically, what I have in mind is a website with the
> following:
> 
> 1. All the text from the newsgroups.
> 2. All the tutorial text that's floating around on the net.


That seems like an awful lot of volume.

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Doug Eichenberg wrote:
> 
> I'm considering the possibility of creating a POV-Ray help site and I want
> to get some feedback.  Basically, what I have in mind is a website with the
> following:
> 
> 1. All the text from the newsgroups.

Let me check with the news server admin for you to see if they have
any problems with this before you proceed.

> 2. All the tutorial text that's floating around on the net.
> 3. All the example code floating around on the net.

Please take the time to read this recent thread -

    Subject: Direct links to other's resources
       Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 23:37:16 +0200
       From: "Rune" <run### [at] inamecom>
 Newsgroups: povray.general

Parts of it are relevant to what you are proposing.

-- 
Ken Tyler - 1400+ POV-Ray, Graphics, 3D Rendering, and Raytracing Links:
http://home.pacbell.net/tylereng/index.html http://www.povray.org/links/

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You will likely face problems with ownership and credit, some people might not
want their stuff up, etc. It sounds like a good idea though. It would be an
assload of work.

--
David Fontaine     <dav### [at] faricynet>     ICQ 55354965
Please visit my website: http://www.faricy.net/~davidf/

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I realized after posting this that my reply may sound a bit negative,
especialy if you research the thread I directed you to. For the
record I think your idea is a good one. Many have missed the site
that Twyst was hosting because of its comprehensive nature. The only
thing I caution you against is blindly collecting material without
first obtaining permission to use it from the owners of the web sites
you take it from. If you do it all above board I don't see why your
proposed site would not succeed in becoming a valuable resource for
everyone. Once online be sure to let me know and I will help you
advertise it at the povray.org links pages.

-- 
Ken Tyler - 1400+ POV-Ray, Graphics, 3D Rendering, and Raytracing Links:
http://home.pacbell.net/tylereng/index.html http://www.povray.org/links/

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On 17 May 2000 20:41:21 -0400, Doug Eichenberg wrote:
>I'm considering the possibility of creating a POV-Ray help site and I want
>to get some feedback.  Basically, what I have in mind is a website with the
>following:
>
>1. All the text from the newsgroups.
>4. A search function that accesses all of the above.

I wanted to do a search function that would redirect the searcher to the
actual newsgroup to display the "hits" (which would reduce load on my 
server and avoid the copyright concerns) but I discovered that there aren't
any good open-source text indexing programs that can update the indexes
incrementally, and reindexing 700+ megs of messages every night would 
leave my poor machine with no free time.  Someday I may break down and
write my own indexing program, but I have no delusions that it'll be an 
easy task or that I'll get it anywhere close to right the first time.

I guess what I'm saying is, you might not understand the sheer scope of 
what it is you're proposing to do.  It's not an easy job.

-- 
Ron Parker   http://www2.fwi.com/~parkerr/traces.html
These are my opinions.  I do NOT speak for the POV-Team.

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This is kind of what I had in mind for the Cyclopedia, but it's turning into a
user documentation site instead ( and very slowly at that.)

It's a tall order, and a lot of work. It can be hard getting permission from
people, and to be honest I never asked the admins myself, but I only quoted one
or two messages from the news group anyway.

I ran into trouble deciding how to format things, and I also found it difficult
to edit the content so it would fit into a unified whole. Indexing the thing is
also a bit of a challenge, I never managed to collect enough material to worry
about it, but that was my own failing.

Good luck with your venture, but you've created a really big project. I know,
because I've tried

Josh

Doug Eichenberg wrote:

> I'm considering the possibility of creating a POV-Ray help site and I want
> to get some feedback.  Basically, what I have in mind is a website with the
> following:
>
> 1. All the text from the newsgroups.
> 2. All the tutorial text that's floating around on the net.
> 3. All the example code floating around on the net.
> 4. A search function that accesses all of the above.
> 5. Any good ideas that other people have.
>
> I've already talked to an ISP about hosting it, and I'd be willing to do
> the work myself if enough people are interested.  Please let me know what
> you think of the idea.  I'm certainly not going to waste my time if no one
> is interested, so BE HONEST!  If you do like the idea, let me know what
> you'd like to see on such a site.
>
> Please don't hesitate to give me your opinions and suggestions, either here
> or by e-mail.  My e-mail address is:   dou### [at] nlsnet
>
> Thanks for your feedback.
>
> -Doug

--
Josh English
eng### [at] spiritonecom
"May your hopes, dreams, and plans not be destroyed by a few zeros."

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Well, as others have pointed out, this is a huge project you are
undertaking but if you get it running you'll be a hero in the POV
community ;)

PoD.

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