attachment issues (non-Freudian)

[Corticus]

Hi all,

Allright, I don't know if I'm retarded or what, but I cannot get attachments to work. I've tried several files, all small, all .zip files. I get getting a message the file type in not valid. This is an awesome feature and I'd like to use it...

Thanks!

[Corticus]

Goody!

Somebody fixed it (kinda). Before, I noticed the noted max attachment size was 0 bytes. Its still says that now on this post as I'm writing, but I just posted an attachment in the Access room and it worked. The max attachment size that is noted there is not 0 bytes, but some normal size.

Strange...

[Anne Troy]

Yep!

Suat fixed it!

:)

The "0" is supposed to mean "any" file size, not zero. If we want zero, we choose not to allow uploads.

:)

Yep. Weird.

Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Cort!

[Corticus]

Thanks Dreamboat and Suat!

Nice job!

Seems to work everywhere now.

It is really nice to be able to attach files to threads. This great feature is conspicuously missing from some other sites....

[smozgur]

Originally posted by Corticus

It is really nice to be able to attach files to threads. This great feature is conspicuously missing from some other sites....

I agree! ;)

[Mark O'Brien]

Yeah, it means my junior virus writer kit is going to become all kinds of handy. :D j/k

(download files from me at your own risk)

[Anne Troy]

I know where you live.
:D

Ok. Now that I have you all together...

What attachment types shall we allow?

Are zip and txt enough?

I'm not in any way a paranoid person, and I do back up the forum at LEAST once every 6 months (LOL)...

I've currently got no size limit either.

Put your TOE shoes on, Mark. By the way, did I make you an Admin? Perhaps we should let you into the private forum. Hee hee. Think you can behave?

[NateO]

Howdy, Mark behave? Me no think so. :D

While I cringe a little at Mark's post, he raises a good point, some of us are not as well intended as others. But y'all can write code like crazy, I can confidently say you can't touch us in Excel. There are two steps to follow.

First, in any Excel workbook, before opening the workbook run the following:

<pre><font size=+0>
Sub Stop_De_Goofs()
Application.EnableEvents = False
End Sub</pre></font>

And when you're opening the Excel file, hold your shift key while clicking enable macros. You've just disallowed both event procedures and auto macros to run themseleves, which would be the culprits of such nonsense.

Once you've reviewed the code and are more comfortable with the file you enable the events:

<pre><font size=+0>
Sub Confident()
Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub</pre></font>

As a side note, the board here is benevolent in nature. Actions contrary to that nature are not appreciated. Keep in mind that you are recording your actions while you're posting here (& elsewhere) and that people (& governments) are becoming more weary of people who enjoy submitting viruses (and rightfully so).

Food for thought.

[Anne Troy]

LMAOPMP.

Methinks metalks too much BS.


Here's the real question guys. The one I'd like opinions on. (Pay attention, Nate, LOL!!!)



What file types should we allow to be attached?

What size limit (if any) should we enforce?

I'm a woman!! I can't make these decisions myself!!!


(Am I accomodating, or what!? I've just given you every opportunity to bust on me. I'm counting on it!)

[Corticus]

Hi all!

A couple of thoughts...

As users, I think we can take some steps to reduce virus issues. I would never download a file from a poster I wasn't famiiar with (ie you guys) We aren't really at any more risk than when we ask someone to e-mail us an attachment. Anyone so motivated could use RTF to send an HTML virus right off the post (I think :) ) or a flash object to route you to a site that would infect your PC anyways. I like the application.enableevents = False idea. You could even put a button on your toolbar to turn events on and off so you could look at code before you execute any macros.

I like the idea of just allowing txt and zip files.

I would see if size becomes an issue, the files shouldn't be all that big but it might be annoying if you do need a big one, and you can't upload it.

cya,
Corticus

[Mark O'Brien]

If you allow *.zip files, then you've got everything covered. To be honest as well though, lots of Excel and Word examples are going to be really small and it would be a pain to force people to zip them. e.g. if I have an example with a userform and some code in Excel, unless there's a shedload of example data, we're looking at a 25kb file. Basically, I think it would be an idea to allow valid common Office files as well. .xls, .db, .ppt is Word still ".doc"? (it's been so long, viva la Notepad :D )

I would suggest a limit on size for non-zip files as well. I'm no longer dial-up impaired, but I would say if it's bigger than 75-100kb, then people should be forced to zip the file.

I know this is probably obvious as well, I don't know how the filename filtering works here, but any files with a file name with two extensions should automatically be barred e.g. *.txt.doc or *.doc.vbs.

The first example probably a simple user error, but the *.xxx.xxx structure has been a recent favourite in spreading virii.

There's a secret forum on this site? Is that where you guys all go to conspire against the simple plebians like myself? :D

Corticus, it may shock you to learn that I only just installed some virus software on my PC after having it for 18 months. :o

I agree with your point as well about only downloading from people you trust, but then again the nature of this forum is that we're helping people that initially are strangers. Personally, I wouldn't trust me as far as I could throw me, if I didn't know that I am honest, sweet and endearing.

...but remember, a stranger is just a friend we haven't met yet. :D

[NateO]

Here's the real question guys. The one I'd like opinions on. (Pay attention, Nate, LOL!!!)

Okay, must focus. :D


What file types should we allow to be attached?

I like Mark's idea, I think the issue becomes more of one size, e.g., download time/board performance & capacity.


What size limit (if any) should we enforce?

There shouldn't be any reason for an Excel example related to a specific question to be much bigger than 100 kb. I don't need all 20,000 images to create the loop. :D Winzip isn't too bad though, you can launch directly from the software.... Similar with Word, these files should be trimmed way down before attaching.


I'm a woman!! I can't make these decisions myself!!!
(Am I accommodating, or what!? I've just given you every opportunity to bust on me. I'm counting on it!)

Yeah right, this is bait. Many a man has never recovered from an ill-conceived response to something like this. :D

[Corticus]

Nate0 wrote:
Yeah right, this is bait. Many a man has never recovered from an ill-conceived response to something like this.

Yeah, I wouldn't touch that one.

And Mark, I just upgraded to a new PC. The one I've been using never had a scrap of virus protection on it, and I was online constantly all over the web. In three years I never had one virus. Nothing. The thing still works like a champ despite being taken apart and put back together a dozen times, in addition to taking a couple good boots (the kind with my foot, not a disk).

At work we have a firewall, Mcaffee (sp?), and Norton Antivirus always running with constant definition updates, and we are always having virus issues. I have this theory, and I'm sure I'm not alone, that companies like Norton and McAffee propagate these viruses to boost sales. I mean, what easier way to create a need for your product.

On a more paranoid note, I also suspect they introduce security holes so that they can open the door to infection wide-open for themselves.

This is just the result of observing how little trouble (or complete lack of trouble) I've had with completely unprotected PCs vs ones armed to the teeth.

Not that there aren't plenty of other viruses out there....

Now, what was this thread about, again? :)

(looking over back)
watch out!

[Anne Troy]

You've got no room to talk, Cort. You may recall (scroll up) how you opened (scroll up) this questions (scroll up). Something like:

Allright, I don't know if I'm retarded or what...

I thought it was a rhetorical question.

As for the rest of you, let me know when you learn PHP programming so that you can customize the board software and set all this lovely criteria.

Meanwhile, we'll have to limit ourselves to extension types separated by spaces, and by a size limit....just one, mind you. There is no formula bar in which to place an IF statement.

[Mark O'Brien]

As for the rest of you, let me know when you learn PHP programming so that you can customize the board software and set all this lovely criteria.


I thought you were asking for opinions, not offers of services. Jeez. It must be true, us men just really don't understand you women. No, it's ok, don't apologise, it's obviously our fault for misunderstanding. :rolleyes:

Besides, I thought Suat was the resident web geek.

[Anne Troy]

Honestly, playing with PHP is one thing. Playing with PHP in somebody else's software is another....

The guy at http://forums.techguy.org majorly customizes his vBulletin board, and I know it's not easy. He's our web host, so if I get in (PHP) trouble, he can take a look.

Do you know why Suat knows PHP? Because we built this WAY cool web-interface restaurant menu, where the owner can go in and change his menus whenever necessary instead of calling his web designer, right? WAY COOL. Access/ASP.

We rent the damn space and it's PHP/MySQL. Stupid, Anne. You're VERY stupid. Within a week, Suat, who'd never previously done any PHP coding, figured out how to convert this ASP thing into PHP. It still doesn't work quite right, but what a product for TOE to sell, huh? :)

I really don't want to get into all that customizing and have nightmares when I have to get upgrades, etc. I already have to pay for the software...

And hey....we moved the thing from one server to another over New Years, and I'm AMAZED we didn't have more problems doing that!

:D

And I'll never apologize for being a woman. :cool: