Asking For Help?

Here are some ideas for getting help fast:

• Search the forums for key words (e.g. cgi, thread, py2exe, Tkinter). Maybe the question was asked before.
• Make the Title describe the problem.
• If you post code - use the code block # button on the form to preserve the layout. Indentation is critical. Experiment with the preview button!
• If the code is big (more than a screen) then attach it as a zip.
• If it is unusual, mention your configuration. (Like you are using Python version 1.5 on an a Amiga 500 with 4Mb memory). It is nice to know and can be useful.
• Generally people don't like being asked to do someone's homework assignment Particularly when the person has not done any research.
• Don't forget - Use the # button!

I suggest giving this a read:
How to Ask Questions the Smart Way

This FAQ shows you how to mark up text for the forum:
http://forums.devshed.com/misc.php?do=bbcode#code

I cant stress enough how important the use of code tags are when posting code! Especially here since Python uses white space to define the beginning and end of code blocks.

You can do this as discribed by Grim in this thread: http://forums.devshed.com/showthrea...t=109293&page=2

Happy posting,

Mark.

Also, don't just post up code and say "this doesn't work". This does not give enough enough information. You also need to state:

* what you expect the code to do.

* what the code actually does. If it throws an exception then give the traceback, or the last few lines if it is a long one. If it prints a result that you did not expect then say what it is. If you expected the answer 42 and it gave you 24 then say so, since without that information it would be virtually impossible for someone else to help.

* some example data, if applicable. e.g. if your code iterates over a list then give a short example list that causes it to fail.

* Try to create a minimal example that shows the failure. cutting and pasting hundreds of lines of code and data can be as unhelpful as posting not enough.

It is also often helpful to give some context information - what is the overall problem that this code is trying to solve? Often someone will be able to point out a better way of doing it, rather than fix low level problems with the code.

Dave - The Developers' Coach

Hers is some more advice on asking good questions:

1) assume someone has already asked the question in the past and got the perfect answer. devise a search query that will find that thread.

2) do the search - there is a good chance that it will succeed, in which case you have no need to post the question at all.

3) if the search fails, then post your question. In the title of the post include the search terms that you previously came up with. This will ensure that the title is relevant to the question so casual browsers of the forum will know whether it is something they can answer. It will also make it easy for future users with the same question to find the thread.

Dave

Also no cross posting.... errr i hate cross posters , its always best to keep your thread were it belongs.

As mentioned above - please post your code in CODE tags or HIGHLIGHT tags as this makes it easier for us to help you.

Code Tag Use:

You type:
[code]
# your code goes here...
for i in range( 0, 1 ):
print i
[/code]

It shows up like this:


Highlighting Code Tags:

If you want to get really cool looking code, use the HIGHLIGHT tags:
[highlight=python]
# your code goes here...
for i in range( 0, 1 ):
print i
[/highlight]

outputs this:


Also - keep this in mind:


If you're new here, you should probably read the General Forum Rules and the Frequently Asked Questions.

--Simon

also.. almost forgot.. please make your post as clear as posiable. this includes, Your code, and errors.

If you are looking for tutorials, google or go to www.awaretek.com/tutorials.html