Is is possible to postdate the Entry Date for an entry?

The documentation lists the ability to forward date an entry, but I don't 
see any ability to backdate an entry (edit the date to a date in the past).

Given that the entry date is part of the logbook entry file structure, it 
wasn't obvious how to make this change.

thanks

fred

> Is is possible to postdate the Entry Date for an entry?
> 
> The documentation lists the ability to forward date an entry, but I don't 
> see any ability to backdate an entry (edit the date to a date in the past).
> 
> Given that the entry date is part of the logbook entry file structure, it 
> wasn't obvious how to make this change.

The date is part of the logbook entry file structure because it's considered 
as a "stamp" which cannot be changed, so to document the real date when the 
message was written. In some installations this is very important.

If you need to change the date more freely, I would recommend to add another 
attribute which can be changed at will. Up to now this has to be a string 
variable so users have to make sure to enter the date in proper format, but 
you can prepopulate that with the current date like:

Attributes = Author, ..., Real date
Preset Real date = $date

This way the current date occurs in that field, but can be changed 
(backdated).

Note that the entry date can be changed directly in the YYMMDDa.log files in 
the data directory, if one has write access there and the elogd daemon is not 
running.

I noticed the site has been updated as far as the documentation for 2.3.1, 
however the latest version in the downloads section is 2.3.0, any other 
places where I can get 2.3.1

Cheers

> I noticed the site has been updated as far as the documentation for 2.3.1, 
> however the latest version in the downloads section is 2.3.0, any other 
> places where I can get 2.3.1
> 
> Cheers

Patience, patience! 2.3.1 is currently kind of in "beta" version, but will be 
released this week. Not that you can always get the latest snapshot from the 
CVS tree at

http://midas.psi.ch/cgi-bin/cvsweb/elog/src/elogd.c

- Stefan

Ive got 2 issues which I cant see to resolve I was wondering if anyone can 
help.

Problem 1 - Since upgrading to version 2.3.0 I seem to have lost the some 
functionality explained below.  When i first log into my logbook (i only 
have a single one) it defaults to the summary view and the first field is 
one called Customer Name as opposed to # as i wanted the list sorted by 
this field, the link for that logbook entry is no longer available on the 
first field (being Customer Name) but only on the # field), however if you 
use Summary threaded view the whole line is a link.

Is there a flag or setting to the make the first field a link?


Problem 2 - no matter what i try in the config file i cannot get elogd to 
use stylesheets ive tried specifying and even editing and removing the 
default.css style sheet i downloaded but it just seems to ignore its there.

Any help or advice ??????

> Problem 1 - Since upgrading to version 2.3.0 I seem to have lost the some 
> functionality explained below.  When i first log into my logbook (i only 
> have a single one) it defaults to the summary view and the first field is 
> one called Customer Name as opposed to # as i wanted the list sorted by 
> this field, the link for that logbook entry is no longer available on the 
> first field (being Customer Name) but only on the # field), however if you 
> use Summary threaded view the whole line is a link.

I revised the way links are placed into the summary table, so I could have 
lost some functionality (I did not try all config combinations since there 
are too many now). So I can fix your problem in two ways now: Either always 
have the first item in a list be a link, or have each item be the (same) 
link. What do you think is a better solution?

> Problem 2 - no matter what i try in the config file i cannot get elogd to 
> use stylesheets ive tried specifying and even editing and removing the 
> default.css style sheet i downloaded but it just seems to ignore its there.

First question: Does your elog pages have color? If so, the default.css is 
loaded correctly. Otherwise your page would contain text but all would be 
white.

So I presume you see color, that means your default.css is loaded correctly. 
It can now be that your browser caches that stylesheet. I use MS Internet 
Explorer and Mozilla and a "reload" on the browsers refreshes the 
stylesheet, but you really have to press the "reload" button (or clear the 
browser cache). Have you tried that?

- Stefan

> I revised the way links are placed into the summary table, so I could have 
> lost some functionality (I did not try all config combinations since there 
> are too many now). So I can fix your problem in two ways now: Either always 
> have the first item in a list be a link, or have each item be the (same) 
> link. What do you think is a better solution?

I think the first option is the better one, having the first columns data in 
the list be linkable for example i am using this to store customer 
configuration and the list needs to be in alphabetical order so it has to be 
the first column but needs to be linkable :)

Would be nice if you can specify which columns data has links as a flag or 
setting of some sorts, as opposed to either the first or all, but given a 
choice I would want the first column to be the linkable one 

My config looks like this

Display search = Customer Name, Account ID, Author, Date, #

I think the better option is first item (being the first column entries) all 
have links to the logbook entries (which is how it was in the previous 
version) 

> 
> > Problem 2 - no matter what i try in the config file i cannot get elogd to 
> > use stylesheets ive tried specifying and even editing and removing the 
> > default.css style sheet i downloaded but it just seems to ignore its 
there.

I resolved this problem, many thanks for your help

> Would be nice if you can specify which columns data has links as a flag or 
> setting of some sorts, as opposed to either the first or all, but given a 
> choice I would want the first column to be the linkable one 

Well, I decided to make all entries in a table a link, to be consistent with 
the threaded display. But I changed the style such that they look like 
before, but are actually links. This way it cannot hurt (like having too 
much underlined text). The style can be changed via classes ".list1" 
and ".list2" in the style sheet.

The modification will come in 2.3.1, or you can get the source code from CVS 
under 

http://midas.psi.ch/cgi-bin/cvsweb/elog/src/elogd.c

and

http://midas.psi.ch/cgi-bin/cvsweb/elog/themes/default/default.css

> > > Problem 2 - no matter what i try in the config file i cannot get elogd 
to 
> > > use stylesheets ive tried specifying and even editing and removing the 
> > > default.css style sheet i downloaded but it just seems to ignore its 
> there.
> 
> I resolved this problem, many thanks for your help

What happened. If you tell your initial problems, I can maybe put something 
into the docs so that others won't have it...

- Stefan

> > > > Problem 2 - no matter what i try in the config file i cannot get 
elogd 
> to 
> > > > use stylesheets ive tried specifying and even editing and removing 
the 
> > > > default.css style sheet i downloaded but it just seems to ignore its 
> > there.
> > 
> > I resolved this problem, many thanks for your help
> 
> What happened. If you tell your initial problems, I can maybe put something 
> into the docs so that others won't have it...
> 
> - Stefan

I upgraded to version 2.3.0 the previous version didnt seem to work with 
stylesheets, when you viewed the html source there was no stylesheet defined 
in it.

Please see my other posts for feature requests.

Many Thanks - FANTASTIC program btw

Stefan,

When will you have 2.3.1 out? I just upgraded to 2.3.0 and would like to see
the links in my summary view. If it is going to be out soon I will wait
instead of compiling from source.

Thanks for great software,
k.

> > Would be nice if you can specify which columns data has links as a flag or 
> > setting of some sorts, as opposed to either the first or all, but given a 
> > choice I would want the first column to be the linkable one 
> 
> Well, I decided to make all entries in a table a link, to be consistent with 
> the threaded display. But I changed the style such that they look like 
> before, but are actually links. This way it cannot hurt (like having too 
> much underlined text). The style can be changed via classes ".list1" 
> and ".list2" in the style sheet.
> 
> The modification will come in 2.3.1, or you can get the source code from CVS 
> under 
> 
> http://midas.psi.ch/cgi-bin/cvsweb/elog/src/elogd.c
> 
> and
> 
> http://midas.psi.ch/cgi-bin/cvsweb/elog/themes/default/default.css
> 
> > > > Problem 2 - no matter what i try in the config file i cannot get elogd 
> to 
> > > > use stylesheets ive tried specifying and even editing and removing the 
> > > > default.css style sheet i downloaded but it just seems to ignore its 
> > there.
> > 
> > I resolved this problem, many thanks for your help
> 
> What happened. If you tell your initial problems, I can maybe put something 
> into the docs so that others won't have it...
> 
> - Stefan

> When will you have 2.3.1 out? I just upgraded to 2.3.0 and would like to 
see
> the links in my summary view. If it is going to be out soon I will wait
> instead of compiling from source.

2.3.1 will come out next week, since this week I'm at home. But you always 
can get the sources from CVS (see below).

> > The modification will come in 2.3.1, or you can get the source code from 
CVS 
> > under 
> > 
> > http://midas.psi.ch/cgi-bin/cvsweb/elog/src/elogd.c
> > 
> > and
> > 
> > http://midas.psi.ch/cgi-bin/cvsweb/elog/themes/default/default.css

When you do a find in elog, records per page (some crazy large number - for 
your forum logbook, display 57 entries seem to cause the problem, then 
select last year (1 years worth of logs),(don't select printable)

the results appear way off the screen (the message body looks fine, but the 
title, etc extend way off the screen).

Printable doesn't have this problem.

> When you do a find in elog, records per page (some crazy large number - for 
> your forum logbook, display 57 entries seem to cause the problem, then 
> select last year (1 years worth of logs),(don't select printable)
> 
> the results appear way off the screen (the message body looks fine, but the 
> title, etc extend way off the screen).
> 
> Printable doesn't have this problem.

I could not reproduce this problem. Can you send me the exact URL (the 
address with all the parameters from your browser's address bar like 
http://midas.psi.ch/elogdemo/Forum/?npp=57...) and tell me exactly under 
which browser this happens?

Can you consider implementing the following additions to the functionality

1) Subt on edit <attribute> = xyz 

This would be fantastic for implementing version control so you can see who 
has edited a posted or a db entry.

2) Have a SORT fieldname flag so you can decide which column to sort things 
by on a display listing in conjunction to the display flags, it current 
defaults to the # column and I find i am directly linking to a sorted 
display

3) Have the elogd.conf track actual log entries people have changed 
detailing date and time etc.

4) Ability to export contents of the log books to files on disk for backup 
purposes as all data is contained within a single log file which causes 
problem for command line searches.


Many thanks 

> Can you consider implementing the following additions to the functionality
> 
> 1) Subt on edit <attribute> = xyz 
> 
> This would be fantastic for implementing version control so you can see 
who 
> has edited a posted or a db entry.

Can you give me an example of how you would use that?
 
> 2) Have a SORT fieldname flag so you can decide which column to sort 
things 
> by on a display listing in conjunction to the display flags, it current 
> defaults to the # column and I find i am directly linking to a sorted 
> display

Sorting is not done by the "#" column but by the sequence when messages have 
been entered. You can sort the table differently by clicking on the table 
titles (twice for reverse sort). To sort by default on a column, for example 
sort by the author, you can add

Start page = ?sort=author

into elogd.cfg which does the job.

> 3) Have the elogd.conf track actual log entries people have changed 
> detailing date and time etc.

Revision management is not forseen by the structure of the ELOG database. 
What you can do is if you edit a message you check "Resubmit as new entry", 
then you keep a copy of the old version. 

> 4) Ability to export contents of the log books to files on disk for backup 
> purposes as all data is contained within a single log file which causes 
> problem for command line searches.

Well, you have already all log book files on disk in a simple format:

YYMMDDa.log

(Year/Month/Day) which you can easily backup. By a mask like 02*a.log you 
can backup all data from 2002 and so on. The idea of having separate log 
files for each day is to have this possibility to simply backup various date 
intervals. 

What kind of command line searches are you interested in?

- Stefan

> > Can you consider implementing the following additions to the functionality
> > 
> > 1) Subt on edit <attribute> = xyz 
> > 
> > This would be fantastic for implementing version control so you can see 
> who 
> > has edited a posted or a db entry.
> 
> Can you give me an example of how you would use that?

-----

Lets say you are storing configuration information relating to a customers 
solution, you need the ability to track who has made what changes to the 
config information stored in the log book so you can backtrack who changed 
what and when, for example

If you have a field name called Last Edited by this field is locked and not 
editable using the Lock attributes flag, but if you had Subt on edit 
everytime that entry is updated it places your login name into this field and 
therefore stamps it to say you have edited it, as the field isnt free txt it 
cant be spoofed as the $long_name comes from your login details.

-----
>  
> > 2) Have a SORT fieldname flag so you can decide which column to sort 
> things 
> > by on a display listing in conjunction to the display flags, it current 
> > defaults to the # column and I find i am directly linking to a sorted 
> > display
> 
> Sorting is not done by the "#" column but by the sequence when messages 
have 
> been entered. You can sort the table differently by clicking on the table 
> titles (twice for reverse sort). To sort by default on a column, for 
example 
> sort by the author, you can add
> 
> Start page = ?sort=author
> 
> into elogd.cfg which does the job.
----
Excellent I didnt know what Ill try that tomorrow

----

 

> > > Can you consider implementing the following additions to the 
functionality
> > > 
> > > 1) Subt on edit <attribute> = xyz 
> > > 
> > > This would be fantastic for implementing version control so you can see 
> > who 
> > > has edited a posted or a db entry.
> > 
> > Can you give me an example of how you would use that?
> 
> -----
> 
> Lets say you are storing configuration information relating to a customers 
> solution, you need the ability to track who has made what changes to the 
> config information stored in the log book so you can backtrack who changed 
> what and when, for example
> 
> If you have a field name called Last Edited by this field is locked and not 
> editable using the Lock attributes flag, but if you had Subt on edit 
> everytime that entry is updated it places your login name into this field 
and 
> therefore stamps it to say you have edited it, as the field isnt free txt 
it 
> cant be spoofed as the $long_name comes from your login details.

Ok, I implemented "Subst on edit", it will be contained in Version 2.3.1 
which is supposed to come out next week.

- Stefan

Hi Stefan,

Many users have there email forward to Blackberry devices.  Although I 
wasn't aware, it appears the Blackberry has a limit (or maybe one was set) 
of how big the message can be (still checking for that though).

Previously, a modification was made that addressed the issue of slow ELOG 
response when saving the elog entry.   I think the change was for ELOG to 
generate one email and send to all the users designated to receive the 
notification.  This caused everyone to show up as "TO" addresses.

This change makes the Email header increase in size (length).  I guess the 
Blackberry counts the Header portion as part of the email size limit.

Any ideas?

Thanks, 
Eric

Another Question:  Could ELOG be configured to send notifications as a Blind 
Copy?  Just wondering if that would take care of the problem?

> Hi Stefan,
> 
> Many users have there email forward to Blackberry devices.  Although I 
> wasn't aware, it appears the Blackberry has a limit (or maybe one was set) 
> of how big the message can be (still checking for that though).
> 
> Previously, a modification was made that addressed the issue of slow ELOG 
> response when saving the elog entry.   I think the change was for ELOG to 
> generate one email and send to all the users designated to receive the 
> notification.  This caused everyone to show up as "TO" addresses.
> 
> This change makes the Email header increase in size (length).  I guess the 
> Blackberry counts the Header portion as part of the email size limit.
> 
> Any ideas?
> 
> Thanks, 
> Eric

I just noticed that the notifications I receive from your ELOG system, 
doesn't show anyone in the "TO:" section but myself.  Or is ELOG configured 
to only send myself a message?


> Another Question:  Could ELOG be configured to send notifications as a 
Blind 
> Copy?  Just wondering if that would take care of the problem?
> 
> > Hi Stefan,
> > 
> > Many users have there email forward to Blackberry devices.  Although I 
> > wasn't aware, it appears the Blackberry has a limit (or maybe one was 
set) 
> > of how big the message can be (still checking for that though).
> > 
> > Previously, a modification was made that addressed the issue of slow ELOG 
> > response when saving the elog entry.   I think the change was for ELOG to 
> > generate one email and send to all the users designated to receive the 
> > notification.  This caused everyone to show up as "TO" addresses.
> > 
> > This change makes the Email header increase in size (length).  I guess 
the 
> > Blackberry counts the Header portion as part of the email size limit.
> > 
> > Any ideas?
> > 
> > Thanks, 
> > Eric

> I just noticed that the notifications I receive from your ELOG system, 
> doesn't show anyone in the "TO:" section but myself.  Or is ELOG 
configured 
> to only send myself a message?

This is on purpose. I have many people registered for the Forum. So when a 
notification is sent, it is not a good idea if everybody sees everybody 
else's mail addresses. Therefor I have 

Omit Email to = 1

in the config file. This way the "To:" field is omitted to "hide" the mail 
recipients from each other. Your mail client realizes that and fills in your 
own address automatically, that's why you only see yourself. Maybe you try 
that option, might help with your previous problem as well.

- Stefan

When ELOG is configured for Self-Register=3, is it still possible
to use the Author attribute as a Quick Filter? 

When I try it, the Author drop down box doesn't display anything.

Thanks,
Eric

> When ELOG is configured for Self-Register=3, is it still possible
> to use the Author attribute as a Quick Filter? 
> 
> When I try it, the Author drop down box doesn't display anything.
> 
> Thanks,
> Eric

The "Quick Filter" facility only works for attributes which are avaiable as 
an "Options <attribute> = ..." list. So if you have a "free" attribute like 
the author, the systen would have to scan the whole logbook to find all 
possible authors, which would result in some unacceptable performance 
degradation. Nevertheless, in systems with a limited number of authors one 
can add the "options author = ..." statement to get the selection box. The 
behaviour is independent of the "Self-Register" setting.

I'm interested using elog for a lab notebook.  Once entries have been
entered they cannot be changed/edited.
Is it possible for elog to be setup to support something like this?  A write
only mode?

> I'm interested using elog for a lab notebook.  Once entries have been
> entered they cannot be changed/edited.
> Is it possible for elog to be setup to support something like this?  A write
> only mode?

What you need is an entry in the elogd.cfg file:

Manu commands = Back, New, Reply, Find, Config, Logout, Help

As you see, the "Edit" and "Delete" commands are missing here and therefore 
do not get displayed. So you can enter a message with "New", but you cannot 
change it afterwards.

Does this truly disable the edit command or just hide it?

> > I'm interested using elog for a lab notebook.  Once entries have been
> > entered they cannot be changed/edited.
> > Is it possible for elog to be setup to support something like this?  A write
> > only mode?
> 
> What you need is an entry in the elogd.cfg file:
> 
> Manu commands = Back, New, Reply, Find, Config, Logout, Help
> 
> As you see, the "Edit" and "Delete" commands are missing here and therefore 
> do not get displayed. So you can enter a message with "New", but you cannot 
> change it afterwards.

> Does this truly disable the edit command or just hide it?

You're right! In some earlier versions, it did disable it, but in 2.2.5 it 
just hides it. I fixed that bug and from 2.3.0 on it will really disable 
that command again, such that if someone enters manually

http://midas.psi.ch/elogdemo/Forum/202?cmd=Edit

will produce and error if the command is not in the menu list.