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Direct-L Newbie Notes
last updated: 20feb2001
original version by Miles Lightwood
milesGTO@pobox.com


Q&A
Q1: How do I subscribe to DIRECT-L?
A1: Send (in the body of a message): SUBSCRIBE DIRECT-L FirstName LastName
To: listserv@listserv.uark.edu

Q2: How do I sign off DIRECT-L?
A2: Send (in the body of a message): SIGNOFF DIRECT-L
To: listserv@listserv.uark.edu

Q3: How do I get one big DIRECT-L message instead of 100 messages?
A3: Send (in the body of a message): SET DIRECT-L DIGEST
To: listserv@listserv.uark.edu

Q4: How do I get all the commands that the DIRECT-L listserv can respond to?
A4: Send : INFO REFCARD
To: listserv@listserv.uark.edu

Q5: Why don't I see my postings on DIRECT-L?
A5: You don't receive copies of your own postings by default when you subscribe to the list. Don't re-post simply because you don't see your own posting.
To get copies of your own postings,
Send: SET DIRECT-L REPRO
To: listserv@listserv.uark.edu

Q6: How do I send a message to everyone on the list?
A6: Send: <Your message>
To: DIRECT-L@listserv.uark.edu

Q6: How do I send a message to everyone on the list?
A6: Send: <Your message here>
To: direct-l@listserv.uark.edu

Q7: Where is THE ftp site, alias Marvyns site, alias sharedcast?
A7: Sorry Marvyn, but it's gone. Check the web sites below.

Q8: Where are some good Director World Wide Web sites?
A8:

Q9: Who is the DIRECT-L list owner? Who do I bug as a last resort?
A9: Eve M. Owens, <eve@moonflower.uark.edu>




Tips
Tip #1: Do all the tutorials that come with Director.

Tip #2: Read straight through all the manuals that come with Director.

Tip #3: Read them again.

Tip #4: Read "Mind Your Manners on Direct-L":
 http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/director/direct-l/

Tip #5: Read "Dowdell's Ten Commandments":
 http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/director/direct-l/dowdell-10.html

Tip #6: Search the DIRECT-L archives before posting to the list:
 http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/director/digest/
http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa.exe?S1=direct-l

Tip #7: Check the Director Tech Notes on Macromedia's site before posting:
 http://www.macromedia.com/support/director/index.html

Tip #8: Download demo movies. Go through each one and make sure you understand how it works.

Tip #9: Download Xtras Go through each one and make sure you understand what it allows you to do in Director which would be impossible or very difficult without it.

Tip #10: Get a version of the Macromedia Knowledge Base, aka the KB:
No longer exists. Try the Director Support Center
http://www.macromedia.com/support/director/index.html

Tip #11: Do tips 1-10 before posting questions to DIRECT-L. ;)




Alerts
Alert #1: DON'T ATTACH FILES to your questions or replys!. The DIRECT-L mailing list is already huge.

Alert #2: Understand that when you reply, everyone sees the reply. No one on the mailing list (including you) wants to see your resume or your reply to a survey. Make sure your not addressing DIRECT-L@listserv.uark.edu if what you are sending is intended to be private.

Alert #3:If you keep track of the list in digest form, check that your Subject line is correct when you reply to a post. It should be in the form 
  "Re:,<topic>,"
not: 
  "Re: DIRECT-L Digest - 9 Mar 1996 to 10 Mar 1996,"
which is what email clients will automatically enter.

Alert #4:Thousands of people are subscribed to Direct-L; at any time, several subscribers' email service is likely to be broken. If you post a message and receive a reply indicating a delivery problem, contrary to common sense, this tells you that your posting has been widely distributed to the list, and there's no need to repost.