alphabetizing sheets

[cuchuflete]

Help!

Another problem from cross-posting: If the manager is doing alphabetizing of the source list with any frequency, it will become very difficult and time-consuming to synchronize cross-posts. It will not be possible to simply copy and paste a column to the master file.

To avoid total chaos, I suggest the manager only alphabetize once a week, and ask a mod to temporarily lock/close the thread for an hour or so, announcing in the thread the time when it will be closed for housekeeping.
This isn't a total or perfect solution, but it may help keep the job from getting too crazy.

Your thoughts?

 

[Agnès E.]

A most sensible solution, which will enable minimum chaos.

 

[cuchuflete]

A most sensible solution, which will enable minimum chaos.

Merci Angès,
Since we began this glossary work, I have become convinced that my new job is that of Minimalist chaos enabler.

Qua,
Cuchu

 

[Agnès E.]

Good for your jargon thread!

Minimalist Chaos Enabler = Glossary mod

 

[OlivierG]

I agree, even if I don't think it will be necessary to close the thread during this process.
It would need the glossary owner to wait for a mod to be available, then wait for him to lock the thread, then wait again for him to unlock the thread before being able to post the result.

And it would only avoid very rare cases of cross-posting, which doesn't worth the work, in my opinion.

 

[cuchuflete]

Thanks Olivier...
I think you are correct as things stand right now, with just a few glossaries working.
In the future, with dozens of active glossaries, the number of rare instances may become something of a problem. If so, we might simply schedule one hour per week, for example 15:00 to 16:00 GMT, for all glossaries to be 'suspended' for synchronization.
If the manager of one is not available, life continues. For available managers and mods, this might be routine and simple.

Let's keep thinking, and see how things develop.

 

[VenusEnvy]

I'm a bit confused, I think. So, the master of the thread should alphabetize it every now and then? But, if the last sheet is supposed to be the most up-to-date one, why don't we foreros do it ourselves?

I've been away for a few days, so perhaps I missed something... The last sheet posted still stands as the most up-to-date, right?

I just participated in the Social Niceties forum, adding sheet #6. Previouly, Who had listed whathe had done, and asked that the next person alphabetize it. So, I did. Problem fixed. Right?

Thoughts?

 

[cuchuflete]

I'm a bit confused, I think. So, the master of the thread should alphabetize it every now and then? But, if the last sheet is supposed to be the most up-to-date one, why don't we foreros do it ourselves?

I've been away for a few days, so perhaps I missed something... The last sheet posted still stands as the most up-to-date, right?

I just participated in the Social Niceties forum, adding sheet #6. Previouly, Who had listed whathe had done, and asked that the next person alphabetize it. So, I did. Problem fixed. Right?

Thoughts?

I'm perpetually confused, but the alphabetization will drive thread managers bonkers. My advice: Don't do it more than once a week.

Why? It's cosmetic, and it will lead to a mess when there are cross posts.

Imagine this scenario:

Version 19, of the rhubarb and pomegranite glossary

Language # 1............Lang. #2
alpharhubarb.............alfarubarbia
beta pomegran...........bemagranite
acrogranite...............akrogranite

You are busy alphabetizing #19, to create #26, when along comes a Lang. 3 speaker. They add a column, in the version 19 order.

Language # 1............Lang. #2...........Lang.#3
alpharhubarb.............alfarubarbia...... aphabarba
beta pomegran...........bemagranite......bettragranìt
acrogranite...............akrogranite........ackranigit

Pre-alphabet update, you could have simply copied and pasted the Lang. #3 column into your master copy. But now, that will put the words in the wrong order, so you will have to edit it manually, cutting and pasting words, to get the last Lang. 3 entry in the right place.

That's why I suggest closing/locking the thread before re-alphabetizing. It's not foolproof, but it will reduce the need for lots of extra work and proofreading.