Month: March 2018

Introducing a multiple language listing for the Seven Gates newsletter was a relatively easy task, making the necessary modifications for the files and pieces of code that depend on the same files and code that make the multiple language listing possible proved far more daunting.

In the short run, the benefit of a multi-lingual introductory newsletter may prove unworthy of its cost of implementation.  In the long run, however, I cannot help but believe that it was well worth the effort.  In any case, the worst of it is now water under the bridge, and I can at last begin the implementation of Matomo — Grammar Captive’s Google Analytics without Google.

Roddy

In order to sign up for a Grammar Captive account a user must enter his native tongue.  In his confirmation email is included this language.  When he confirms this information is sent to the database, and the user receives a copy of Seven Gates in his preferred language automatically.  Whereupon he can choose to subscribe, if he has not already, or even unsubscribe, if he changes his mind.

An introductory letter in your native tongue is likely to be more easily digested and encourage subscription or discourage unsubscription.  Once received, advanced users can select the English version with a simple click, if they so prefer.

The multilingual nature of Grammar Captive is an important selling point of the site, and now users will be able to select newsletters in the language of their choice.  This is the newest addition to the Grammar Captive mainpage.

At present there is only one alternative language — namely, Japanese;  this said, the technology is now in place for many more.

When you land on the page look for the word Archives under the heading Regular Updates / Weekly Newsletter in the navigation bar, or alternatively, perform a search in Japanese or English under the heading Search Grammar Captive.

Nearly a week has been lost due to a failed system upgrade, but we are nearly back on track.  Certainly the fundamentals for a mass mailing in multiple languages is now in place, and the long promised counter that replaces Google Analytics has already been installed.  What remains is coordinating the data bases for the mass mailing  and choosing what to count for Grammar Captive’s substitute for Google Analytics — namely, Matomo.

Roddy

小さな一歩でも、日本人は国語で文法キャプチッブの「Seven Gates」というニューズレターの初版を読めます。取り敢えず、国語初版は第一の版として、英語で書いたレターと一緒に同様のアーカイブに保管されています。アーカイブの第二ページにご覧ください。も少し初版だけではなく、全部の国語で書いたレターは自分のアーカイブに預かられます。

Roddy

Grammar Captive has produced its first Japanese newsletter.  It is currently listed as Letter No. 1 on Page 2 in the newsletter archive.  In an effort to not to confuse readers, however, the creation of separate archives for different languages is now under way.  This will insure the integrity of the letter numbering, as well as uniformity in the formatting of different languages.

Hopefully, the last of two remaining development tasks before the new counter is initiated and podcast production begins!

Roddy

While creating the Grammar Captive online search engines an important design flaw in the way many of the site’s forms were created was discovered. Users could submit their data by clicking on the button provided, but they could not submit it by depressing their ENTER/RETURN key.  In fact, when they depressed the key, the page would refresh and their data would vanish.  As many users would be discouraged by this outcome and fail to submit their data, and as many users are surely accustomed to submitting their data by this latter method, a solution had to be found.

After three days of experimentation users can now submit their data with the button or the key.  This success has led, however, to still another task:  fixing the design flaw for all of the other forms — another unwanted, but necessary delay.

A thankful, but weary developer.

Roddy

Users are no longer limited by the options provided by Grammar Captive for their selection of information. Users can now query the newsletter, podcast, and question-answer data tables using their own search information!

By way of example go to the Grammar Captive mainpage and click on Newsletters, Podcasts, or Q&A under the heading Search Grammar Captive in the navigation bar Having clicked enter the following italicized words or phrases:

• Newsletters:  lorem ipsum
• Podcasts:  podcast
• Q&A: Frage

and watch what happens.  Please keep in mind that these selections are based on non-information included merely as a surrogate for real information that will be provided in the future.  For the moment, the focus is on the mechanics, not the substance.

Roddy