CHECK message

[Brian MacWhinney]

Dear ChiBolts,

New versions of CLAN include a warning message reminding you to run CHECK when saving your file.  We think it is important for people to realize the importance of CHECK.  This message will come up every fourth time you save your file.  Eventually, I imagine you will want to turn it off.  You can turn this message off in the CLAN Options box, but we hope that you still realize the importance of running CHECK. We have found that even proficient users of CLAN may not even realize the importance of running CHECK.  If files don't pass CHECK, programs can give wrong results, and data that are eventually contributed to CHILDES or TalkBank will not be in the right format.   So, this is a method of making sure we are all on the same page.

 

--Brian MacWhinney

[Lars Christian Jensen]

Dear Brian,

A good idea I think. However, I was wondering why not have the program run check on the file when saving it and notify the user whether the file passes the check or not? Just an idea. Thanks for all the good work :)
Best,
Lars

[Leonid Spektor]

Lars,

I am obviously not Brian, but I use CLAN for editing files too. My personal view, and I want to emphasize it is just my own view, is that I would prefer to be left on my recognizance and to be trusted that I will run check when I am ready, rather than have a supervisor constantly standing behind me and watching over my shoulder and criticizing my unfinished work every time I stop typing and save my work. I want to encourage people to save their work often and not to wait until they are done and ready to quit.

I still remember Microsoft Clippy character that was constantly trying to help while you do your work. If you don't remember or even know of that character, then it is because of how unpopular it was.

On the other hand, if by popular demand people want automatic CHECK every time the file is saved, then it can easily be implemented.

Leonid.

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[Brian MacWhinney]

Lars,

Yes, we thought about that.  The problem is that, while working with a file, there will often be a few unfinished things, such as a missing @End and so on that will fail CHECK.  We don't want to interfere with people's work, but we do need to remind them (particularly new users) of the importance of running CHECK.  The actual additional key strokes for running CHECK are pretty easy, just escape-L. 

 

--Brian

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[Lars Christian Jensen]

Brian & Leonid

I see both your points. I think we can all agree that Clippy should rest in peace, along with Bob. Personally, I would deactivate forced check or notification as I would do the check anyway. What is the problem here that you were attempting to solve with Brian's initial post? That people don't use the software appropriately, or that incorrectly formatted data are sumbitted to talkbank? If the latter, you might consider a forced check upon submission. I have never submitted to talkbank, so I don't know the procedure. If it is the former and you plan to bother the user with a messagebox anyway I would rather prefer a check over a reminder to run check. My plea for you however, is to enable us users to deactivate such a message.

All the best,
Lars

[Brian MacWhinney]

Lars,

 

   It is super easy to deactivate.  Just go into Edit -> CLAN Preferences and check "Do not remind me to run CHECK again".  Once a person has done this, then we know that they know that they are supposed to run CHECK.

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