2nd RFD: comp.databases.oracle reorganization

From: Steve Cosner <stevec_at_csufresno.edu>
Date: 1996/07/14
Message-ID: <837302402.3023_at_uunet.uu.net>


                     REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
unmoderated group comp.databases.oracle.misc (renames comp.databases.oracle)
             unmoderated group comp.databases.oracle.dba
            unmoderated group comp.databases.oracle.tools
         unmoderated group comp.databases.oracle.marketplace

CHANGES from previous RFD:

Due to strong sentiment of those responding to the first RFD, the proposed group name for database administration topics has been changed from comp.databases.oracle.admin to comp.databases.oracle.dba.

This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) for the creation of world-wide unmoderated Usenet newsgroups. This is not a Call for Votes (CFV); you cannot vote at this time. Procedural details are below.

Newsgroups lines:

comp.databases.oracle.dba	Oracle database/server administration.
comp.databases.oracle.marketplace	Oracle-related jobs, etc.
comp.databases.oracle.misc	Oracle related topics.
comp.databases.oracle.tools	Oracle software tools/applications.


RATIONALE: all groups

The group comp.databases.oracle exists for posting a wide variety of articles related to the Oracle database and associated tools. This is an active group with 100 to 300 articles posted each day. The articles are generally quite specific, dealing with the Oracle database, administration of databases, management of tables, optimization of indexes, problems related to Oracle Forms, development tools in general, ways to improve screen design and so on. There are also a large number of postings on Oracle related jobs. The separation of these topics into relevant groups will improve the efficiency of these groups. It will facilitate reading and answering articles for those who have a more specific area of interest. A straw poll taken within the comp.databases.oracle news group indicates that a large majority favors splitting the group.

RATIONALE: comp.databases.oracle.misc

This group will provide a forum for topics which do not fall within any more specific comp.databases.oracle subgroup. Renaming the group should better define the subjects of articles posted there. The .misc suffix will help people reading the news group understand that it is a catch-all for miscellaneous topics.

The straw poll indicated that many preferred to keep comp.databases.oracle, with no name change. However, a larger percentage preferred to rename the group. This has been a topic of heated discussions in other groups within the Usenet. It is the decision of the proponents to go with the majority, with the hope that this will not cause too much controversy here.

RATIONALE: comp.databases.oracle.dba

This group will be a channel for database-administration-specific topics, a major area of Oracle discussions. The suffix, "dba" was chosen since this news group will be especially of interest to database administrators.

The dba suffix is a point of major concern due to the fact that it is an acronym which may not be understood by all encountering the comp.databases.oracle.* groups. A suffix of admin is preferred by some, since it is an abbreviation already in use in other newsgroups. However, it is the strong belief of the proponent that the DBA acronym will be better understood and less confusing to database newcomers than will the admin abbreviation. DBA is an acronym for "Database Administrator", a well-known title for the one primary individual who is responsible for keeping a database running smoothly, and handling many administrative duties involving an Oracle database.

It has been pointed out by others using comp.databases.oracle that the admin abbreviation may be confusing to those unfamiliar with the comp.databases.oracle newsgroups. Admin could be confused with computer administration, business administration, or administration of the comp.databases.oracle.* newsgroups.

The admin suffix was proposed in the initial RFD for the reorganization of comp.databases.oracle, and was met with quite a bit of opposition. A quick survey showed that the group preferred the dba suffix by a 2 to 1 margin.

It is hoped that all those involved in the newsgroup reorganization process will accept the dba suffix as the preferred one to use for the new group.

RATIONALE: comp.databases.oracle.tools

This group will provide a forum to discuss the wide range of tools and applications available from or for Oracle, which is now a major area of interest and generates much news group traffic.

RATIONALE: comp.databases.oracle.marketplace

This news group should provide a specific place for those interested in the Oracle-related job market, as well as any other Oraclerelated  products and services for sale or wanted. Creation of this group will provide relief to the many readers of the news group who are annoyed by the large number of commercial advertisement postings.

CHARTER: comp.databases.oracle.misc

Comp.databases.oracle.misc is a news group where topics generally related to the use of software from Oracle Corporation may be posted. This group provides a forum for topics which do not fall within any of the more specific comp.databases.oracle subgroups.

This news group is not intended as a marketplace where employment advertisements or commercial announcements may be posted. These should be directed to comp.databases.oracle.marketplace (unless it is not created by the CFV).

END CHARTER. CHARTER: comp.databases.oracle.dba

Comp.databases.oracle.dba is a newsgroup to discuss Oracle server and database administration subjects. Any topic which is especially of interest to those performing database or system administration duties is welcome in this group.

The following list is a sample of topics which are included in this news group:

    Oracle database or server installation     Database creation and development
    Database administration, tuning, monitoring     Techniques for more efficient access     Importing and Exporting data

END CHARTER. CHARTER: comp.databases.oracle.tools

Comp.databases.oracle.tools is a news group provided for discussion of software applications and tools available from Oracle Corporation, or designed to work with Oracle applications. Applications developers will find this most useful.

This group includes but is not limited to articles discussing applications and topics such as the following:

    Oracle Developer 2000 (Forms, Reports, Graphics)     Designer 2000
    The SQL Language, SQL Plus, PL/SQL
    Training and books

Due to the wide variety of applications which are discussed in this group, each article title should begin with the application it involves (examples: Forms4.5: Reports2.5: SQL/Plus: etc.) Do not use general titles such as "A simple question".

END CHARTER. CHARTER: comp.databases.oracle.marketplace

Comp.databases.oracle.marketplace is a news group provided for commercially oriented topics of interest to people using Oracle software. This group includes but is not limited to articles covering the following topics:

     jobs available
     positions wanted
     services offered
     software or hardware wanted or available for sale
     books and other literature available
     announcements of new products

Posting jobs available to any other comp.databases.oracle newsgroups should be avoided.

END CHARTER. CHARTER: all groups

Cross-posting articles to multiple comp.databases.oracle.* newsgroups should be avoided. If there is any question as to which group should be used, post to comp.databases.oracle.misc (assuming it is created). While some news servers deliver a cross-posted article to the reader only once, many others deliver the article an additional time for each group the reader accesses.

END CHARTER. PROCEDURE: This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes. In this phase of the process, any potential problems with the proposed newsgroups should raised and resolved. The discussion period will continue for a minimum of 21 days (starting from when the first RFD for this proposal is posted to news.announce.newgroups), after which a Call For Votes (CFV) will be posted by a neutral vote taker. Please do not attempt to vote until this happens.

All discussion of this proposal should be posted to news.groups.

This RFD attempts to comply fully with Usenet news group creation guidelines outlined in "How to Create a New Usenet News group" and "How to Format and Submit a New Group Proposal". Please refer to these documents (available in news.announce.newgroups) if you have questions about the process.

DISTRIBUTION: This RFD has been posted to the following newsgroups: news.announce.newgroups, news.groups, comp.databases.oracle, and the mailing list compiled by SV Singam

Proponent: Steve Cosner <stevec_at_csufresno.edu> Proponent: SV Singam <vijia_at_pop.jaring.my> Mentor: Jonathan Grobe <grobe_at_netins.net> Received on Sun Jul 14 1996 - 00:00:00 CEST

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