Bizarre Problem with Easy Access Buttons and SDMB

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1

I’m wondering if anyone else has seen this problem or has a possible solution.

I have a Compaq keyboard with programmable Easy Access Buttons. These are little buttons above my function keys which can be programmed to open a software program or website directly. I have programmed each button with one of my favorite websites, and I find it very convenient to be able to just click, for instance, the “Google” button, and have a new browser window instantly open to Google.

However, try as I might, I cannot program one of these buttons to work effectively when opening the site I visit most frequently, the SDMB. If I just type or copy in the standard link, http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb, for some reason the system replaces the lower case “sdmb” with an upper case “SDMB” and the link does not work. I tried a workaround by browsing directly to the SDMB file in my Favorites folder, and now at least I can get the SDMB to open. However, I cannot get multiple instances of the site. If for instance, I have a Google window open, and I push the “Google” button, a second window opens with Google. No matter how times I push the button, I keep getting more Google windows. But if I push the SDMB (or sdmb) button a second time, the original SDMB browser just flashes. Worse, if I am already in an SDMB thread, and decide I want a second SDMB browser, pushing the button will cause my existing SDMB window to revert to the main forums page. This happens whether or not the SDMB is the active window at the time.

Any ideas what is going here? I know that I could just use the pre-programmed Straight Dope Front Page button and click on “Message Boards”, but now that I’ve spent some time on this problem, I’d like to be able to resolve it.

2

I really don’t know how to address your problems, but here’s one idea. If it’s converting your URL to uppercase, you can just make your URL equal to http://boards.straightdope.com/ and you’ll be transferred to the sdmb subdirectory automatically.

3

Thank you! Switching to http://boards.straightdope.com seems to have solved all of my problems. Maybe the Easy Access Buttons don’t cope well with subdirectories. I knew I could count on Dopers.

4

Alright, sweet. My Uselessness Quotient is coming down at last. :smiley:

5

Maybe you can save yourself (and the server) a fraction of a second for the redirection. Did you try http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/ (with the trailing slash)?

6

Hey! Stop that. Who in their right mind would wanna bypass the front page with the link to the daily column? How do expect to ever become enlightened if you zip right past Cecil’s bitterly imparted wisdom? Going directly to the message board, indeed. If we could figure a way, you’d have to read the column every day before entering the message board area.

7

What? There’s a daily column?

8

Hey, I said in my OP that I already have a pre-programmed button that leads to the Straight Dope Front Page (it’s actually the “Home” button, the one with the little house on it). But once I’ve read the column, and Threadspotting, and visited the Weird Earl, I like to get right down to business on the boards.

Zip right past Cecil’s wisdom, indeed! I do read the column daily, even if it’s one from 1975 that I’ve already read six times. Staff Reports too.

9

Yeah, I think everyone does that. And anyway, I’m pretty sure that most of us access the message board about 15 times a day. That’s 14 extra hits on www.straightdope.com.

A fraction of a second? A femtosecond perhaps? Shameless self-plug…

10

I knew it. :slight_smile: But don’t blame me if it all adds up to a nanocentury.