Thread: MSDN site - is it just me or...

  1. #1
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    Angry MSDN site - is it just me or...

    Periodically search yields no results in that site. Sometimes it works great, sometimes can't find absolutely anything. Is it happening to everyone or is it just me?

    Are there some other options besides MSDN for finding info about Windows functions etc.?

    I'm using Dev-C++, it doesn't have help even about basic C functions, let alone Windows. I don't blame them but it means that MSDN is my only resource for knowledge :\

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    If you don't know the exact function name it's tough sometimes. Like if you only know part of the name you can try to google it maybe and it'll find the msdn page. Alternatively you can navigate the drop down lists on the left page and find all the related functions to the area you are exploring.
    "...the results are undefined, and we all know what "undefined" means: it means it works during development, it works during testing, and it blows up in your most important customers' faces." --Scott Meyers

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    I meant "can't find anything" literally. I enter the keyword while staring at it on the navigation menu tree (WM_CREATE for example) and search comes up with nothing at all. At least 'windows' or 'mouse' should come up with something, lol.

    I don't think I can do anything to improve MSDN site, but I was hoping there are some other resources available.

  4. #4
    Registered User Dante Shamest's Avatar
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    You can download a Win32 API Help file and a GNU C Help File using Dev-C++'s Updates/Packages option.

    Click on Tools -> Check for Updates/Packages -> Click on the Tick Mark

    I'm assuming you're using Dev-C++ 4.9.8.

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    Why not download the April MSDN that Microsoft made available to the public? It's a 1.8Gb download, but well worth it as it contains full information on many windows functions.

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    Dam! I wish I knew that earlier!

    The DevC packages are definetely great things, too bad I can't get em cause I'm heavily firewalled here. I'll get them at home and upload to my HTTP server, so that I could get them here, lol.

    About MSDN 1,8GB thing, didn't find it yet but I'll keep looking... Can I get some more clues? :P

  7. #7
    *******argv[] - hu? darksaidin's Avatar
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    I have the same problem with the MSDN. It seems to be broken. Very often, Google finds stuff in the MSDN that MSDN's search function did not find. Even if I spelled it exactly the way it's spelled on the MSDN site.
    I gave up on the MSDN search now. When searching for something in the MSDN, I use googles "search on domain ... only" with msdn.microsoft.com as the domain.

    edit: btw, I made a favourite for it =)

    http://www.google.com/advanced_searc....microsoft.com
    Last edited by darksaidin; 08-22-2003 at 04:38 AM.

  8. #8
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    Here:

    http://www.gamedev.net/info/news/Ful...p?StoryID=5342

    Or use these direct links to Microsoft:

    http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...qtr40enud1.img

    http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...qtr40enud2.img

    http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...qtr40enud3.img

    Note that this is the April 2003 MSDN, which is not the latest, but good enough for most people. It's the only version Microsoft have released for the public however, other versions are available to MSDN subscribers only.

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    Gee, thanks a lot
    No more waiting for MSDN server.

  10. #10
    jasondoucette.com JasonD's Avatar
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    Originally posted by freedik
    I meant "can't find anything" literally. I enter the keyword while staring at it on the navigation menu tree (WM_CREATE for example) and search comes up with nothing at all.
    I noticed the same problem. An ok solution is to use google like so: http://www.google.com/search?q=msdn+wm%5Fcreate It almost always finds what you are looking for as the first result. I wish Microsoft would incorporate Google technology in its MSDN searches (both online and for local MSDN searches), since its own search technology is horrible...

  11. #11
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    Bah, forget this whole google thing, _Elixia_ saved our ..........es

    Originally posted by _Elixia_
    Here:

    http://www.gamedev.net/info/news/Ful...p?StoryID=5342

    Or use these direct links to Microsoft:

    http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...qtr40enud1.img

    http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...qtr40enud2.img

    http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...qtr40enud3.img

    Note that this is the April 2003 MSDN, which is not the latest, but good enough for most people. It's the only version Microsoft have released for the public however, other versions are available to MSDN subscribers only.
    Im at 94% download, I hope it is what I think it is
    It was quite annoying anyway how MSDN throwed you a tons of pages when you just needed a simple winAPI thing (from Msoffice to MS VC++ and god knows what). And of course, not working at all occasionally.
    Gotta admit though, MSDN site is real fast considering the probably huge amount requests they get per second. ah well, Byegones.
    Last edited by freedik; 08-22-2003 at 01:32 PM.

  12. #12
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    Oh it is... I thought it was worthwhile taking out an MSDN subscription, although I got work to pay for it

    See screenshot for how it looks on your PC. Much much better than the horrible web interface.

  13. #13
    jasondoucette.com JasonD's Avatar
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    Originally posted by _Elixia_
    See screenshot for how it looks on your PC. Much much better than the horrible web interface.
    Yes, I find the web interface to be horribly slow...

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