Comments and other people's code...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fred Boer
  • Start date Start date
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Fred Boer

Hello!

Recently I implemented some code to check/relink my backend tables. I used
code from the Access Web (http://www.mvps.org/access/tables/tbl0009.htm and
http://www.mvps.org/access/api/api0001.htm to be exact...). Now, I altered
the code slightly, to better suit my needs, and I have a question about
this. The original code included the following comments:

' This code was originally written by Dev Ashish.
' It is not to be altered or distributed,
' except as part of an application.
' You are free to use it in any application,
' provided the copyright notice is left unchanged.
'
' Code Courtesy of
' Dev Ashish
'
Well, I take this to mean that I can use this code in my application, if I
don't fiddle with this comment. No problem. However, I *have* fiddled with
the code, and, in addition, I always have a copy of my application on the
web for people to download and look at, if they wish. In the
(admittedly!<g>) unlikely chance anyone ever looks at this application, I
want to be able to make it clear that the code has been modified.

1. It *is* ok that I modify the code, isn't it?

2. Would you think an appended comment like " 'Code modified by Fred Boer.
See http://www.mvps.org/access/tables/tbl0009.htm for original code... " be
sufficient and appropriate?

Thanks!

Fred Boer
 
Fred Boer said:
Hello!

Recently I implemented some code to check/relink my backend tables. I
used code from the Access Web
(http://www.mvps.org/access/tables/tbl0009.htm and
http://www.mvps.org/access/api/api0001.htm to be exact...). Now, I
altered the code slightly, to better suit my needs, and I have a
question about this. The original code included the following
comments:

' This code was originally written by Dev Ashish.
' It is not to be altered or distributed,
' except as part of an application.
' You are free to use it in any application,
' provided the copyright notice is left unchanged.
'
' Code Courtesy of
' Dev Ashish
'
Well, I take this to mean that I can use this code in my application,
if I don't fiddle with this comment. No problem. However, I *have*
fiddled with the code, and, in addition, I always have a copy of my
application on the web for people to download and look at, if they
wish. In the (admittedly!<g>) unlikely chance anyone ever looks at
this application, I want to be able to make it clear that the code
has been modified.

1. It *is* ok that I modify the code, isn't it?

2. Would you think an appended comment like " 'Code modified by Fred
Boer. See http://www.mvps.org/access/tables/tbl0009.htm for original
code... " be sufficient and appropriate?

Thanks!

Fred Boer
Click to expand...

Fred -

The surest way to answer a question like this is to contact the author,
and I'm sure you can reach Dev via The Access Web. When I've been in a
similar situation, I've done the following:

1. Added a comment like the one you propose.

2. Annotated my modifications within the code, to clearly indicate how I
had changed it.

3. Stated in my comments that the copyright and distribution
restrictions remain with the original author.
 
Dear Dirk:

Yes, of course, contacting the author is the most logical action. I just
thought there might be some sort of convention which might save these kind
authors the annoyance of dealing with questions from pesky amateurs like me!
<g>

Besides, now I really *will* have to figure out exactly how the code
works... It would never do to write Mr. Ashish and say: "Well, the code
kinda sorta didn't do what I wanted, but I'm not sure how to explain it,
and, um, I just kinda sorta commented out code here and there and fiddled
with the messageboxes until it seemed to do what I wanted...

Thanks!
Fred

P.S. But that'll be good for me. Build character... Learn things, and all
 
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