MyWeather Module, Celsius Conspiracy and Module Updating

Hi folks -- upon reading this entry, I see that it's a really long way to say, "If you're looking at an AIM Pages profile that has the MyWeather module and you're using Internet Explorer, the temperature will show in Celsius, even if the profile creator specified Fahrenheit. Until the module gets fixed, just do 'times 2 + 32' to convert C to F."

That's the main point. Read on if you want the backstory.

Right now, the weather is all grey and dreary (which prevented me from seeing the passage of Mercury across the Sun -- good thing I didn't build a viewing apparatus), but it's supposed to get nicer tomorrow. So this next bit is of particular interest.

AIM Pages user (AIM Pager?) SBSBJB wrote in to tell me she was having some problems with the MyWeather module in her profile.

The MyWeather module displays the temperature and a current conditions icon for whatever ZIP code you specify. It's pretty straightforward to use:

Just find the MyWeather module in the Module Gallery.
On the module's page listing, click Add to Page, which will put you into Edit mode for your profile.
Drag the module to where you want in your profile.
Hit the Update button at the top of the module. You'll find two things you need to enter -- the ZIP code of the weather conditions you want to show, and whether you want the temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius (sorry, no Kelvin):

(Hrm, looks like "Celsius" is mispelled, too. Must pass that along.)
Hit OK, close the box, and then publish your profile to see your new module in action.

So, pretty straightforward. Only, even though Sooz (SBSBJB) was specifying Fahrenheit, the temperature was displaying as Celsius.

I took a look at her profile in my Firefox browser (note: this is an important detail), and it was showing Fahrenheit. However, looking at it in Internet Explorer (I still use IE 6.0), shows something completely different:

It appears that in IE browsers, the temperature will show Fahrenheit as the page is loading, but once your profile loads completely, the Celsius number will appear in its place. Very strange. I tried it out in my own profile:

Viewed in Internet Explorer 6.0.

Viewed in Firefox 2.0.

Let's see, 15 degrees C times 2 + 32 = 62 (which is close enough if you're lazy and don't want to do 9/5ths without a calculator), so at least we know it's the same temperature data being displayed.)

According to the info on the MyWeather module directory page, the author of the module is Warren, one of the guys out in Dublin.

Being one of the Irish, I immediately suspected a conspiracy to get everyone using European temperature formats (actually, SI, or the International System of Units), but I e-mailed Warren and he says it's just a glitch that he'll look into. So I'll let you know when there are any updates.

On a somewhat-related note, the team is looking at ways that folks can be automatically notified when modules that they're currently using in their profiles have been updated with fixes or new features.

In many cases, updates to modules don't automatically get picked up -- you have to republish your profile, or in some cases, remove and re-add the module to get the updates.

The UI (user interface) can be a little tricky, as it has to be attention-grabbing -- but not intrusive -- and we presumably only want to show this info to the profile creator (not people visiting your profile), as well as a host of other considerations. Fortunately, they have professionals working the issue, and not an interloper like say, me.

If you have any problems with modules or your profile that you want to report, feel free to leave me a comment or drop me a line, and I will pass it along to the team.

Thanks -- Joe

Tags: aim pages, myweather module, module updates, aim pages modules

Written by aimpagesteam Blog about this entry

This entry has 3 comments: (Add your own)

#3 Comment from aimpagesteamEntry Author
11/20/06 10:41 AM | Permalink

Settle down, Beavis.

Seeing as how you're into GWAR, maybe you could create your own AIM Pages profile (you don't have one right now: http://www.aimpages.com/gwar560/profile.html ) and talk about GWAR, or maybe put up pics of you in your Pit Slave costume (I'm assuming you have some).

On second thought, maybe that's not such a good idea. I leave it to you.

Thanks for writing -- Joe (posted & mailed)
#2 Comment from gwar560
11/18/06 6:11 PM | Permalink

GWAR IS THE BEST BAND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#1 Comment from hvmongoose22
11/18/06 3:27 PM | Permalink

hheeyy haley!!wats up hahahahaha-i luv u!!!except u luv jjooeeyy n soccer!!dduuhh thats haley!!

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MyWeather Module, Celsius Conspiracy and Module Updating