Thread

1. BUG #17924: Inverted behavior of "Date" and "Reverse Date" when searching a mailbox archive

   PG Bug reporting form <noreply@postgresql.org> — 2023-05-07T10:27:27Z

   The following bug has been logged on the website:
   
   Bug reference:      17924
   Logged by:          Hans Buschmann
   Email address:      buschmann@nidsa.net
   PostgreSQL version: Unsupported/Unknown
   Operating system:   Postgres Website Mailing List search
   Description:        
   
   I recently did a search on pgsql-hackers.
   
   When changing the order of the result set from "Rank" to "Reverse Date" I
   observed that "Date" gives the results from newest to oldest while "Reverse
   Date" gives them from oldest to newest.
   
   This seems to me a mismatch and quite confusing.
   
   The semantics of Date and Reverse Date should be corrected (exchanged)
   
   Any thoughts?
   
   Hans Buschmann
   
   

2. Re: BUG #17924: Inverted behavior of "Date" and "Reverse Date" when searching a mailbox archive

   Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us> — 2023-05-07T14:05:08Z

   PG Bug reporting form <noreply@postgresql.org> writes:
   > When changing the order of the result set from "Rank" to "Reverse Date" I
   > observed that "Date" gives the results from newest to oldest while "Reverse
   > Date" gives them from oldest to newest.
   > This seems to me a mismatch and quite confusing.
   > The semantics of Date and Reverse Date should be corrected (exchanged)
   
   It's been like that for a decade or two, and you are the first to
   complain AFAIR.  Changing it at this point would doubtless add a
   lot more confusion than it subtracts.
   
   We could perhaps change to some other terms entirely, like
   "Newest First" and "Oldest First", but I'm not convinced that
   that's an improvement either.
   
   			regards, tom lane
   
   
   
   

3. AW: BUG #17924: Inverted behavior of "Date" and "Reverse Date" when searching a mailbox archive

   Hans Buschmann <buschmann@nidsa.net> — 2023-05-07T14:11:48Z

   Hello Tom,
   
   
   I don't mind the exact wording, but it should be semantically correct.
   
   
   Order by date is ascending (as in SQL).
   
   
   I would propose to change the wording, perhaps like Newest to oldest (or your suggestion) and make sure, that the selected order shows up in the results.
   
   
   It is only part of the WebSite, so I don't fear any automation difficulties.
   
   
   Hans Buschmann
   
   
   ________________________________
   Von: Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
   Gesendet: Sonntag, 7. Mai 2023 16:05
   An: Hans Buschmann
   Cc: pgsql-bugs@lists.postgresql.org
   Betreff: Re: BUG #17924: Inverted behavior of "Date" and "Reverse Date" when searching a mailbox archive
   
   PG Bug reporting form <noreply@postgresql.org> writes:
   > When changing the order of the result set from "Rank" to "Reverse Date" I
   > observed that "Date" gives the results from newest to oldest while "Reverse
   > Date" gives them from oldest to newest.
   > This seems to me a mismatch and quite confusing.
   > The semantics of Date and Reverse Date should be corrected (exchanged)
   
   It's been like that for a decade or two, and you are the first to
   complain AFAIR.  Changing it at this point would doubtless add a
   lot more confusion than it subtracts.
   
   We could perhaps change to some other terms entirely, like
   "Newest First" and "Oldest First", but I'm not convinced that
   that's an improvement either.
   
                           regards, tom lane