We're back! The System updates were successful. Please report any problems here.

[Kevin Caulfield]

Thanks guys, got the screens and will look into it as soon as some of my backlog is cleared

No worries, Sean and thanks. Like I said these are very minor bugs and I can live with them if I need to.

 

[Marco B]

Don't paste into Word (why use a wordprocessor to handle images?), paste into Paint, and save as JPEG.
Then you can upload the image to the thread itself.

Yes, good advice. However, the reason I mentioned Word, is that not all computer novices are actually aware that there is a small program called "Paint" somewhere down the Start menu of Windows that can do basic image manipulation. Nor may all beginning APUG users be aware that there is an "attachment" option in the forums...

Word and straight e-mail will be familiar to anyone using a Windows based computer though...

 

[Q.G.]

Yeah right...
Admit it: you too paste into Word!

(Just kidding)

 

[Marco B]

Yeah right...
Admit it: you too paste into Word!

(Just kidding)

Actually, there may be another good reason to paste images in Word or OpenOffice's Writer application (OpenOffice's equivalent of Word). Writer is capable to read Word documents, and can export to PDF, contrary to Microsoft Word.

I wasn't aware of this, but since I installed OpenOffice next to Microsoft Office, and discovered this facility, I regularily use it. Very handy for creating PDFs to share here on APUG or on a personal website. You can even set a security password, to disallow editing, copying and/or printing of the PDF's content.

 

[MattKing]

For word processing, I use WordPerfect. I regularly use its export to PDF function.

It is quite good for assembling jpegs and text on a page, before the PDF export.

 

[Q.G.]

Sean,

I reported this before somewhere, but APUG can be very slow. Still is the case.
Sometimes, nothing happens when you click on a link that should select a thread or post and open it in the browser. Sometimes, stopping he procedure and trying again will help. Sometimes not even that, and it's "come back and try again some time later" time.

I suspected that it had to do with the database, not being able to 'serve' a thread while someone is posting, or something of the sort.
Today (it happens very regularly) i got confirmation of that for the first time in the form and shape of a "Database error" page that was served instead of the thread i wanted to see, that (by the way) also mentioned the "technical staff" is alerted.

 

[Q.G.]

P.S.

Guys, nothing so quick and easy as pasting into an 'image processor" and uploading the resulting JPG.

 

[Q.G.]

Oh, Sean, while im reporting: the Groups overview page still lists the time and date someone last looked to see if something new was posted, instead of the time and date someone actually posted something new.
Would be great if that could be changed. Thanks!

 

[Sean]

This usually happens during site backups which impact performance for an hour or so. Usually not noticeable, but I've requested the host bump up our max allowed db connections. See how things are in a few hrs.. Thanks

 

[removed account4]

hey sean

also in the groups area ..
i have notification to "approve" postings
but it won't let me approve anything ...
( even after i select every post and click on "approve" )

- john

 

[markbarendt]

"Report post" feature missing.

 

[MattKing]

"Report post" feature missing.

Mark:

Look down to the bottom left corner of the post's "frame" (just above the "Reply to Thread" box) where there is a tiny triangle with an exclamation mark in it. That is the report post function.

It has lousy tonality, but good accutance .

 

[markbarendt]

Got it now, thanks!

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

The two bugs I reported are still buglike.

 

[Sean]

Hi Guys, we're about to upgrade to version 4.0.8 which has over 400 core system bug fixes. I have upgraded the dev environment today and we are just tweaking a few things. I should be able to put us on 4.0.8 in a day or two, as well as the new gold release of the gallery software. Then we'll do a lot more bug scrubbing by reviewing this thread and addressing as much as we can. This would have been done earlier if not for some budget constraints.

Thanks,
Sean

 

[Removed Account2]

Not looking forward to this, at every bug fix I'm cut off, takes a week to get everything back in good working order.

This is one of the major issues why I won't pay, but just be a member, since there seem to be no guarantee for a reliable service, why pay for inconvenice?

There must be a better way?

 

[Sean]

Not looking forward to this, at every bug fix I'm cut off, takes a week to get everything back in good working order.

This is one of the major issues why I won't pay, but just be a member, since there seem to be no guarantee for a reliable service, why pay for inconvenice?

There must be a better way?

Hi Erik,

I'm not sure what issue you could possibly have. This is a minor point release update. The site is down for around 2hrs and then is back and you should not notice a thing. Can you describe what happens for you? This will probably be the last update we have for a while. vBulletin 4.0 was a bit buggy initially but most have been squashed in this next update so future updates will be tapering off.

Thanks

 

[clayne]

Erik, what are you on about? APUG is available almost all the time and rarely after upgrades do we suffer any long-term bugs/annoyances for any significant period of time.

There's never a guarantee for reliable service - but the service has been pragmatically reliable. What issues are you seeing?

 

[Marco B]

vBulletin 4.0 was a bit buggy initially but most have been squashed in this next update so future updates will be tapering off.

Sean,

This is the understatement of the year!

I think we can well conclude vBulletin 4.0 was at best a beta, and maybe even an alpha test version released under the false "disguise" of an official version...

On the good side, it means you don't have to take all the blame for the problems that popped up , and your dedication to the site is in my opinion, despite possible delays, without doubt .

I know from personal experience how hard it is to get these things right... and how it may seem nothing happens, while hard work is being done in the background.

Keep up the good work, and lets all hope vBulletin will make it really right in the next couple of v4.x releases.

Marco

 

[Sean]

Sean,

This is the understatement of the year!

I think we can well conclude vBulletin 4.0 was at best a beta, and maybe even an alpha test version released under the false "disguise" of an official version...

On the good side, it means you don't have to take all the blame for the problems that popped up , and your dedication to the site is in my opinion, despite possible delays, without doubt .

I know from personal experience how hard it is to get these things right... and how it may seem nothing happens, while hard work is being done in the background.

Keep up the good work, and lets all hope vBulletin will make it really right in the next couple of v4.x releases.

Marco

Yeah, they took major heat from all vBull owners and nearly lost most of their customer base over the initial 4.x release. They've brought in some new management (heavy hitters) that seem to be steering the ship back on course. The new manager has given us nearly 1,000 bug fixes in 2 months and still has large teams ironing things out. They even had some disgruntled employees leave who started up their own forum company. I considered watching this other company with interest, but it looks like vBulletin are now getting their act together. I would say 4.0.8 will finally have things at a Gold release level, 4.1 will have it at the same quality level that the 3.x series was (which was totally solid). I feel APUG will be running very well by Dec. at the latest. I have my coder finishing up some 4.0.8 work and then putting him on these bug report threads until we clear up most of it.

 

[Removed Account2]

Hi Erik,

I'm not sure what issue you could possibly have. This is a minor point release update. The site is down for around 2hrs and then is back and you should not notice a thing. Can you describe what happens for you? This will probably be the last update we have for a while. vBulletin 4.0 was a bit buggy initially but most have been squashed in this next update so future updates will be tapering off.

Thanks

I'm just reporting what I saw, the last time there was an update, or I surmise there was an update, I just log on and rarely follow what takes place on an administrative level.

But suddenly I'm cut out, unable to acess ANYTHING around these parts, last time I was able to log on via another site or service, but updates was spotty and I was rarely able to answer to anything. That was very annoying when I was trying to follow World Camera 7 on its travel...

Last time I ended up sending a PM and after some time I got PM back, tried something and PM'ed again, then PM answer and suddenly I could log on again.

Mark this LOG ON did NOT work.

I'm not particularly interested in partaking in bugfixes and such that is a past life for me, and I do not want to be sucked back....

So until this site works reliably for more than a year, as seen from here, subscription is out of the question, I might even opt to leave, but I realize that such a threat is only negative for myself.

EP

 

[Sean]

I'm just reporting what I saw, the last time there was an update, or I surmise there was an update, I just log on and rarely follow what takes place on an administrative level.

But suddenly I'm cut out, unable to acess ANYTHING around these parts, last time I was able to log on via another site or service, but updates was spotty and I was rarely able to answer to anything. That was very annoying when I was trying to follow World Camera 7 on its travel...

Last time I ended up sending a PM and after some time I got PM back, tried something and PM'ed again, then PM answer and suddenly I could log on again.

Mark this LOG ON did NOT work.

I'm not particularly interested in partaking in bugfixes and such that is a past life for me, and I do not want to be sucked back....

So until this site works reliably for more than a year, as seen from here, subscription is out of the question, I might even opt to leave, but I realize that such a threat is only negative for myself.

EP

Well, there is definitely something going on with your side as soon after updates I've had 10,000's of logins without any complaints raised. I'm happy to work through any issues with you. A start would be to know what operating system you are on and browser you use, are you going through a proxy server. There is also the rare chance our firewall has flagged your ip address as a spam server, in which case we need to release your ip address (this might happen to 1 or 2 accounts every few months). When you say you could not access "Anything" are you saying the site would not even load? After the next update I'll contact you via email to see how you are going.

Thanks

 

[Removed Account2]

Well, there is definitely something going on with your side as soon after updates I've had 10,000's of logins without any complaints raised. I'm happy to work through any issues with you. A start would be to know what operating system you are on and browser you use, are you going through a proxy server. There is also the rare chance our firewall has flagged your ip address as a spam server, in which case we need to release your ip address (this might happen to 1 or 2 accounts every few months). When you say you could not access "Anything" are you saying the site would not even load? After the next update I'll contact you via email to see how you are going.

Thanks

I use Win 7 I think the last time around, after about 1,5 week of witing to see if it solved itself, and logging in through another site which was a nuisance (suggested by win 7 I think) a mail to you solved the problem (unflagged?) Im probably the second of those...

Its is the second or thrid time it happened, first time it solved itself, next time I had to mail you.

It is tiresome.

 

[Sean]

I use Win 7 I think the last time around, after about 1,5 week of witing to see if it solved itself, and logging in through another site which was a nuisance (suggested by win 7 I think) a mail to you solved the problem (unflagged?) Im probably the second of those...

Its is the second or thrid time it happened, first time it solved itself, next time I had to mail you.

It is tiresome.

When you say "through another site" are you talking about a proxy server? Sounds like it may have blocked you at the firewall. If this happens again email me directly apug.org@gmail.com put in the subject line "LOCKED OUT", I'll see what's going on, get you back in and try to keep it from happening again.. I do see your current ip and have instructed the firewall to leave it alone, but you ip may change over time.

 

[Removed Account2]

Great I'll try to note particulars and get back to you immediately, if it happens again.

Last time you fixed it and I thanked you and thank you for that, its just tiresome.