Website Problems/SO FRUSTRATING *Updated*

thanks for ur efforts to date  the site is improving

aidie and others

Once again I am sorry for the delays and problems on images. I have spent some time corresponding with the support team for the underlying software, and today on a call with them. We have tracked down an obscure bug that appears to have been causing this issue.

I have just uploaded a JPG successfully from a test account. Please do try it again.

I was sorry to see that the photography thread had stalled. I hope that this allows it to resume.

out_of_step - further to my previous reply in this thread, I have seen one or two other comments about being asked to create accounts in order to view advice and guidance. That is categorically not the intended behaviour. Since a few people have mentioned it, I have created a separate thread on that topic.

Pass just tested the PM system it appears to be working fine now thanks 

i'll retest

IMAGES

windows 10 latest update from windows  DELL XPS laptop

1. Fail

insert an image >upload an image

desktop PNG images produce "An error occurred Please try again or contact ......"

2. Fail

i used to be able to copy a PNG directly into a reply like this one that doesnt work either same error massage as above 

JPG pass then Failed  direct from desktop upload

JPG Fail copy and paste from clipboard into reply Fails as in 2.

GIF pass direct from desktop upload

GIF fail copy and paste from clipboard into reply Fails as in 2.

i'll retest

IMAGES

windows 10 latest update from windows  DELL XPS laptop

1. Fail

insert an image >upload an image

desktop PNG images produce "An error occurred Please try again or contact ......"

2. Fail

i used to be able to copy a PNG directly into a reply like this one that doesnt work either same error massage as above 

JPG pass then Failed  direct from desktop upload

JGP Fail copy and paste from clipboard into reply Fails as in 2.

GIF pass direct from desktop upload

GIF fail copy and paste from clipboard into reply Fails as in 2.

Hi aidie

This thread is getting complex. My immediate response above was to a point about the Reply buttons. As discussed elsewhere in this thread, we released a fix to those last week.

We then released a fix for private messages earlier this week. That's covered in a different part of this thread, where that issue was being discussed. As with the first point, feedback on whether it's improved things is welcome.

There have been no intended changes to allowed images, and those obvious types have always been allowed. I've just uploaded this JPG to try it. However, various people have mentioned this. Hopefully someone can give me a description and details of the steps when the problem occurs, and maybe some screenshots. As ever, these can be emailed to community.manager@nas.org.uk

Hope this helps at least somewhat.

cut and paste from above

1. the most important breakage due to the rewrite is the Private Message system -- after 3 messages you can't read anything because they are behind the text input box. This was working fine before the update. Its now effectively useless. 

2. we need to be able to add any type of image to the forum replies. Currently we can only attach GIF images. we should also be able to add JPG and PNG  images. I have noticed that there was a marked drop in image usage in the new product and many people leave ( those into photography ) due to the limitations imposed on images.

please fix the major issues first 

1.PM system broken 

2. inability to upload a range of image types ( this stopped the photography discussion ) 

Just posting here that the Reply buttons fix should have addressed this. Plastic's message above has been voted as one of the key points in the thread, so hopefully adding this response is useful as a reference.

We have deployed a fix today (12 May) to the private messaging, intended to make the layout easier to use and prevent the editing box from overlaying the existing messages, i.e. the issue set out by Plastic above. Feedback welcome of course.

We will now move on to other issues mentioned here, including the sticky headers, the calm switch, etc.

WebPM said:

Regarding double posting, I've seen that on a range of community sites that I've used, and with various forum software systems. Is there a repeatable process that causes excessive double posts here?

I do not know ~ I just mentioned it in case anyone else wondered why I deleted my previous post and then did another one, as much also for those who use their email notifications primarily.

OK, that's the PMs area. As I mentioned, we're doing some work on that next. I can't promise that it will address everything, but could I suggest that we resolve issues of access to messages while you are writing a reply, and then assess which of your issues in that screenshot remain?

Reproduced in FF88 - without the extension. I'm not sure anyone has flagged that before - sorry for not being aware of it. You can see it working normally on the main site (even in FF), of course. Again, I've logged that.

Regarding double posting, I've seen that on a range of community sites that I've used, and with various forum software systems. Is there a repeatable process that causes excessive double posts here? Repeatable processes help in asking developers to investigate, so that they can make the problem happen for testing.

WebPM said:

Is that with the default styles? (White background etc.) Your screenshot elsewhere in this thread shows that you have chosen to use a reversed presentation (black background). There are various ways to do that, and our testing would not be able to include them all.

Please confirm the styles you are using when you see this (also the browser etc. again and any relevant add-ins/extensions controlling your styles).

Yes that is with the default style and with the extension. The browser is Firefox 88.0 and the extension is Dark Background and Light Text.

And I have just had a double posting experience and on deletion of one ~ they both got deleted, hence this one to replace the previous one.

OK, you mean what are often called "sticky" headers. Noted.

Is that with the default styles? (White background etc.) Your screenshot elsewhere in this thread shows that you have chosen to use a reversed presentation (black background). There are various ways to do that, and our testing would not be able to include them all.

Please confirm the styles you are using when you see this (also the browser etc. again and any relevant add-ins/extensions controlling your styles).

WebPM said:

Could you say more specifically what you mean about the top panel not staying at the top of the page?

With the top panel instead staying at the top of the page as one scrolls down ~ it would not remain as a total space hog.