Thread: Technical support Board: The Styx / Ship of Fools.


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http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=000268

Posted by David (# 3) on :
 
From today, I will NOT be providing technical support for the following problems.

1. Lost Passwords. If you can't remember it, go to the "lost password" link on the login page. It will mail it to you.

2. Now listen very carefully.

If you enter your user name and password correctly, but still get informed you aren't logged in, then you need to change the security settings of your browser to enable cookies.

These are all in the FAQ anyway. Why people don't read them I'll never know.

[ 30 January 2002: Message edited by: David ]
 


Posted by Quizmaster (# 1435) on :
 
There is a lot of ignorance in the World, and you can only find the answer to a problem if you understand enough to get near the keywords.

I feel that this site needs some of the threads that we have had in The Styx on show permanently as each new batch of shipmates arrives.

I am sure that this would save many hosts a lot of time explaining things multiple times.
 


Posted by madkaren (# 1033) on :
 
surely if they are that important they should be in the FAQ or ten commandments??

MadKaren
 


Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
What should be in the FAQs? Information about passwords and cookies? They already are.
 
Posted by David (# 3) on :
 
Bumping to the top, due to the amount of unanswered requests for support on the two issues outlined above currently sitting in my inbox.
 
Posted by Gill (# 102) on :
 
Just out of interest, I know technically it ain't Ship business - but I just yped in the cafe and it came out backwards. Is there an explanation OTHER than demonic possession?
 
Posted by Qlib (# 43) on :
 
Old hand caught out by the cookies thing only recently. Mea culpa.
 
Posted by Sophie (# 2339) on :
 
Now I find this thread! I am embarrassed and
regretful, and grateful to Erin for her gracious response to me the other day when I could not log on. I promise to search diligently in future for information to prevent my turning up again with obvious questions! (crosses heart and hopes to die)
 
Posted by Joan Rasch (# 49) on :
 
I agree that people really *ought* to Read The Fine Manual, check their FAQ's and the like. On the other hand, people do have different learning styles; not all can easily find the info they need, or still need some hand-holding guidance in following the instructions. It occurs to me that this thread should be kept active as a way to ease the burden on the Management by providing a place where people can post problems they have, with other ordinary Shipmates helping them out. My model here is the support scheme for a free anti-virus software I have (which someone's posting on one of these boards pointed me to). I had an install problem, and couldn't easily find the answer via the help files or the website as a whole. But I found the answer to my question via a quick scan through the user BBS.

Keeping this thread active could also be useful to the Management as a way of tracking the kinds of problems that tend to crop up and provide data that would help to shape future FAQ's, software upgrades, and the like.

Hope this helps - Joan Rasch
 


Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Sophie: I share your pain. (In other words, I recently goofed just as bad as you did)
Joan: You are right about the learning-styles thing. A person can read all the necessary info, think they know what they are doing, then be submarined by some gap in comprehension. (Whistles and examines ceiling.)
In closing, let me underscore and agree with Sophie's praise of Erin's gracious responses. I've noticed them in other threads, too.(Throws several roses...one by one, of course.)
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
It is so charming when they're new and innocent...


 


Posted by Regina Caeli (# 2343) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by David:
From today, I will NOT be providing technical support for the following problems.

1. Lost Passwords. If you can't remember it, go to the "lost password" link on the login page. It will mail it to you.

[ 30 January 2002: Message edited by: David ]



No it doesn't!
 


Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
Yes it does. Whether or not it gets lost in cyberspace is a different story, but the system DOES e-mail you the information.
 
Posted by paigeb (# 2261) on :
 
Might there be something wrong with your server? I had the same problem as Regina--e-mailed for the password and it never showed up. Given that she and I live in totally different places, I'm wondering if the problem lies with SOF's ISP or the auto-responder.

Erin--thanks so much for your gracious fixing of the problem.
 


Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
De nada.

As to the other thing... every time someone tells me that a particular feature isn't working, I go in and test it myself. I've tested the "e-mail lost password" function three times over the past couple of days, and have received it within thirty seconds each time. In addition, the same automatic e-mail feature is responsible for notifying me of all registrations, and I get those in real time, too.

If you're not getting it within a few minutes, it's either lost in cyberspace, or blocked by your ISP, or taking the scenic route to get there.
 


Posted by scotmathis (# 2553) on :
 
At risk of incurring Administratorial wrath, here goes...

I have tried the autoresponder for a lost password 4 or 5 times over the course of a week with no results. Since my ISP does not block anything as a matter of policy, there must be some other problem.

I created a sock puppet to ask this question (sorry! ) but I would really like to reclaim my existing identity. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Scot

P.S. Sorry David, I only saw this thread after I had used the link to send you an email asking for support.
 


Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
So... who are you?
 
Posted by scotmathis (# 2553) on :
 
That was silly of me, wasn't it?

My other ID is mathis909. (Don't bother looking for posts, I am a long time lurker who can't hold his tongue any longer!) My email address is mathis909@earthlink.net.

I know the account still exists, since the server recognizes it, but it won't send me a password.

Thanks for you help, Erin.

Scot
 


Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
Okay, I sent the information to you at that e-mail address.
 
Posted by scotmathis (# 2553) on :
 
This is still not working Something is not happening between the Ship server and Earthlink. Surely there are other Earthlink users here?

Anyway, I give up. If I may be so bold, would it be possible to have my old mathis909 ID deleted, so that I can re-create it using a different email address?

I apologize for this hassle. You've been most helpful, Erin. Thank you again.

Scot
 


Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
Well, I sent it via regular e-mail, as well as the Ship, so there's something else happening.

Check this ID's Private Messages.
 


Posted by scot (# 2095) on :
 
Okay, got it, and as you can see, I am all set. Still not sure what's up with the email.

Scot
 


Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
Very good, I have deleted the second ID.
 
Posted by The Mid (# 1559) on :
 
Not sure if this is the right place, anyway, I was updating my profile and I added a description and general thoughts in the section there where you can write what you want. I went ot update another part of my profile tonight, and the message is gone. Is there anyway I can get it back without re-typing it? Does anyone know why it disappeared in the first place?

Thanks...
 


Posted by starbelly (# 25) on :
 
It does that, all you can do is cut and paste it in from a file or somethinfg each time you update the profile.

I remember when the new boards went online lots of people had the same problem, and no one could resolve it!

Neil
 


Posted by The Mid (# 1559) on :
 
Oh well, thanks for that. I'll just save it in word first then.
 
Posted by busyknitter (# 2501) on :
 
Another embarrassed apprentice, who has just worked out the cookies thing. Sorry folks.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Maybe the bit of text on the boards home page that reads
quote:
Tech support questions (including password problems) should be sent to David
should be changed.
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
I've thought about that, but not all password problems are "I've forgotten mine".

It doesn't matter anyway, since no one ever reads it. I still get inundated with tech requests, which puzzles me, as you have to skip past the bolding telling you to contact David in order to get to me!
 


Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
But I went in and changed it anyway.
 
Posted by Miss Dree-Saint (# 2777) on :
 
Now that the Ship is out of dry dock, it seems the "most recent posts" feature is gone from one's own profile.

How do we go about finding our recent posts again in an easy manner? Or am I missing something?

[Confused]
 
Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :
 
"View recent posts" is turned off because there is a hole in the new software - when you look at the recent posts of a host or admin, you get the recent posts on the confidential boards, as well as those on the public boards.
 
Posted by Miss Dree-Saint (# 2777) on :
 
Oh... are those the boards where you write nasty things about us? [Wink]
 
Posted by tomb (# 174) on :
 
I am having a problem with blank screens at the bottom of threads.

This happens *only* while using IE on a Mac. It doesn't happen on my PC--regardless of the browser, nor does it happen when using Netscape on my Mac. It happens regardles of whether I'm using OS9 or OSX.

The amount of space at that bottom of a thread seems directly proportional to the length of the thread.

Anybody else having this problem? Have you found a fix for it?

Please don't tell me it has something to do with my password!
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
No, it's because you're using a Mac with IE.
 
Posted by tomb (# 174) on :
 
Oh! Well, that explains everything. Thanks.
 
Posted by Simon (# 1) on :
 
I asked about this problem on the UBB tech forum (like you, tomb, I use IE for Mac) and they had no fix for it. I'm now pursuing it on another forum -- I'll let you know if there's any joy.
 
Posted by Viola (# 20) on :
 
Yes, well - you see, I only got a mac with IE because certain trusted people told me it was the way forward, and what am I left with? Blank screens at the bottom of threads - that's what. That and a selection of keys that don't do what I expect them to do. [Ultra confused]

Oh - and a large bottle of whisky, but that's not directly related to the mac - just to the incoherence of posts. [Sunny]
 
Posted by Quizmaster (# 1435) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Simon:
I asked about this problem on the UBB tech forum (like you, tomb, I use IE for Mac) and they had no fix for it. I'm now pursuing it on another forum -- I'll let you know if there's any joy.

Has there been any joy Simon?
 
Posted by Alliebellie (# 4383) on :
 
hiya... just reactivating this thread cos I couldn't see the point of starting a new one to ask my q.

When I go into my profile, and ask it to update the recent posts thingy, it 'says' it has done so, but then flicks me back to the main board and in fact has not updated anything. Is there something simple I'm missing?? I managed to get the Ark boards to 'mark all posts read' by this method, but it's just not working for me here.

Any suggestions??
thanks
AB
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
Alliebellie, you need to do the "Udate recent posts" thing twice. Nobody's ever figured out what causes it, but a few of us have the same problem.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
The Ark boards are running a newer version of the software; rumor has it it will be coming to this site eventually.
 
Posted by Alliebellie (# 4383) on :
 
ah:) that will no doubt help. Cos I've done the 'update new posts' about 6 times straight after each other, and still doesn't make any diff... That process you described worked for me on the Ark board, but not at all on here.
thanks
 
Posted by Clyde (# 752) on :
 
I've developed a problem this evening.
When I arrived at the bulletin boards the left hand column (where the menus normally are)
shows strange 'signs' rather than words. Across the top of the page (where an advert normally is) also has these signs and symbols. Can anyone help please.

I can incidently read the various posts and replies as normal.
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Clyde, try shutting down the browser and reopening it. Sometimes browsers decide not to parse HTML correctly.
 
Posted by Clyde (# 752) on :
 
Chris,
Freeserve gave me a new number to dial for my Anytime account. When using this number I experienced the problem I described. I then tried my old original dial up number and everything is back to normal. So it seems to be something with the new connection.
Regards
Clyde
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Clyde, you mention the F* word. I refuse to help you any further [Razz]

Seriously, Freeserve seem to have the worst caching servers in the world. They can take up to a week (a WEEK!) to recognise new domains. That's just poor. Maybe this is a symptom of those problems.
 
Posted by The Obscure (# 4149) on :
 
Every time I start up Ship Of Fools, I get an error message, saying
A runtime error has occurred. Do you wish to Debug.
Line: 287
Error: Object expected.

I get this on both my home and work computers, and although not deadly, it's really frustrating...
Is it something to do with needing specific settings for your site or something else?
Thanks
[Embarrassed] )
 
Posted by Jenny Ann (# 3131) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by The Obscure:
Every time I start up Ship Of Fools, I get an error message, saying
A runtime error has occurred. Do you wish to Debug.
Line: 287
Error: Object expected.

I get this on both my home and work computers, and although not deadly, it's really frustrating...
Is it something to do with needing specific settings for your site or something else?
Thanks
[Embarrassed] )

I quite often get this. (well, did on old computer, haven't yet on this new one.... maybe it was a computer issue)

J
 
Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
I get that message all the time and I used to try answering it (yes or no) but that was a pain because it would either shut the programme down or start the debugger which filled the screen. So now when it pops up, I click the mouse on the blue bar at the top and move it to the farthest corner of the screen, where I just ignore it and carry on as usual. It doesn't seem to mind.
 
Posted by Paul W (# 1450) on :
 
If you're using Internet Explorer (I've got IE5), go to the Tools menu, then Internet Options. Click on the Advanced tab, and look for any options that mention Script Debugging. Make sure that debugging is disabled.

You only really need this if you're developing and testing websites.

Paul W
 
Posted by Paul W (# 1450) on :
 
Double checked on IE6. The option is "Disable Script Debugging", it's about the 6th one down. Select it to stop the messages coming up.

Paul W
 
Posted by The Obscure (# 4149) on :
 
thanks - so all I'm doing is ignoring the problem now???
Ah well, so long as it works... [Wink]

Thanks very much [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
I've done the same now - so thank you too! [Smile]
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Oh dear, someone's web page code not quite perfect? [Wink]

I shouldn't laugh really, it's probably me that will have to fix it [Roll Eyes]
 
Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
Whose web page? - nothing wrong with mine..... [Confused]
 
Posted by David (# 3) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisT:
Oh dear, someone's web page code not quite perfect? [Wink]

I shouldn't laugh really, it's probably me that will have to fix it [Roll Eyes]

Either that or the code doesn't meet Microsoft's Patented Open Proprietary nonStandard Standards.
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
David, I can see you have done your research well. Micro$oft strikes again.
 
Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by David:
]Either that or the code doesn't meet Microsoft's Patented Open Proprietary nonStandard Standards.

No! MS-POPnSS(TM) is now deprecated - code should meet MS-dot.NET-opnSS(TM)(R)(C)(and bar)
 
Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :
 
I thought there was a specific thread on PM issues but can't find it so here goes:

I got the email notification of a PM, which had the person's email address at the bottom (I don't have mine on my profile). I replied by emailing them, as I didn't see the PM in my profile - thought it was just delayed.

However 2 or 3 days later I don't see it still. I don't know if the other shipmate has the PM in their outbox. I never got a flashy notification, either.

I am told there is a precedent for this?
 
Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :
 
OK, have answered my own question.

This shipmate didn't send me a PM - it was an "email via the ship". I've never successfully sent one of these before, nor received one... so I didn't know what they looked like...
 
Posted by Quizmaster (# 1435) on :
 
Warning : Do not download Java version 1.4.1

Just downloaded and installed Sun Microsystems JAVA 1.4.1_03 on the advice of another site and not only did the other site fail to respond but the Ship's Cafe died at the same time.

I am now trying to download 1.3.1_08 in the hope that it will cure both sites. Will let you know.
 
Posted by Quizmaster (# 1435) on :
 
JAVA 1.3.1_08 is now installed and I have discovered the weird sounds that the cafe can make under this version of Java.

Other site got further but is still not working.
 
Posted by Angel* (# 4690) on :
 
Sorry
I need help!
I tried to do a quote in one of my replies but it didn't work.
I tried quote marks and bold but it did not happen.
Help [Angel] [Wink]
 
Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
Dear Angel*

Under the space where you can put your message, next to the smilies there is a panel called 'Instant UBB code'. If you click either quote or bold you get (QUOTE) (/QUOTE) appear in square brackets (or B and /B in them). Just put these either side of what you want quoted.

Alternatively at the top of the post you wish to quote, next to the persons name there are a few icons. One is a set of quote marks which you can click on to quote that message.

I hope this is helpful, if not please feel free to ask for a lesson next time I see you!
 
Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :
 
The simple way is to click on the quotation marks of the post you are quoting from. This will open a reply window with the quote already in place.

To do the work yourself, you need to open the quote by typing the word QUOTE surrounded by square brackets [ and ]. To make the quote appear in bold, you then type QB, again with square brackets round it.

Once you have typed your quote in, you need to switch off the bold by typing /QB in square brackets, and then switch off the quoting by typing /QUOTE in square brackets.

So in the end your post will look like this (but without the spaces between the square brackets and the upper case characters):

-----------------------------------------------
[ QUOTE ] [ QB ] Whatever babble you wish to quote in bold for everyone's delectation [ /QB ] [ /QUOTE ]

Then whatever it is you want to say about it! [Wink]

Hope this helps.

[Ha, Chocoholic beat me to it!]

[ 17. July 2003, 14:51: Message edited by: Smudgie ]
 
Posted by Angel* (# 4690) on :
 
Thank you Smudgie & Chocoholic
I will now go home and practice!
[Confused]
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
And in case you haven't noticed it, here in Styx is a thread ( Practice UBB code here ) where you can practice in peace and quiet. If you skim through the Practice thread, you also might happen across answers to other "How do I ..." questions.

{fixed a typo}

[ 17. July 2003, 17:14: Message edited by: jlg ]
 
Posted by Esmeralda (# 582) on :
 
The FAQ tells me I can edit my own posts, but doesn't tell me how! I may be very stupid, but when I get the message that tells me I have 2 mins starting NOW to make it say what I wanted it to say, I don't know where to go to do that. [Help] (I do know how to use smilies...)
 
Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :
 
Fifth icon along at the top of your post. Looks like a piece of paper with a pencil. Click on it. Fast [Wink]
 
Posted by sabine (# 3861) on :
 
Just to feed my grandiose fantasy, I did the search feature under my own screen name and found that posts I had made in the last couple of weeks (on All Saints and Mystery Worshipper) were not reflected in the results.

How often is the search feature updated?

Will my admiring throng (of one [Smile] ) be able to find out that I have posted everywhere I have actually posted?

Has anyone looking for another person's recent posts reported this problem, or have I just now fed my paranoid fantasy?

Curious,
sabine

[ 24. July 2003, 03:32: Message edited by: sabine ]
 
Posted by sabine (# 3861) on :
 
Sorry to double post, but this might be a problem if a someone remembered "something" that a person had said "somewhere" and wanted to use the search feature to jog their memory.

For example, I posted on Mystery Worshipper on July 7 but I wouldn't find that in a search.

I posted on the All Saints Prayer Thread on July 22 and 23 but don't find that.

Most interesting of all, I posted on Styx today July 23 and between these two messages, I checked search and found my last Styx post listed as April 24.

So I'm thinking that there is some sort of lead time needed for the search to be updated. And further, I'm thinking that it is more than 2 weeks, since my last post on Mystery Worshipper was July 7 and isn't in the search feature yet.

I'm not trying to criticise or nudge, just figure out how the search feature is set up so I would know if using it could be my first choice if I remembered a person posting a couple of days ago, but couldn't remember where and wanted something to jog my memory.

sabine
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
There is no such thing as a username search.
 
Posted by sabine (# 3861) on :
 
Right you are, Erin, I was using the Keyword function and typed my screen name in.

Sounds to me that the search function was not set up to find posts by individuals (what you said), so I won't try to use it that way.

Still curious, though, as to why, since I sign all my posts, that some posts wouldn't show up when I type "sabine" in the Keyword section and use Search In: "all messages"

Probably not worth pursuing, since I may be the only person who would want to search out recent posts by a particular individual.

thanks,
sabine
 
Posted by anglicanrascal (# 3412) on :
 
Sabine, here is your recent posts list - you can check through there for your posts that are on threads that have not been deleted.

Pax,
anglicanrascal
 
Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :
 
Sabine - if you search for your name in the Search function you will only find posts where your name has been used in the text of the post, usually where you have been quoted.

If you want to search for your own posts, either click on the number of posts in any post of yours, or search by your shipmate number, not name.
 
Posted by sabine (# 3861) on :
 
Thanks, folks, and I'm sorry if I wasted your time. Although I originally did a search using my own screen name just for fun, my real intent was to be able to find the recent posts of others, which I finally (duh!) remembered I can do through the directory.

duh! duh! duh! (we don't seem to have a duh! emoticon, but I feel it applies to me [Smile] )

sabine
 
Posted by Esmeralda (# 582) on :
 
Just posting to find out if Smudgie's excellent advice works... It did! [Yipee]

[ 29. July 2003, 21:56: Message edited by: Esmeralda ]
 
Posted by Joyeux (# 3851) on :
 
Not immediately ship-related, but more cafe question: can I have two versions of Java on my computer at once? We've recently upgraded, and now have a newer version of Java that won't allow the cafe to work. I plan on getting a new computer, etc., in a few months, but I don't want to wait that long to get back into the cafe.

Thank you!
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Try the Cafe FAQs (http://cafe.shipoffools.com/cafe_faqs.html), Joyeux, that may answer your question. As far as I know you can only have one version of Java running at once. However there are versions that do work correctly.
 
Posted by Joyeux (# 3851) on :
 
Thank you, Chris!

The hurdle now is convincing the rest of the family to uninstall the newer version so I can install the version that works...
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Simple answer to that - do it and don't tell them!
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
I have two versions of Java installed on my PC -- 1.3 and 1.4. You just have to go into the console and make sure that the correct version is associated with your browsers.
 
Posted by Lurker. (# 1384) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Smudgie:
Fifth icon along at the top of your post. Looks like a piece of paper with a pencil. Click on it. Fast [Wink]

Can't we increase it to 3 minutes? 5 allows people (coughpyx_ecough) to mess around with our heads, 2 is too short a time. 3 sounds like a good compromise.
 
Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :
 
You get 2 minutes to decide to edit and to click on the pencil - you don't have to get the editing done in two minutes. Once you've got the editing window open you can sit there and ponder for as long as you can keep your connection open.
 
Posted by CorgiGreta (# 443) on :
 
Ruth,


Where is this string of icons? I feel so stupid.


Ahhhhhhhhh,YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

[ 10. August 2003, 19:15: Message edited by: CorgiGreta ]
 
Posted by Gremlin (# 129) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by RuthW:
You get 2 minutes to decide to edit and to click on the pencil - you don't have to get the editing done in two minutes. Once you've got the editing window open you can sit there and ponder for as long as you can keep your connection open.

Phew, that's a relief. Now I don't have to panic about screwing up an edit because of pressure to get it back in within 2 minutes! I was just waiting for me to have to double edit a post because the first one was done in such a rush.

Gremlin
 
Posted by that Wikkid Person (# 4446) on :
 
Perhaps my using Opera for my browser is why I get more like 2 seconds. This may go a fair distance toward explaining some of my posts.
 
Posted by Robert Miller (# 1459) on :
 
I know I should preview post first - so that makes me a bit of a fuckwit but ........ When you edit your own messages you have the following displayed at the end:


[ 11. August 2003, 11:37: Message edited by: Robert Miller ]


this is a bit misleading, it makes it look as if I did something really off the wall the first time, when all I did was forget an end bold tag.

Seeing as we only have 2 minutes to edit the post, the edits I would have thought wouldn't be too major and not too many people would have the opportunity to read the original post.

So can the message be dispensed with?
 
Posted by Paul W (# 1450) on :
 
No, it keeps the Hellhosts amused.

Paul W
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Robert Miller, read up a few posts and you will note that the two minute restriction applies only to deciding you want to edit. Once the edit window is opened, you can take all the time you want to make changes.

You are also free to add a little note explaining what you edited, such as
{fixed typo}
and if you put it at the very bottom of your post, it will show up directly above the [...message edited by...] line.
 
Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Miller:
[ 11. August 2003, 11:37: Message edited by: Robert Miller ]

this is a bit misleading, it makes it look as if I did something really off the wall the first time, when all I did was forget an end bold tag.

Seeing as we only have 2 minutes to edit the post, the edits I would have thought wouldn't be too major and not too many people would have the opportunity to read the original post.

So can the message be dispensed with?

No. As jlg has said, and as I explained as well, you have two minutes to decide to edit, but once you've got that edit box open as far as we know you have unlimited time to complete the edit. So it's important that we know whether a message has been edited, as someone can easily quote a post in their reply while someone is pondering their edit of that same post. Without the edit message it could make people look like they were putting words into someone else's mouth.
 
Posted by frin (# 9) on :
 
Hosts generally follow a convention of putting in the last line of an edited post their reason for so doing e.g. [edited code] or [edited for clarity]. Non-hosts who wish to make clear that they only messed with an unclosed tag or took out an extra instance of the word 'not' which totally reversed the meaning of what they were saying could always adopt the same technique.

[edited for illustration purposes]

[ 11. August 2003, 20:26: Message edited by: frin ]
 
Posted by Gremlin (# 129) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by frin:
Non-hosts who wish to make clear that they only messed with an unclosed tag or took out an extra instance of the word 'not' which totally reversed the meaning of what they were saying could always adopt the same technique.

I try to, but don't always remember.

Gremlin
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Ah, but one is allowed to edit the edit! And no, it doesn't produce additional copies of the [...messaged edited...] line, it just updates the time stamp.

Believe me, I know. [Roll Eyes]
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
actually, I tried that on the practice thread yesterday wondering if it was possible. you can only edit the post within 2 minutes of posting it, not the previous edit. So you have to be really quick to edit an edit.

You can still preview post the edit before finalising it, of course.
 
Posted by Robert Miller (# 1459) on :
 
Thanks everyone, of course I'll be more careful in the future. But maybe just maybe I will occassionaly slip up.

Sorry if you've repeated yourself but thanks for making the reasoning more clear.

I'm off to practice UBB now

[Changed practive to practice [Smile] ]

[ 12. August 2003, 10:35: Message edited by: Robert Miller ]
 
Posted by humblebum (# 4358) on :
 
Does anyone know why I get "The page cannot be displayed" errors every so often whenever I reply to a post?

No matter how many times I retry, it comes up with the same error - but I can still see all the other pages on the boards.

But I can still post to other threads (eg this one).

It's really very annoying - I have to wait until the next day to post from my work PC (by which time the discussion has usually moved on)...
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
It usually means that a server is overloaded or otherwise not available. It could be your ISP server or it could be the Ship's server.

If you're getting it frequently (i.e. many times a day) it's probably your ISP.

The solution is to go do something else for a while and then try again. You don't have to wait for the next day.
 
Posted by humblebum (# 4358) on :
 
But I do have to wait til the next day [Frown]

What happens is that I'll not be able to post a reply against a particular thread, but I am able to post against other threads. Last night, after I posted to this thread, I tried the first one again and got the same error message.

I'm wondering if its something to do with my internet connection. As yet, it's only happened to me on my home PC, but not my office PC.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
Is thecafe server asleep? I cannotget in
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
and when I was there fiteen miutes ago (after 2 GMT) it booted of two shipmates - one in US and one in UK, so I logged out! [Frown] [Confused]
 
Posted by Annie Day (# 3453) on :
 
ok, have annoying problem with my browser, and I don't know how to get rid of it, but it's really starting to do my head in.

Basically I've got this extra tool bar which keeps popping up. If I close it, it re appears every time I change a page/ refresh ect. It's called "eaygbstmidb". I've tried searching through all my files (including hidden ones) and I can't seem to find it. Don't know where it's latched on to my browser, but I would really like to be rid of it, once and for all.

Is there anyone who can help me? It's got worse (like it never goes away) since Tigglet cleaned up my machine from spy ware... (I'm sure it's not his fault though!)

thanks Annie
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
I can't find anything about "eaygbstmidb" online, are you sure you've got the name right? If it is a toolbar built into your browse then it has to be an installed program. Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs and see if its there/ Highlight it and remove. Be careful not to remove anything important from your machine.
 
Posted by Annie Day (# 3453) on :
 
Thanks Chris, I had a look, but couldn't see anything which linked the tool bar to a program. I double checked the spelling, and it's right.

Ho hum, will keep thinking and trying to see if there is anything else I can do.

Annie goes and does a search again....
 
Posted by Nightlamp (# 266) on :
 
Annie day you may find spybot a free Tool helpful in dealing with this problem.

[ 26. August 2003, 00:34: Message edited by: Nightlamp ]
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
My computer seems to slow down noticeably when connected to the internet. It's only happened over the past three days, but at such times the mouse moves so slowly that it jerks across the screen. The CPU is apparently using 100% of its power, and massive amounts of bytes are exchanged and received. I can even hear the computer straining to go up a gear. As soon as I disconnect the problem stops.

My first thought was that I am being hacked. I've got a firewall up and an up to date virus scanner (25 August) but can find nothing wrong. Have I just got a dodgy connection/ISP, ir is there something more sinister going on? Any advice would be welcome. It's a 56K modem and has been slow in the past but nothing like this.
 
Posted by Nightlamp (# 266) on :
 
Try using the spybot above you might have something unwanted on your computer.
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I do. It's called W31/Nachi-A and it's infecting dllhost.exe and my virus software cannot remove it and says that access to this file is denied. Now what do I do??

[Help]
 
Posted by Annie Day (# 3453) on :
 
Thanks Nightlamp. It has indeed cleaned up my system, but the annoying tool bar still remains.

Oh well, I don't think I'll be able to get rid of it, although now I feel a little bit more secure than I did!

Any other thoughts gratefully received.
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Right, I think I'm finally clean, but that was suitably hair-raising. I didn't get the error messages and constant reboots you are supposed to have, just increasing slowness. Be warned, you may have a virus lurking without knowing it.
 
Posted by Nightlamp (# 266) on :
 
When the the thing was removed did spybot give you a name for it? If so do a google on it. If that fails put the name here and i will look through some of the websites I know.

Ariel this web page explains it and directs you to a tool that removes this worm with no pain.

It is the anti Blast worm.
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Thanks Nightlamp. I spoke to someone at Sophos antivirus and he talked me through what to do so am OK for now I hope.
 
Posted by Qlib (# 43) on :
 
I know the internet is a bit tiresome at the moment but, with some delay, I've been able to access everything on the ship except Fiddleback's "Bottom Inspector" thread. Is it me or (more likely) is it Fiddleback? - or what?
 
Posted by Qlib (# 43) on :
 
Got it now - at third log-in and 20th attempt.
It was worth the trouble. [Smile]
 
Posted by Phoenix (# 2782) on :
 
To get rid of the nachi worm if still got it then try stinger from mcafee. It does the job a treat [Smile]

Just make sure you then go to microsoft and download patch ms03-026 to plug the hole and then run stinger again to make sure it hasn't got back in..
 
Posted by Nightlamp (# 266) on :
 
Annie P may well have Xupiter which is very nasty and spy-bot gets rid of most versions of it. If that doesn't then a search around for either Ad aware 6 or spyware scanner and they may do the trick.
 
Posted by Annie P (# 3453) on :
 
I've managed to do it! Was a little more simple than I thought. The tool bar had a search function, so I went to the site where the search engine lived and got an uninstall program from there.

Thanks for all your help, I've now got spy bot on my pc, and using it. I feel a little more secure now than I did, and the number of pop ups has dramatically decreased.
 
Posted by snowgoose (# 4394) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Nightlamp:
Annie P may well have Xupiter which is very nasty and spy-bot gets rid of most versions of it. If that doesn't then a search around for either Ad aware 6 or spyware scanner and they may do the trick.

Ack! I had the devil's own time with Xupiter. I would remove it and it would sneak back in. It's gone at the moment, but thanks for the info about spybot.

[If I could type I'd be dangerous]

[ 29. August 2003, 18:29: Message edited by: snowgoose ]
 
Posted by Nightlamp (# 266) on :
 
Annie P don't be so certain as this web page suggests it doesn't really go it just hides.
Do a google on spyware and Lop.com anyway this might work but I have never tried it.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
This isn't a Ship technical question, but this thread needs to be bumped, so I'll ask it here.

On MW, this was posted . Aside from the OP question, it made me wonder what, if any, requirements must be met in order to qualify for a dot.org domain name as opposed to dot.com or whatever.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who tends to assume that dot.org indicates at least a reasonable expectation that the website is owned by someone with an IRS non-profit status of some sort.
 
Posted by Amazing Grace (# 4754) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by jlg:
This isn't a Ship technical question, but this thread needs to be bumped, so I'll ask it here.

On MW, this was posted . Aside from the OP question, it made me wonder what, if any, requirements must be met in order to qualify for a dot.org domain name as opposed to dot.com or whatever.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who tends to assume that dot.org indicates at least a reasonable expectation that the website is owned by someone with an IRS non-profit status of some sort.

.org is pretty loose. I've seen it from government or non-governmental agencies to individual vanity/parody sites.

"show [the registrar] the money" seems to be the driving principle.

Charlotte (aka Amazing Grace)
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Amazing Grace is correct, there is no constraints on who can have a .org domain, just like there isn't for .com or .net. An individual countries naming organisation may have legal hoops to jump through for some of their own domain extension. For example, in the UK, if you want a .ltd.uk domain name the address HAS to be the registered company name. Obviously there are pretty strict constraints for .nhs.uk, .gov.uk etc.

I'm not sure, although I guess there won't be any limits on .info .biz names. Perhaps .tv as well.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Thanks!
 
Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :
 
I tried to register myfamilyname.net.uk and the domain name sellers (whatever they are called) wouldn't let me have it, even though I was going to be running my family website, so in some way could be construed as an internet service provider*.

This despite the fact that all kinds of people - including the organic food company I get vegetables from - use .net addresses.

I ended up going with myfamilynames.org.uk so that the website is for "multiple members of my family" or possibly "belonging to member(s) of my family". But GRRR.


*"service" loosely defined.
 
Posted by Jonah the Whale (# 1244) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisT:
Perhaps .tv as well.

I think .tv is the country extension for the island nation of tuvalu. I suppose they are free to sell address to whom they choose, and I can imagine it could easily be one of their major exports. Or am I getting mixed up with .nu from Nauru, or .co from Colombia?

JtW
 
Posted by Paul W (# 1450) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by chukovsky:
I tried to register myfamilyname.net.uk and the domain name sellers (whatever they are called) wouldn't let me have it, even though I was going to be running my family website, so in some way could be construed as an internet service provider*.

This despite the fact that all kinds of people - including the organic food company I get vegetables from - use .net addresses.

I ended up going with myfamilynames.org.uk so that the website is for "multiple members of my family" or possibly "belonging to member(s) of my family". But GRRR.


*"service" loosely defined.

.net addresses are not administered by the same company as .net.uk. The uk version, run by Nominet, has fairly strict rules about who can and cannot get one of these domains. Whoever looks after the .net domains (Verisign?) has a different, and probably much looser, set of rules.

The full Nominet rules for .net.uk can be found
here.

Although there are suggested guidelines for who .org.uk and .co.uk are intended for, there aren't any actual restrictions on who can have them.

Paul W
 
Posted by Islandexile (# 1340) on :
 
I was wondering if anyone here might be able to give me some insight into the origin of a couple of messages that ended up in my Hotmail account.
One read:
quote:

From "Internet Message Delivery Service" <webservice@bigfoot.com>
To "Network Client" <recipient@smtpdomain.com
Date Mon, 22 Sep 2003 12:56:27 -400

I'm sorry to have to inform you that the message returned below could not be delivered to one or more destinations.
Undelivered to <name>@bigfoot.com
Message follows:

(I deleted the name for this post)

Then blankness. It actually came as a .txt attachment. (No virus. I scanned it.)

The other was the same except for a different domain server and undeliverable-to address.

I am absolutely sure I did not send an e-mail to either address. I rarely send anything from that account. I mostly just use it to read (not post to) a couple of lists that I'm on.

The reason this bothers me is that a few weeks ago I got a couple of spams in another account (non-hotmail). Both come with @microsoft.com addresses with attachments. One of them with the subject line "Use this patch immediately!" read:
quote:

From Microsoft <security@microsoft.com>

Dear friend , use this Internet Explorer patch now!
There are dangerous virus in the Internet now!
More than 500.000 already infected!

And came with the attachment:
patch.exe

(I won't even bother listing all the obvious clues that told me right off the bat that this was not what it claimed to be. )
When I Googled the addresses I found them listed on various microsoft.com Web pages. I assumed idiot virus spreaders had figured out how to make their virus-spreading e-mails appear to come from microsoft.

What I'm wondering about the bounced e-mails that turned up in my hotmail account is if the idiot virus spreaders have now started picking up hotmail addresses and delivering virus e-mails "from" hotmail users.
I've been thinking about pulling the plug on that account anyway (just because I don't care much for Microsoft) but if that's what is going on I am definitely saying goodbye to it.

Any one know if that's what might be going on?

Oh, and can anyone recommend any good, free e-mail sites? I already have a yahoo account.

Thanks.

ie
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
What has most likely happened...

1. Someone has a page in their browser cache with your e-mail address on it, or you're in someone's address book.

2. Said someone has picked up a virus or worm.

3. The virus or worm has sent out copies and pulled your address from the cache/address book and slapped that in the sender field.

4. The ISP of the recipients has scanned the e-mail and found a virus or worm.

5. The ISP removes the worm and bounces the mail back to the address listed as sender.
 
Posted by Amazing Grace (# 4754) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Islandexile:
I was wondering if anyone here might be able to give me some insight into the origin of a couple of messages that ended up in my Hotmail account.
One read:
quote:

From "Internet Message Delivery Service" <webservice@bigfoot.com>
To "Network Client" <recipient@smtpdomain.com
Date Mon, 22 Sep 2003 12:56:27 -400

I'm sorry to have to inform you that the message returned below could not be delivered to one or more destinations.
Undelivered to <name>@bigfoot.com
Message follows:

(I deleted the name for this post)

Then blankness. It actually came as a .txt attachment. (No virus. I scanned it.)

The other was the same except for a different domain server and undeliverable-to address.

I am absolutely sure I did not send an e-mail to either address. I rarely send anything from that account. I mostly just use it to read (not post to) a couple of lists that I'm on.

The reason this bothers me is that a few weeks ago I got a couple of spams in another account (non-hotmail). Both come with @microsoft.com addresses with attachments. One of them with the subject line "Use this patch immediately!" read:
quote:

From Microsoft <security@microsoft.com>

Dear friend , use this Internet Explorer patch now!
There are dangerous virus in the Internet now!
More than 500.000 already infected!

And came with the attachment:
patch.exe

(I won't even bother listing all the obvious clues that told me right off the bat that this was not what it claimed to be. )

When I Googled the addresses I found them listed on various microsoft.com Web pages. I assumed idiot virus spreaders had figured out how to make their virus-spreading e-mails appear to come from microsoft.

What I'm wondering about the bounced e-mails that turned up in my hotmail account is if the idiot virus spreaders have now started picking up hotmail addresses and delivering virus e-mails "from" hotmail users.
I've been thinking about pulling the plug on that account anyway (just because I don't care much for Microsoft) but if that's what is going on I am definitely saying goodbye to it.

Any one know if that's what might be going on?

ie

Many viruses now morph "from" addresses. In other words, instead of merely scanning the hapless victim's drives for addys in address books and cached website "email to" tags, one of them gets the (dis)honor of being the putative sender. This is only slightly more complicated than faking a microsoft.com return address.

So bounce messages to messages you didn't actually send are quite common these days (since the harvested addresses will no doubt contain something malformed or "no longer in service"), as are autoresponse notices to viruses you didn't send (poor stupid mail/virus gateway isn't smart enough to read the headers and parse the IP to figure out where it REALLY came from).

The current Swen/Gibe worm floating around does have a bunch of fake NDRs associated with it.

Hotmail may be a bit more up for it than some others since it's a big service (thus a "liberated" account name has a better chance of working) but the last time a spammer tried bouncing a run off one of my smtp servers, the junque was prettily evenly divvied up among msn, yahoo, hotmail, and aol fake "from" addresses.

Charlotte (aka Amazing Grace)
 
Posted by Islandexile (# 1340) on :
 
Charlotte (aka Amazing Grace) -

Thanks. I suspected it was something along those lines. The idea that people out there are getting spam/viruses "from" me really ticks me off. But I susppose that's life on the Internet.
 
Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Islandexile:
The idea that people out there are getting spam/viruses "from" me really ticks me off. But I susppose that's life on the Internet.

Its life off the Internet as well. If I write a rude letter, sign it from you, and post it, on the face of it it will seem to come from you.

Same thing.
 
Posted by Chapelhead (# 1143) on :
 
Apologies if this has alredy been covered elsewhere (I have looked, honest).

I used to be registered with the Ship with e-mail address X.

Then I changed it to Y.

Now I want to change it back to X, but I can't as the system thinks that the address is already in use by someone.

Is there a way round this?

Many thanks.
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
This is one for Erin, methinks. The only thing I can suggest is you leave it a few days before changing it back to Y, although I guess you probably already have.
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
Chapelhead: did you use it for your Nativity Play registration?
 
Posted by Chapelhead (# 1143) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Erin:
Chapelhead: did you use it for your Nativity Play registration?

Almost certainly.

I also used it when I originally signed up with the Ship. It hasn't been used for many months, however.
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
We temporarily disabled the unique e-mail address requirement for the Nativity Play registrations. We reenabled it shortly after. So now it's in the system on the Nativity Play ID and the board won't let you reuse it.
 
Posted by Chapelhead (# 1143) on :
 
That's OK, it isn't a big issue.

Thanks for looking at the problem.
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
Send me the e-mail addresses that you want to use for each account and I'll change them.
 
Posted by Chapelhead (# 1143) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Erin:
Send me the e-mail addresses that you want to use for each account and I'll change them.

As ever, you're a star.
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Nightlamp, I finally sorted the index.dat and history files thing with something called 4t Explorer Sweeper which will work with XP as well as other versions. (It's a 30 day trial version so I haven't linked to it.) Thanks for all your advice.

I have also discovered that Spider will not work on IE 6.
 
Posted by Anselm (# 4499) on :
 
Not sure if this is the thread to pose this...

Just curious about the options to "add to your buddies list" or "add to your ignore list" that you see when you go to look a someones profile.

What do these do?
Can you know if you are on someone else's buddy/ignore list? Should I be concerned if I am on no-one's buddy list?
Am I revealing too much about my own insecurities?
[Hot and Hormonal]
...Of course I ask out of pure curiosity!!
 
Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Anselm:
What do these do?

Go into your own profile, click on them and you'll see explanations.

quote:
Can you know if you are on someone else's buddy/ignore list?
Buddy: only if they tell you.
Ignore: if you try to send a PM, you'll get a message saying you can't because you're on the person's ignore list.

quote:
Should I be concerned if I am on no-one's buddy list?
You don't know if you are or not, so don't worry about it.

quote:
Am I revealing too much about my own insecurities?
Answering this is beyond my remit! [Biased]
 
Posted by In Theory (# 2964) on :
 
Erm, not seen this covered anywhere else, so here goes:

A similar problem to Chapelhead's. I registered with e-mail address X and recently changed it to address Y (which caused a new password to be e-mailed to address Y). Then I wanted to change my displayed name from Monty Moose to In Theory, but when I logged into my profile, address X was still there. So I changed address back to address Y and my displayed name to In Theory at the same time.

Now I want to change my signature, but when I looked in my profile, address X and name Monty Moose are back there again. So I logged out and logged in again, and despite the welcome note still saying "Hello, In Theory", my profile still says Monty Moose and address X.

I wouldn't mind, but every time I want to change anything on my profile I have to change my address back to Y and get sent a new password. Can anyone help?

(Sorry if that description caused [Snore] [Snore] [Snore] )
 
Posted by In Theory (# 2964) on :
 
Helloooo.... helloooo....

Please speak to me, someone - I feel so alone! [Paranoid] [Waterworks]
 
Posted by frin (# 9) on :
 
In Theory,

Is it possible that your browser has saved the information you filled into the form when you filled in your profile? Thus, each time you log in to your profile it refills the information according to the way it first remembered it? Somewhere under the privacy or security settings of your browser there may be an option to manage stored form data or passwords. Have a look and see whether the profile or shipoffools is listed there.

'frin
 
Posted by The Mid (# 1559) on :
 
Is it just me or is anyone else finding the ship extremely slow recently, especially when typing posts and scrolling down through threads? I am having no other problems with my computer, or with any other website, so I was just wondering if I am alone in this or if others are expperiencing it as well?
 
Posted by The Mid (# 1559) on :
 
I take it I am alone in this then. It is taking close to 10 seconds for what appears on the screen to catch up with what I am typing. This only happens on the ship.

Can someone please help?
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
As far as I know nothing is wrong with the UBB software or the server. I have been getting usual speeds from this (and all other) sites from all my connections. Perhaps it's your computer?
 
Posted by The Mid (# 1559) on :
 
Nope, happens on this set of bulletin boards only.
 
Posted by .Stoo. (# 254) on :
 
Perhaps your computer doesn't want you to be here anymore?
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
You're not alone Mid, I get that as well.

For some reason it only happens when I log on from my home computer. At w*rk everything is fine.

I just assumed it was because I was on a much older computer at home. Maybe not?
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
These boards do work slightly differently to many others. It may be wise to do a cleanup of your system - deleting temporary files etc - and see what difference that makes. This obviously includes removing any temporary internet files. Let us know how you get on.
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
I'll try it when I get home tonight.

Is it worth deleting the history file as well as the temporary files?
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
Doesn't seem to be going much faster.
 
Posted by The Mid (# 1559) on :
 
Defragged, removed cookies adn temporary files, did a disk cleanup as well, no change whatsover unfortunately.
 
Posted by The Mid (# 1559) on :
 
Just discovered that this does not happen unless I am logged in. I posted a thread while I was not logged in and it was perfectly fine.Am not sure what that means.
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Perhaps when you log in it loads your ego, therefore the huge amount of extra data taking up bandwidth slows the site down? [Big Grin]

Dunno what the problem is. Maybe try another browser - Opera is free and good.
 
Posted by Belisarius (# 32) on :
 
[Or***ally posted by Nonpropheteer]

Anyone who has XP is probably running into the same situation I am. There is a service out there that spams you through the XP messenger service. They have several different websites, such as www.endads.com, but they all sell the same product. This is nothing short of electronic extortion: Buy my product or put up with my ads every 15 minutes.

Well, after much cussing and surfing (not necessarily in that order) I found two procedures that will stop the crap:

Windows Launchpad

Microsoft

May spammers burn in hell forever.


Nonpropheteer
 
Posted by Phoenix/Pheonix (# 2782) on :
 
These adverts have been out for a while... It also affects Windows2000, Win98 & I think NT... For those interested I think its ports in the range 164-170 that are used for this.

A good firewall will stop these messages straightaway along with all other sorts of nasties, which is a good reason to use one. I recommend ZoneAlarm (best of the free ones by a long way) although its not the easiest to set up.

If you want to then it is possible to trace the source of the spam, but its not easy.

Bloody micros**t(e) seem unwilling to fix this or restrict it to a local network...
 
Posted by Phoenix/Pheonix (# 2782) on :
 
On another note... Have just seen an influx of emails to one email server I monitor with the Dumaru virus. Click here for details of the file on McAfee...

Its a traditional mass mailer that happens to drop a password stealer. Make sure anti-virus protection is up to date (although this file was first detected in mid-late august) and don't run any attachments or for that matter open any email that you're not 100% sure about.
 
Posted by Caid (# 5024) on :
 
This just in:

Suddenly, my password stopped working. Both on the boards and the chat. I'm quite sure about my password and tried it several times before I gave up. I had to ask for a new one in order to get back in.

Now, can anybody explain why this is in accordance with the prophecy?
 
Posted by Joyeux (# 3851) on :
 
In accordance with the prophecy, I come, searching for answers.

(For Windows XP, Microsoft Outlook) Does anyone know how I can copy / export the information in my "this is junk" list to a Word document or Excel spreadsheet (or, ideally, to the rules for out of office assistant)? I'm going to have my auto-reply turned on for over a week, but I don't want it to go to those addresses that I've already identified as being junk!

(Oops! I forgot to put on a hat that sufficiently demonstrates how deeply I am grovelling... *digs through costume chest* an over-sized tyrolean hat in fuschia, magenta, and burnt umber, indicating that I am so much in need of help by this problem that I can't recognize when colour combinations just Aren't Right™.)
 
Posted by Phoenix/Pheonix (# 2782) on :
 
Is this before or after we burn you at the stake for using outlook? [Snigger]
 
Posted by MarkthePunk (# 683) on :
 
You all want technical support? Today??

[Killing me] [Killing me] [Killing me]
 
Posted by MarkthePunk (# 683) on :
 
quote:
Originally babbled by Phoenix/Pheonix:
Is this before or after we burn you at the stake for using outlook? [Snigger]

Hey, I'm getting ready to burn that heretick Karl--Liberal Backslider at the stake. You can throw some more in if you want.
 
Posted by Joyeux (# 3851) on :
 
quote:
Originally babbled by Phoenix/Pheonix:
Is this before or after we burn you at the stake for using outlook? [Snigger]

Actually, could you just burn my system at the stake? Then the people sending the valid emails would call or fax me, and the junk stuff wouldn't get through, either.

Wow! You guys come up with the bestest solutions!

(And I know it's a wild idea, asking for technical support on Merry Host & Admin Day... I am just in such great need of help on this, I thought I'd try. Oh, well.)

(forgot to respond to ThePunk)

[ 23. October 2003, 14:59: Message edited by: Joyeux ]
 
Posted by MarkthePunk (# 683) on :
 
quote:
Originally babbled by Joyeux:
quote:
Originally babbled by Phoenix/Pheonix:
Is this before or after we burn you at the stake for using outlook? [Snigger]

Actually, could you just burn my system at the stake? Then the people sending the valid emails would call or fax me, and the junk stuff wouldn't get through, either.

Wow! You guys come up with the bestest solutions!

I know! [Big Grin] The stake is now burning in Hell. Feel free to throw your system in along with any hereticks you know.
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
You could create a new Rule to send all junk mail from particular addresses to your junk folder. Go to Tools > Rules Wizard then follow the instructions.

If the junk email is spam then it's likely that it won#yt come from the same address twice, so this might not be too effective. What you need then is a mail filter program - MailWasher is good and free (www.mailwasher.net I think).
 
Posted by Joyeux (# 3851) on :
 
I've downloaded it... it's asking for my POP3 server address. How do I find it? Also, I should probably mention that this email account is through w*rk, on the company network.

Will this interfere / affect how Mail Washer works?

Thank you!
 
Posted by frin (# 9) on :
 
Joyeux, your e-mail provider's website may have a FAQ telling you how to configure e-mail access to its servers. This will have both the pop3 server and SMTP server addresses (you will need both). Otherwise, open your e-mail programme and hunt around the menus to look for your account settings. They will have boxes into which the server details are entered.

'frin
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Joyeux, if you collect your email from a mail server on your companys network then really they should control spam and junk mail. That may be something to have A Word with your network administrator about.

However if all you do is use the internet connection at your work to connect to te internet and collect mails directly from an internet mail server then follow frins advice.

There is a quick way to (possibly) find the mail server. If your email address is joyeux@myisp.com then your mail server may be mail.myisp.com. Possibly. But no promises and YMMV.
 
Posted by Phoenix/Pheonix (# 2782) on :
 
New in my mailbox this morning. Warning about a variant of mymail thats been spreading quickly. It has quite a nasty payload.

Please update your anti-virus scanners to todays files to ensure you're protected. The virus dat files must have a date on or after 31st October 2003 to be effective against this virus. Stinger has been updated to cope with this virus.

For those that want the full information then direct from McAfee's website:
quote:

-- Update October 31st 2003 07:20 PST --
This worm was mass-spammed, which appears to have been the initial "seeding". An attachment named undelivered.hta (proactively detected as Downloader-BO.dr with the 4250+ DAT files) creates the file c:\mware.exe . This executable is the W32/Mimail.c@MM worm. When the .hta file is run, the following message is displayed:

Your message will be sent again in 1 hour. If it doesn't arrive - we will delete it from queue.

--
Due to the increased number of samples being submitted to AVERT, the risk assessment of this threat was raised to medium.
--

This mass-mailing worm spreads as a .ZIP file, contains a denial of service attack, and information stealing payload.

It bears similarities to a previous worm, W32/Mimail@MM . However, this variant does not use the codebase (MS02-015 ) and MHTML (MS03-014 ) exploits that the previous variants did.

A summary of the virus characteristics are as follows:
Scanning of compressed files should always be enabled for optimal detection.

Mail Propagation
Target email addresses are harvested from files on the victim's machine. The worm ignores address extraction from files that contain the following extensions:
Addresses are written to the file EML.TMP in %WinDir% (such as c:\windows). Testing shows the worm is overly lax in identifying valid email addresses - as a result messages are likely to be sent to invalid recipients.

Outgoing messages are sent using the worm's own SMTP engine. They are formatted as follows:

Subject : Re[2]: our private photos (plus additional spaces then random characters)
Attachment : PHOTOS.ZIP (12,958 bytes) which contains PHOTOS.JPG.EXE (12,832 bytes)
Message Body :
Hello Dear!,
Finally, i've found possibility to right u, my lovely girl [Smile]
All our photos which i've made at the beach (even when u're withou ur bh:))
photos are great! This evening i'll come and we'll make the best SEX [Smile]

Right now enjoy the photos.
Kiss, James.
(random characters - the same as those terminating the subject)

Messages are constructed with the following X-headers:

X-Mailer: The Bat! (v1.62)
X-Priority: 1 (High)

The 'From' address of outgoing messages may be spoofed as follows:

james@(target domain.com)
Such as
james@abc.com
james@xyz.com
etc
As with previous variants, the mailing routing queries the mail server for the domain related to the target (harvested) address. Messages are then sent through that SMTP server. The worm contains a hardcoded IP address (212.5.86.163).

Denial of Service
The worm sends a large amount of data to remote servers (port 80 and ICMP). The worm verifies that a connection is active by contacting www.google.com. If successful, an attack is initiated on the following domains:

darkprofits.net
darkprofits.com
www.darkprofits.net
www.darkprofits.com
Information stealing payload
The following email address are encrypted within the virus body and are used to send captured information to. Analysis of the exact information gathered is ongoing.

omnibbb@gmx.net
drbz@mail15.com
omnibcd@gmx.net
kxva@mail15.com




[ 03. November 2003, 09:05: Message edited by: Phoenix/Pheonix ]
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Mimail is proliferating nicely at the moment - now onto Version H.
 
Posted by Woodpecker (# 4030) on :
 
Is it possible to change my log-in in the cafe - I would prefer to go straight in as "Woodpecker", rather than displaying some of my personal details which make up my log-in name.
 
Posted by sharkshooter (# 1589) on :
 
Try this:

Type "Woodpecker" in the name box. Click the "Guest" box. Leave the password box blank.
 
Posted by Ms Lilith (# 1767) on :
 
I dont know whether this is a ship issue or my issue but maybe there will be some clever people out there who can help me.

Im using a lovely iBook on OS10.2 Im using Safari (newish web browser for Macs)

When I go to the front page of the bulletien boards I neither get the the advert or the menu bar. My computer dowmloads two files called bulletin ad and 4menu places them on my desktop. If you click to open them you see gobbledegook.

This is annoying if you keep returning tot he front page as you end up with lots of icons on your desktop to put in the trash.

Ive tried deleting cookies, re setting safari, emptying cache and it still happens?

The ship is the only site I have a problem with. Any ideas?
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Mrs Lilith, it looks like your installation of Safari is having problems rendering frames or JavaScript, possibly both. There is a description of some common Safari problems here http://dhtmlkitchen.com/experiment/safari/index.html but nothing that looks like it could be causing your symptoms.

Do you have any other browsers installed? Konqueror, Opera, Mozilla? Try one of those and see if they work OK. Someone with more Mac experience than me may be able to help you more.
 
Posted by markporter (# 4276) on :
 
yay! a fellow safari user!
 
Posted by Ms Lilith (# 1767) on :
 
Now I'm having real problems. I can’t get to the bulletin boards at all. (I’m at work now and it’s fine here)

I've reset Safari. And that didn’t work. Now it wont even load the main part of the site. So I thought maybe its Safari and I tried Explorer which will let me go to the main site but says it cant find the bulletin boards. So I downloaded Opera – same result. I've downloaded Netscape – same. If I follow a specific link from the front page, like to one of the meets, in opera or Netscape I get the bar down the side and the advert and an error message.

I've talked to Geeky friends. One Mac geek says he can’t think of anything that should be causing it that would affect all browsers except Java so update the system and see if you need Java updating. I've updated the system and now Safari will go to the main site but not the boards. My other geeky friend sent me links to other sites which use UBB to see if I could go to them and I can without a problem. Geek1 wonders if it’s a problem with my ISP but why would it only affect this site? (I'm with Fish)

Oh yes and I've deleted cookies.

Any ideas? Help. Please
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Mrs Lilith, you seem to have tried everything obvious. But have you tried getting a decent PC, instead of those wierd Mac efforts? [Biased]

Your geeky friend is partly right, although the only time Java is used on this site is for the cafe. JavaScript is used to load the frames system around any page you select, and it looks like that is the problem. Try using this link: http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi which will take you directly to the (non-framed) boards. However we don't recommend anyone does this. Firstly you will lose the menu on the left hand side of the site, and secondly the Ship will lose income from the adverts that appear at the tope of the page.

However that link will tell you if your browser is seeng the board at all. From there we should narrow the search for the source of the problem down a bit more.
 
Posted by Ms Lilith (# 1767) on :
 
I have emailed that link to myself and will try it tonight. Thanks, I'll let you know how it goes.
 
Posted by Ms Lilith (# 1767) on :
 
Tried the link

Safari - Could not open the page
http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi because the
server forum.ship-of-fools.com could not be found.
Netscape - forum.ship-of-fools.com can not be found. Please check the
name and try again
Opera - http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi
could not locate remote server
Explorer - the specified server can not be found

If I try "http://www.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi"
(which was an accident) I get the front page of the broads but none of
the links work

If I try
http://ship-of-fools.com/UBB/frameit.htm?http://forum.ship-of-
fools.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=001375 (link
from the front page) I get the bar down the side and a box with no
picture but the words 'Click here for the ship of fools US tour' and
nothing else.

curious huh?
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Mrs Lilith, I'm sorry to say this, but I think you have something seriously wrong with your machine or network settings. That first link should work no matter what browser or platform you access it from. As your machine is a Mac I have to pass this over to someone with more experience with me - perhaps Amorya or one of the other Mac experts is available?
 
Posted by Paul W (# 1450) on :
 
It's some sort of DNS problem, because it's finding the www. server fine, but not resolving the forum. server. DNS is the system which converts nice easy-to-remember names like forum.ship-of-fools.com into numerical addresses like 64.239.78.13. You might want to get in touch with Fish and see if they have any suggestions, but if they sent you any information that mentioned DNS or DNS servers, it might be worth double checking your settings for this.

Paul W
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
I find that unlikely Paul, there are loads of other people here using Fish (myself included, from some machines) and they don't have that problem. However it is wierd and does seem to be more a network problem than anything else.
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
I had that problem a few days ago (remember, Chris?). Any link that had "forum" in the url bombed out. I could get to it if I deleted that from the url, but it was a pain in the ass. Turned out that my employer was having network difficulties.
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Yeah, I remember. Hmm. Maybe the DSN settings for shipffools.com need refreshing. Clear out the system, as 'twere. But it's still wierd - especially if Mrs Lilith is connecting through fish.co.uk.
 
Posted by Joyeux (# 3851) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisT:
Joyeux, if you collect your email from a mail server on your companys network then really they should control spam and junk mail. That may be something to have A Word with your network administrator about.

However if all you do is use the internet connection at your work to connect to te internet and collect mails directly from an internet mail server then follow frins advice.

There is a quick way to (possibly) find the mail server. If your email address is joyeux@myisp.com then your mail server may be mail.myisp.com. Possibly. But no promises and YMMV.

It's mail through the company's server. The good news is that they're FINALLY starting to implement a filter... actually they're starting to label SPAM where they detect it. I've had to notify them of a dozen plus fals positives. The theory is that, once they work through the false positives, after a few months, SPAM will be automatically deleted.

Yeah, right.

Let's hear it for a new rule: emails with SPAM in the subject move to deleted items.

Of course, all this started after I got back in the office, so I had 200+ pieces of junk mail to sort through. [Roll Eyes]


On another front, a colleague has had a hotbar install itself on her machine (she most likely clicked something she shouldn't have). How do you uninstall it? (we're both using Windows XP) I tried going into the add/remove programs, but it wasn't there. I did a find, found it on her hard drive, tried to delete it, but it wouldn't let me. Or is it harmless and can stay?
 
Posted by Paul W (# 1450) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisT:
Yeah, I remember. Hmm. Maybe the DSN settings for shipffools.com need refreshing. Clear out the system, as 'twere. But it's still wierd - especially if Mrs Lilith is connecting through fish.co.uk.

I know next to nothing about DNS, so this might not be related in any way, but:

I used the dnsreport.com site to check for any problems with the shipoffools.com domain ( see here ) and it came up with the following error:

----------
ERROR: One or more of the nameservers listed at the parent servers are not listed as NS records at your nameservers. The problem NS records are:
ns2.ship-of-fools.com.
----------

Is that going to affect it in any way?

Paul W
 
Posted by ChrisT (# 62) on :
 
Thanks Paul, that's a useful site. I'm not sure if that's the problem (my knowledge of DNS is dodgy as well) but I'll contact the server people to make sure everything is running correctly. However my guess is that if all domains and subdomains are working from most ISPs, which they are, and from fish.co.uk on most machines as well, which they are, then the problem lies elsewhere. But then again I've been wrong before and I'll be wrong again before I shuffle off.
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Joyeux:
On another front, a colleague has had a hotbar install itself on her machine (she most likely clicked something she shouldn't have). How do you uninstall it? (we're both using Windows XP) I tried going into the add/remove programs, but it wasn't there. I did a find, found it on her hard drive, tried to delete it, but it wouldn't let me. Or is it harmless and can stay?

It's probably spyware that tracks your every move on the internet and reports back to whatever sent it, for whatever purpose. If it's an uninvited guest, you're better off getting rid of it. Deleting it manually (if you can) isn't always the best thing to do as sometimes they alter the Registry and your configuration to suit themselves, and may screw up your pc if they don't have the bit you just deleted. You need something like Spybot, which is pretty good at detecting and removing these things. It will also warn you in future if things like this are downloading themselves, and will block it before it happens.
 
Posted by The Wanderer (# 182) on :
 
Is a hot bar anything like a hot tub? If so, how can I get one for my computer?
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a man with a dirty computer will want to give it a bath.
 
Posted by Woolly Hat (# 3567) on :
 
Cafe related question coming up....

I haven't been able to get into the cafe (clicked on connect and nothing happened) and having checked the FAQs I realised my version of Java didn't support it, etc, etc. So I uninstalled it and installed version 1.3.1 as per instructions. Now whenever I enter my cafe log in details I get an interesting sound and a box popping up telling me I need Java virtual machine. It gives me the option of 'download on demand', I click download, it appears to download, then nothing happens. I checked in my control panel and there don't seem to be any Java related bits in there, *but* there is the 'Java' file I created on my C drive to save the download into, and the Java stuff appears to be in there. Why? How? Who? What?

Now, did any of that make sense to anyone? Anyone?
 
Posted by Phoenix/Pheonix (# 2782) on :
 
Warning for all IE users....
quote:
An issue was identified yesterday with Internet Explorer and the way it displays URLs in the address bar.

From the original Bugtraq posting:

"By opening a window using the http://user@domain nomenclature an attacker can hide the real location of the page by including a 0x01 character after the "@" character. Internet Explorer doesn't display the rest of the URL making the page appear to be at a different domain. "


Proof of Concept http://www.zapthedingbat.com/security/ex01/vun1.htm


This is particularly pertinent given the recent spate of emails from fraudulent online banking sites, such as those pretending to be Natwest. This problem makes these types of scams a great deal harder for end users to spot, as it is now possible to have eg www.natwest.com appear in the address bar when the end user is looking at a fraudulent site.


There is as yet no fix from Microsoft for this issue, nor is there a workaround for Internet Explorer.


 
Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
Use Opera
Make sure redirects cause prompts
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I had an email sent to me at work yesterday asking me to click on the url and reactivate my Nat West account. I don't even have a Nat West account.
 
Posted by Gremlin (# 129) on :
 
And I had one a couple of days ago from 'Natwest' and another today, in exactly the same format, from Lloyds TSB.

I have dealings with both companies, but have never, ever, touched their internet banking systems!

Gremlin
 
Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
The mails apparently from banks are purely random. Just ignore them, like all other spam.

No reputable company uses email in this way.

It's like the weather. No one is picking on you any more than the clouds are picking on you when it rains.
 
Posted by Amazing Grace (# 4754) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by ken:
The mails apparently from banks are purely random. Just ignore them, like all other spam.

No reputable company uses email in this way.

It's like the weather. No one is picking on you any more than the clouds are picking on you when it rains.

Actually if it's got an attachment with "click here", it's likely to be a virus. the attachment, besides setting off more mass mailing, will send your personal info to someone, the better with which to try to steal your identity.

But Ken is right - no reputable firm does business that way.

The "Fake microsoft patch" virus is hitting my mailbox pretty hard with "Apply this patch immediately".

Charlotte
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
I'm having trouble getting into the Cafe.

The system starts to load the applet and then everything comes to a screeching halt with:

java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: digi.digichat.DigiChatApplet

and indeed a search doesn't find any such file.

I'm using Mac OS X 10.2.8; Safari 1.0v85.5 (same thing happens w/Chimera 0.6 -- old, I know).
Java is 1.3.1.

I looked for a place to download the Applet on DigiChat's site but they don't appear to provide it. (Duh)

I used to be able to get onto the Cafe from this machine but the problem started a couple of months ago.

Does anybody have a better idea than installing Panther and trying that? [Catcalls from the Windows gallery will be ignored.]

Thanks,

b.
 
Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
Hi,

Can anyone help me with how to do superscripts on posts?
I found bold and italics but couldn't see anything about this.

Thanks

Choccie
 
Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :
 
You might get more out of people posting that on the UBB Practice thread.
 
Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
Thanks, have posted there.
 
Posted by pants. (# 4487) on :
 
its probably my puter. but why cant i get onto certain threads. my puter keeps having an error box opening and then closing explorer. but i have surfed lots of other places and managed to post on some threads but not others. everytime i try to read the bristol meet thread in all saints it dies, and the random thread. and various others. why? [Confused]
 
Posted by Pheonix (# 2782) on :
 
If you've already cleared out all temporary internet files then try a reinstall of IE... Also check for any rogue spyware on your PC using spybot or adaware.
 
Posted by pants. (# 4487) on :
 
phe phe... youre a star. tis sorted now cos phe is a clever bunny! [Axe murder]


[Snigger]
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Time for this to go back onto page 1.

*bump*
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
from OOT's new thread in hell...

"Not that I’m not thankful..."

Can anyone else see the ??chinese?? character, or is it just this computer that is being creative?
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
Can't see a thing, Kelly.

Apart from the english letters, obviously...
 
Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
Me neither.

FWIW I'm using a four-year-old Gateway computer with Netscape 6.2.3.

Moo
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I occasionally get Chinese characters, mostly on one or two particular sites when they're using special characters, so I think the coding must be slightly different - I've hardly ever seen them here, although some months ago I did see that Wood had apparently posted entirely in Chinese, and Stoo had responded, which was intriguing.

Can't see anything anomalous in the post above, though.
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Ok, I posted that on the library computer. Someone must have had a program running. (shrug)
 
Posted by Gremlin (# 129) on :
 
Or the browser had the document encoding set to one of the far eastern character sets that also supports western characters. (or Unicode, which has them all)

Gremlin
 
Posted by George Spigot (# 253) on :
 
Every time I log on to the ship I get the following flashing message. "You have 1 unread private messages".

The odd thing is that I've read all my messages and have no new ones. Anyone know why this happens?
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
If you read a message and then use the Back button to return to the main boards, the message will end up looking like it hasn't been read. That's one possibility. Are any of your PM titles still showing up a different color from the others?
 
Posted by George Spigot (# 253) on :
 
OK i've clicked on all my messages and then clicked on my profile link insted of the back button. Now all my PM titles are showing up as the same color but I still get the message?
 
Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
How does one edit one's post in the 2-minute time frame one is given to "make it say what you really meant?" Sorry, but I just can't figure it out.
 
Posted by Viola (# 20) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe:
How does one edit one's post in the 2-minute time frame one is given to "make it say what you really meant?" Sorry, but I just can't figure it out.

Hit the icon at the top of your post with a pencil and paper.

Actually - that sounds a little drunk and ambiguous - I hope you understand!

There's an icon showing a pencil and paper - hit that!

K.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Viola:
quote:
Originally posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe:
How does one edit one's post in the 2-minute time frame one is given to "make it say what you really meant?" Sorry, but I just can't figure it out.

Hit the icon at the top of your post with a pencil and paper.

Actually - that sounds a little drunk and ambiguous - I hope you understand!

There's an icon showing a pencil and paper - hit that!

If you hover the mouse pointer over it, on most browsers it displays the text "Edit/delete post".

What works even better is to use Preview post before posting - no time limit involved.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by George Spigot:
OK i've clicked on all my messages and then clicked on my profile link insted of the back button. Now all my PM titles are showing up as the same color but I still get the message?

Is this still a problem for anyone? I notice it didn't get answered.
 
Posted by thursday (# 5264) on :
 
Right, this is probably a stupid question but...

I tried to go to the cafe just now, for the first time. i logged in fine, and got to the screen that says"Step right in...".

And I couldn't go any further. There was a box at the bottom that said 'connect' but it wasn't a button. I clicked on it just in case, but no.

Where am I going wrong?

I'm using Opera as my browser, if that's relevant.
 
Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by jlg:
quote:
Originally posted by George Spigot:
OK i've clicked on all my messages and then clicked on my profile link insted of the back button. Now all my PM titles are showing up as the same color but I still get the message?

Is this still a problem for anyone? I notice it didn't get answered.
Sorry, I overlooked this. But I have no idea what might be causing the problem.
 
Posted by Quizmaster (# 1435) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by thursday:
I tried to go to the cafe just now, for the first time. i logged in fine, and got to the screen that says"Step right in...".

And I couldn't go any further. There was a box at the bottom that said 'connect' but it wasn't a button. I clicked on it just in case, but no.

Where am I going wrong?

I'm using Opera as my browser, if that's relevant.

Thursday, I stopped using Opera when the ship's cafe would not work with it. I tried Opera once again just now and Opera closed with an illegal operation and Java error on trying to access the cafe. Hope that helps. Bill Gates knows how to make other software fall over!
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
I asked about the cafe a while back and didn't get a reply.
I tried again this morning and I'm still getting the
class not found message.

Mac OS 10.2.8, JRE 1.3.1. I used the applet launcher as suggested in the FAQ.

The server is actually returning a 404 when the launcher sends a GET for the applet.

Here's what the page looks like:
code:
<applet codebase="/DigiChat/DigiClasses" code="digi.digichat.DigiChatApplet"
width="450" height="100" align="middle" archive="client.jar">
<param name=siteID value=1000>
<param name=preferredPort value=443>
</applet>

And here's what the launcher acutally requests:
code:
GET /DigiChat/DigiClasses/digi/digichat/DigiChatApplet.class HTTP/1.1

Which isn't at all the same thing!

Any ideas here, or should I take it up with Apple?

b.
 
Posted by Belisarius (# 32) on :
 
Originally posted by Jack the Lass
quote:
Sorry if I missed it (I've trawled through all 4 pages of Styx but couldn't see it), but on a previous thread where people moaned about not being able to get into the cafe someone very helpfully posted a link in order to download the correct version of Java. Since I've had my super-duper new computer (hooray!) I've not been able to get into the cafe (boo!), but don't know which Java version I need or how to access it.

Thanks for your help [Smile]

Originally posted by PaulW
quote:
If you follow the FAQ link on the cafe page, you'll find a handy guide entitled Help, I can't get in the cafe. That should have the information you require.

 
Posted by Tallulah (# 3131) on :
 
Ok. I have the right Java, the machine has connected to the cafe frequently before, but today all I get is the 'applet started' message in the grey bar at the bottom of the screen. then that stays there for ages and the cafe does not load.

any ideas anyone?

J
 
Posted by dolphy (# 862) on :
 
same problem here.
 
Posted by dolphy (# 862) on :
 
Forgive double post but all seems fine now.
 
Posted by Belisarius (# 32) on :
 
basso/Tallulah/Dolphy:

I've been told that there is info in the FAQs about using the Applet Launcher. Have you already tried that?
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Belisarius:

I've been told that there is info in the FAQs about using the Applet Launcher. Have you already tried that?

Yes, as I mentioned in my post.

b.
 
Posted by Qlib (# 43) on :
 
I've had the same problem with both front and back door. Yesterday and today. First time I've had freetime to spend in the cafe for ages. Sod's law. (Should we have a gallic shoulder-shrugging smilie?)

[ 23. February 2004, 16:55: Message edited by: Qlib ]
 
Posted by Belisarius (# 32) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by basso:
Yes, as I mentioned in my post.

Quite right. [Hot and Hormonal]
 
Posted by Paul W (# 1450) on :
 
How much of an Organ Fund donation would I have to make to get the cafe upgraded to something that doesn't cause all these hassles?

I was messing about with a computer at work trying to connect to the cafe last week, and it wouldn't do it, no matter what I tried.

If you're having problems, post your browser version, operating system version, and any other information you think might be useful.

Paul W
 
Posted by Paul W (# 1450) on :
 
Right, those with cafe problems:

To make sure you have the right version of Java installed, visit the following link:

http://javatester.org/version.html

Wait for the java box to load up, and it will tell you your version. Make sure this is one of the ones specified on this page.

Paul W
 
Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :
 
Just a note to Mac users...

The Applet Launcher method was the best route when using MacOS 10.2. For any of you using MacOS 10.3, this is no longer the best route (since it doesn't work). However, in this version, you should be able to go through the browser like normal. Or you can enter http://cafe.shipoffools.com/cafe_body2.html into your browser if all else fails.

Amorya
 
Posted by madferret (# 3353) on :
 
I've just got myself a trendy new Smartphone so I can visit the Ship while on the train. [Big Grin]

It's a Motorola MPx200 running MS Smartphone 2002 software. One thing I have noticed is that when browsing a thread the "Posted 25 February, 2004 18:58" bit just shows "Posted" and nothing else. Which is VERY confusing on threads that are new to me as I've no idea how long they've been around!

Is there a reason why this happens? Is it linked, possibly, to the fixed table width for posts, which is a pain to read on a 176 x 200 browser [Frown] ?

[inserted the right time [Smile] ]

[ 25. February 2004, 17:59: Message edited by: madferret ]
 
Posted by frin (# 9) on :
 
You could set the drop down menu to 'show only threads from last day' while using your phone, thus paring down the quantity of threads it is loading - or one of the other options, according to what you are looking for.

'frin
 
Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by madferret:
I've just got myself a trendy new Smartphone so I can visit the Ship while on the train. [Big Grin]

It's a Motorola MPx200 running MS Smartphone 2002 software. One thing I have noticed is that when browsing a thread the "Posted 25 February, 2004 18:58" bit just shows "Posted" and nothing else. Which is VERY confusing on threads that are new to me as I've no idea how long they've been around!

Is there a reason why this happens? Is it linked, possibly, to the fixed table width for posts, which is a pain to read on a 176 x 200 browser [Frown] ?

[inserted the right time [Smile] ]

It's because the Posted: display uses JavaScript, for some odd reason. Methinks we have UBB to blame for that - most boards process the times and dates on the server instead of handing it off to the browser.

Amorya
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
It hands it off to the browser so that everyone can view it in their local time rather than being restricted to one specific time.
 
Posted by Talitha (# 5085) on :
 
How long is the "essay/sermon/profile" field supposed to be? I can only fit about 50 characters into it, which doesn't make for a very good essay.
(Actually I only wanted to put about 5 lines.)
 
Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Erin:
It hands it off to the browser so that everyone can view it in their local time rather than being restricted to one specific time.

Good motivation I guess. Although PHPBB manages to support local timezones while still doing server-side processing [Smile]

Amorya
(PHPBB advocate)
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
This does all of the work for us, so I'm happy. If I had to actually program any of this shit, it'd be gone in a day.

quote:
Originally posted by Talitha:
How long is the "essay/sermon/profile" field supposed to be? I can only fit about 50 characters into it, which doesn't make for a very good essay.
(Actually I only wanted to put about 5 lines.)

It used to be really long, like paragraphs, but one of the upgrades changed that. I keep going back and forth on changing it: on the one hand, it's not enough room; on the other, it would make people's profiles look stupid until they went in and updated it.

Although now that I think about it, it could be fun... [Snigger]
 
Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Having a blonde moment I'm afraid.

quote:
Originally posted by Belisarius:
Originally posted by Jack the Lass
quote:
Sorry if I missed it (I've trawled through all 4 pages of Styx but couldn't see it), but on a previous thread where people moaned about not being able to get into the cafe someone very helpfully posted a link in order to download the correct version of Java. Since I've had my super-duper new computer (hooray!) I've not been able to get into the cafe (boo!), but don't know which Java version I need or how to access it.

Thanks for your help [Smile]

Originally posted by PaulW
quote:
If you follow the FAQ link on the cafe page, you'll find a handy guide entitled Help, I can't get in the cafe. That should have the information you require.

So, I followed Paul's link, and in the Cafe FAQs there's a link to the Sun website from where I can download Java. However I think that the advice in the Cafe FAQ re connecting to Sun may now be out of date and need updating. I couldn't find a JRE column on Sun's site, it was all about J2SE (whatever the heck that is). There are also some archived versions available for downloading, several of which appeared to be variants of version 1.2.2, but I just know the version I choose to download will do something terrible.

(I'm not asking to be spoonfed here, but as this is a new computer I'm still twitchy about downloading stuff, especially old programmes, so want to be absolutely sure before I do anything I regret)
 
Posted by Lurker (# 1384) on :
 
If you want the version that has sounds (1.3.1), go here, and click on the JRE column.
 
Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Hmmm. Thanks Lurker, I downloaded that one all right, but it still won't let me into the cafe. I get the "DigiChat Applet thingy started" message, but never get any further.

Although judging by recent turn of conversation on the TnT thread, perhaps it's as well I can't get into the cafe - who knows what I'd be interrupting? [Eek!]
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Are you using Windows, or a Mac?
 
Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Windows XP
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Good, cos I don't know Macs very well ...

First I guess you should check the right version of Java is enabled, and also enable the Java console (this will report errors ... if you can post them here someone maybe able to see what's wrong).

In InternetExplorer, open the Internet Properties window (under Tools on the menu bar). Select the Advances tab ... somewhere in that list there will be a Java (Sun) section, make sure the use "Version 2 v1.3.1 for applet" option (or something similar to that) is checked, and also the "Enable Java Console" tab that will be somewhere below it.
 
Posted by Paul W (# 1450) on :
 
You could try clicking that "JavaTester" link in my last post on this thread. That will give you a better idea of exactly what Java version your browser has decided to use.

Paul W
 
Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
In InternetExplorer, open the Internet Properties window (under Tools on the menu bar). Select the Advances tab ... somewhere in that list there will be a Java (Sun) section, make sure the use "Version 2 v1.3.1 for applet" option (or something similar to that) is checked, and also the "Enable Java Console" tab that will be somewhere below it.

Thank you. I'm sorry this is so painful [Smile]

I followed that advice, and it only has an option for "Version 2 v.1.4.2 for applet" despite me downloading (apparently successfully) version 1.3.1. And I couldn't see an "Enable Java Console" tab anywhere.

[ 01. March 2004, 18:16: Message edited by: Jack the Lass ]
 
Posted by Pheonix (# 2782) on :
 
make sure you have closed down all instances of your browser...

Then open up control panel via the start menu. The versions of Java should then be listed in there. By double clicking on them and then selecting the browser tab you can turn that version on or off in your web browser.

[Smile]

Pheo
 
Posted by MatrixUK (# 3452) on :
 
Is anyone else having trouble getting into the cafe? I haven't had probs before, and for some reason can't get in on either of my computers.

I've cleared the cache etc, but nothing.

Has something changed in the last few days?

M UK
 
Posted by dolphy (# 862) on :
 
Been having problems here again today with the cafe.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Well, I've only just been able to get back onto the Ship at all after about an hour. May be related.
 
Posted by dolphy (# 862) on :
 
Thanks Alan, all working now.
 
Posted by Papio (# 4201) on :
 
I couldn't get onto the site for quite some time earlier. Glad it's working now [Smile]
 
Posted by Matrix (# 3452) on :
 
Managed to get in now, thankfully
 
Posted by Photius (# 2762) on :
 
?
 
Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :
 
My email notification informs me I have two new private messages, but there is no sign of them in my profile. Any ideas how I might track them down?
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Smudgie:
My email notification informs me I have two new private messages, but there is no sign of them in my profile. Any ideas how I might track them down?

No, but I think one of them might be from me [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
The email notifications will tell you who they're from, when they were sent and what they said. So, though I've no idea why they aren't in your profile, you at least have all the important stuff.
 
Posted by Pheonix (# 2782) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Smudgie:
My email notification informs me I have two new private messages, but there is no sign of them in my profile. Any ideas how I might track them down?

Send out a hunting party?
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Paul W:
How much of an Organ Fund donation would I have to make to get the cafe upgraded to something that doesn't cause all these hassles?

I think it's about time to ask that question again.

I'm still getting the same error at home -- the server won't even give me the applet. And now I learn that my browser at work won't work with a Java version below 1.4.x.
(It's Mozilla Firefox -- but all Mozilla derivatives have the same requirement.) [Don't suggest IE -- it's not available for Linux.]

The server slipped up once a few months ago and let me in on my home machine, but otherwise I've been locked out there for about 6 months.

<whine whine>

So -- what are the chances for an upgrade to the cafe?

b.
 
Posted by Paul W. (# 1450) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by basso:
I'm still getting the same error at home -- the server won't even give me the applet. And now I learn that my browser at work won't work with a Java version below 1.4.x.
(It's Mozilla Firefox -- but all Mozilla derivatives have the same requirement.) [Don't suggest IE -- it's not available for Linux.]

I wasn't too impressed when I saw that requirement in Firefox myself. Are you using KDE on your Linux machine? If you are, you may be able to persuade Konqueror (KDE's own browser and file manager) to open the cafe. Works for me.

Paul W
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Paul W.:
Are you using KDE on your Linux machine? If you are, you may be able to persuade Konqueror (KDE's own browser and file manager) to open the cafe. Works for me.

I've never used KDE -- but I just installed enough of it to run Konq -- and I got into the cafe!!!

Now all I have to do is persuade my boss to let me spend all day at work chatting in the cafe. [Big Grin]

Thanks, Paul. Now I'll try to figure out what's going on at home.

b.
 
Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
Could I ask what "flood control" is? Two or three times I've attempted to post but got a message re "flood control", with advice to wait 90 seconds and not use the back button. Each time (adventuress that I am), I've used the back button without waiting 90 seconds and was then able to post successfully.
 
Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :
 
The Ship's software is set to prevent apprentices and shipmates from posting within 90 seconds of their last post; the feature is called "flood control." The purpose of flood control is to prevent automated spamming of the boards.
 
Posted by welsh dragon (# 3249) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pheonix:
make sure you have closed down all instances of your browser...

Then open up control panel via the start menu. The versions of Java should then be listed in there. By double clicking on them and then selecting the browser tab you can turn that version on or off in your web browser.

[Smile]

Pheo

It still doesnt seem to list version 1.3.1...even though I have downloaded it and "unzipped" it...
 
Posted by Gremlin (# 129) on :
 
Have you run the executable installer that was in the zip file? (It's probably called something like 'setup.exe')

Gremlin
 
Posted by In Theory? (# 2964) on :
 
Clicking weirdness.

"The plant returns" thread. Started by Nightlamp. Why, when I click on it, is the first post by Fish Fish.? And why does it say "Page 0"?

I was reading this thread earlier and the first post was definitely by Nightlamp, and there was a lot by Karl LB. Where's it gone?

I admit I've been drinking... but this is really odd!
 
Posted by Lurker MacLurker (# 1384) on :
 
Hmmm, page 1 of this thread seems to contain page 4 and half of page 3.
 
Posted by Father Gregory (# 310) on :
 
Just testing my new sig link. Sorry!
 
Posted by welsh dragon (# 3249) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gremlin:
Have you run the executable installer that was in the zip file? (It's probably called something like 'setup.exe')

Gremlin

I can't find anything either called executable installer or setup.exe.

Neither have I managed to find a netscape version 4 (Alan's link didn't work).

And in my control panel I seem to have 2 versions of Java 1.4 but none registered of 1.3.1.

Never mind...
 
Posted by Anselmina (# 3032) on :
 
I'm still having problems since my password was changed. I keep logging on, only to be told I haven't logged on. And yet it seems I can still post! It also means I don't have access to my profile or the directory, as that isn't an option when you're not logged on (even though I have!).

Can someone help to sort me out?
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by welsh dragon:
I can't find anything either called executable installer or setup.exe.

Neither have I managed to find a netscape version 4 (Alan's link didn't work).

And in my control panel I seem to have 2 versions of Java 1.4 but none registered of 1.3.1.

Is there anything in the zip file that ends in .exe? And is there a Readme.txt - this might have some useful info in it.
 
Posted by frin (# 9) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Anselmina:
I'm still having problems since my password was changed. I keep logging on, only to be told I haven't logged on. And yet it seems I can still post! It also means I don't have access to my profile or the directory, as that isn't an option when you're not logged on (even though I have!).

Can someone help to sort me out?

You need to delete your cookies, close your browser and then open it again and log in to the ship with your new password. That should solve your problem.

You have 4 cookies form the ship all set by forum.ship-of-fools.com and you can get rid of them in Internet Explorer using the Tools menu then Internet Options then delete cookies. In Mozilla this option is listed under Tools then Options then Privacy. I forget where to find your cookies in Netscape, but it is probably similar.

Hope that helps,

'frin
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
In Netscape, click on Tools and you will see Cookie Manager on the menu. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Anselmina (# 3032) on :
 
Thank you folks. I seem to have solved the problem now! And learnt about the mystery of cookies!
 
Posted by Leprechaun (# 5408) on :
 
Hello!

Why does my signature appear sometimes and not others?
 
Posted by In Theory? (# 2964) on :
 
Help! I just pressed something and my browser went full-screen, without all the menus and stuff. How do I get it back to normal?
 
Posted by In Theory? (# 2964) on :
 
OK, I figured it out [Hot and Hormonal]
 
Posted by Gremlin (# 129) on :
 
Just in case it happens to someone else... the F11 key is the guilty party. [Smile]

Gremlin
 
Posted by KenWritez (# 3238) on :
 
There's a new Java upgrade, J2SE Runtime Environment 1.5.0_06-b05. Anyone experienced probelms viewing the Ship after installing the upgrade?
 
Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by KenWritez:
There's a new Java upgrade, J2SE Runtime Environment 1.5.0_06-b05. Anyone experienced probelms viewing the Ship after installing the upgrade?

I had to uninstall it because it broke lots of things. Java backward compatibility is shite.
 
Posted by OliviaG (# 9881) on :
 
Help! While trying to make a donation to the Organ Fund via a Canadian credit card, I got this message and could go no further:

quote:

Issue number required.

MAE can not be used to make payments in this store.

Any suggestions? Shall I send maple syrup and a tuque instead? OliviaG
 
Posted by Melangell (# 4023) on :
 
My email has been very slow lately (this is presumably because of the impending changes at Christian Aid's Surefish system) - but it is not amusing when emails take four or five DAYS to arrive. Now I have started getting a small window popping up, headed Enter Network Password. It then says Please type your user name and password. The fields are:

Server: pop3.fish.co.uk
User name:[my email address, already filled in]
Password: [a row of asterisks, presumably my password]

Options given are OK and Cancel

So far I have just clicked on X - but now it has come up six times in the past half hour. Any thoughts as to whether this is genuine, and I should select OK? I have AVG antivirus running...
 
Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 
I think at some point you've mistyped your password. Try re-entering it.
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
This is tech support for Ship of Fools, not for fish.co.uk, your network, or the internet in general. There are plenty of websites out there that are dedicated to computer issues.
 
Posted by Melangell (# 4023) on :
 
Many apologies for my misunderstanding of this thread's purpose [Hot and Hormonal]
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
No problem. I just wanted to catch it before we started getting everyone's general computer questions!
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by mdijon:
My laptop/browser combination (IE) seems to occasionally fill in web pages from offline memory, even though connected.

This makes it appear that no-one has posted on any boards in the day since I last connected (which I usually spot).

Normally it does refresh if I click on a thread. But occasionally even the thread seems to get filled in from offline memory. This can cause embarrassing cross-posts.

Clicking refresh every so often seems to jump-start it all.

But does anyone share this difficulty, and have any long-term solution to prevent my occasional embarrassment?

Moved from another thread.

It sounds like you need to change your browser settings as it's taking pages from your cache rather than from the Internet.

Select Tools > Internet Options > Settings > And then change the setting to always check for a new page

Hope this works

Tubbs
 
Posted by mdijon (# 8520) on :
 
Well look at that....

Perfect.

Thanks.
 
Posted by the giant cheeseburger (# 10942) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by mdijon:
Well look at that....

Perfect.

Thanks.

Stopping using Internet Exploder solved that problem for me. Hooray for Firefox!
 
Posted by mdijon (# 8520) on :
 
Now that's a new one - minding my own buisiness, editing a post and;

quote:
An error has occured:

I can't process time before the world began! at CGIPath/ubb_lib_time.cgi line 500.

Please inform the board administration of this error so that they can abuse the vendor. Thanks!

Or a very old error, I suppose.
 
Posted by Nicolemrw (# 28) on :
 
OK,I'm having a weird problem. I can't get into the main Heaven page from my home computer. It keeps coming back as "page not found". I can get into every other board, I can get into individual Heaven threads, but I can't get into the main page. This has been going on for awhile, at first I thought it was actually a problem the Ship was having, but at this point it's obviously not. Any ideas, anyone? One thing I did try that didn't work was what someone suggested for another problem a few posts above, changing the setting on checking for new versions of pages.

Thanks.
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
Are you using a bookmark or are you clicking on the link on the boards home page? Does this link work?
 
Posted by Nicolemrw (# 28) on :
 
I use a bookmark to get to the main page of the Ship, then click on the link to the boards main page.

And no, that link just came back page not found.
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
Unfortunately, that was the only real idea I had. That link, and the one on the boards home page are correct and are working. It must be a local problem of some sort on your end. What happens if you try a different browser?
 
Posted by Nicolemrw (# 28) on :
 
Far as I know we only have the one instaled on the computer, so it's not really an option to try.

I'm assuming it's my problem, I'm just hoping that someone has some idea what the problem is!
 
Posted by Nicolemrw (# 28) on :
 
I've also just tried clearing the cookies and the temporary internet files and that didn't help either.
 
Posted by Nicolemrw (# 28) on :
 
Hate to triple post, but I just wanted to say that, knock wood, for the moment at least, the problem seems to have resolved itself. I have no idea why, I didn't try anything new, didn't change anything, or take any other action, but I now seem to be able to get into Heaven. Go figure.
 
Posted by sanityman (# 11598) on :
 
I've just had email notification of a PM, but no PM registers when I log in. I noticed that someone else had had similar problems, but didn't see the solution..?

As has been pointed out, had the contact details in the email so end of world != nigh [Biased]

- Chris.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
You've got an option for people to email you through the board software, rather than having your email address visible to all. Such emails will look very similar to PM notifications.
 
Posted by sanityman (# 11598) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
You've got an option for people to email you through the board software, rather than having your email address visible to all. Such emails will look very similar to PM notifications.

And lo, when the email was read it was revealed to be exactly as the Admin had fortold.
And the sound of slapping of foreheads was heard in the land [Hot and Hormonal]

Cheers,

- Chris.
 
Posted by Laura (# 10) on :
 
Just bumping this up for use if people have name change questions.
 
Posted by Chapelhead (# 21) on :
 
I seem to have pressed some combination of keys that has made the board text bigger. It hasn't affected the side-bar, or the main Ship site text, just the boards.

Any idea what the keys for de-bigging the text are?

I'm using IE 6.0, if it matters.
 
Posted by Albert Ross (# 3241) on :
 
Chapelhead

Was it "View", "Text Size" in Internet Explorer?

Albert
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
You can also affect text size by holding the 'Alt Gr' key and using the mouse scroll wheel. My guess is that the HTML code for the non-board parts of the site sets the text size with little room for the user to change it, but that boards software doesn't fix text size.
 
Posted by Chapelhead (# 21) on :
 
I think it must have been Alt Gr and the scroll button that caused the problem, but both that and >View >Text size work to solve it.

Thanks to you both. [Smile]
 
Posted by mountainsnowtiger (# 11152) on :
 
Is there any way I can instruct SoF to log me out if I am inactive for a certain length of time a/o if the browser window with SoF closes a/o similar situation?

I only have access to the 'net via internet cafes or (sporadically) via my landlord's 'puter. I was a little unnerved today to find that, having forgotten to log off on Saturday, I am still logged in to SoF on my landlord's puter 3 days later, even though the puter has been switched off for some of that time. Obviously, I'm going to become much more careful about remembering to log out, but is there any way I can set up some kind of log-out safety-net?
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by mountainsnowtiger:
Is there any way I can instruct SoF to log me out if I am inactive for a certain length of time a/o if the browser window with SoF closes a/o similar situation?

I only have access to the 'net via internet cafes or (sporadically) via my landlord's 'puter. I was a little unnerved today to find that, having forgotten to log off on Saturday, I am still logged in to SoF on my landlord's puter 3 days later, even though the puter has been switched off for some of that time. Obviously, I'm going to become much more careful about remembering to log out, but is there any way I can set up some kind of log-out safety-net?

Not that I'm aware of - it's something you'll need to get into the habit of doing before you switch the PC off.

In fact, it's a good habit to get into for all sites that involve logging in and logging out. Particularly if you share a PC

Tubbs
 
Posted by Zorro (# 9156) on :
 
I don't know if I'm the only one having this, but ever since about 11 o'clock GMT today, the ship has been moving so slowly (we're talking minutes to access a thread here) that I've given up trying.

AFAIK, I haven't changed any technical settings on my PC, all I've done is defragment the disc, but that was after it got really slow.

Anyone any ideas what might be up?
 
Posted by fabula rasa (# 11436) on :
 
works OK for me...
 
Posted by Lots of Yay (# 2790) on :
 
I have just installed the new upgrade of Firefox and have discovered that it does auto spell checking in fields such as this one that I'm typing in now (er* so that would be all text box thingies*). I have no idea if it can be turned off, however I am offering this piece of news in case it interests any of the copying and pasting people.

*(Apparently "er" and "thingies" are not proper words)
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Firefox 2.0 works well for me for the Ship and all the other stuff out there.

The spellcheck feature can be turned on or off by going to the toolbar at the top of the browser: click on Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Browsing -> Check my spelling as I type.

Hope this helps. [Smile]
 
Posted by Mama Thomas (# 10170) on :
 
Dear Admin/Host

Sorry for posting here, but since Friday, I've noticed I have a PM but I can't get to it. Can't go to my profile. Tried PMing an admin/host but get a snitty notice about cakes. (I didn't block anything). Also, no email notice has come of the PM as they always have before.

Sorry for posting here, but don't know where else to go.

Thanks,

Mama Thomas
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
As I've said many times, whenever I notice that e-mail notifications of PMs are bounced back to the board admin address, I lock profiles until the member in question fixes the problem. As part of the conditions for participation here you are required to have a valid, working e-mail address. If the e-mail address in your profile is valid, then you need to take steps to fix the bouncing. If the e-mail address is not valid, provide me with one that works. Either way, e-mail me when you've got this sorted and I'll turn your privileges back on.

[ 06. November 2006, 09:25: Message edited by: Erin ]
 
Posted by Celsti (# 4523) on :
 
Hey.
Not sure if this is the right place to post this...
Just wondering if anyone has any tips about Java. Apparently my computer has Java disabled/doesn't have it/something like that and I can't use the cafe (not to mention any other Java related doovers).
I know next to nothing about computers and can't find any tips in Windows Help. I think the time may have come to reveal my complete lack of brain.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
You can get any version of Java from this page. For our Cafe, the newest versions of Java don't work so select 1.4.2 of the standard edition (the first drop down menu) then the run time environmnet from the next page ... installing the software should result in it all being set up to run with your browser.
 
Posted by Jimmy B (# 220) on :
 
I am unable to log out.

I logged out as 'Jimmy B', but my log in reverted to my previous screen name. I deleted cookies, but have remained logged in as that name. And when I log out, I get the logged out message but remain logged in.


[Edit: after I logged out, I composed and posted this msg with my old screen name showing, but it has posted correctly

Edit2: Cookies del'd using the facility in profile]

[ 23. November 2006, 13:02: Message edited by: Jimmy B ]
 
Posted by JennyAnn (# 3131) on :
 
Erm,

Don't know if this is just me, but I can no longer get the links in the left hand frame to work. when I click them (either left click, or right-click-open-in-new-window) nothing happens.

J
 
Posted by mountainsnowtiger (# 11152) on :
 
If I log into the Cafe and then, at the bottom of the page with the Cafe commandments, where there should be the 'connect to Cafe' button, there is instead the message 'DigiChat requires a Java Compatible web browser to run', does that mean the computer I'm on will not run the Cafe?

*sigh* - well, this is technically a university library so I suppose it's sort of fair enough that they're not going to allow me to chat [Waterworks]
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by mountainsnowtiger:
If I log into the Cafe and then, at the bottom of the page with the Cafe commandments, where there should be the 'connect to Cafe' button, there is instead the message 'DigiChat requires a Java Compatible web browser to run', does that mean the computer I'm on will not run the Cafe?

*sigh* - well, this is technically a university library so I suppose it's sort of fair enough that they're not going to allow me to chat [Waterworks]

Possible. Lots of places won't allow cafe type software through their firewall. Sorry.

Tubbs
 
Posted by Jimmy B (# 220) on :
 
So is it possible to be remotely logged out by an admin?
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
No. If I'm not mistaken, your login status is cookie-based and resides on your computer, not the server. The admins can deactivate your account, but not log you out of it.
 
Posted by fabula rasa (# 11436) on :
 
So if the Admins deactivated Jimmy B's account and then reactivated it, would that solve the problem, at least for now? (I'm ignorant but curious.)
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
That depends on what the problem is.

If an account is deactivated, nobody can post from that account. Any computer logged into the account, however, remains logged in.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
I started the Reader Survey and filled in the first page. But when I tried "Next Page", all I got was "Internal Server Error".

Is this happening to anyone else?
 
Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
Yup. I got "Page cannot be displayed."
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
Thanks for letting us know. This now appears to be fixed

Tubbs
 
Posted by Jimmy B (# 220) on :
 
Ah ha! I am fixed now. Manually deleted cookies from IE (no login cookies on IE) and Firefox - I use Firefox usually. Now I am showing correct login name. For some reason Firefox was holding on to the cookies even when deleted via Profile.

Maybe it just talks to IE?
 
Posted by Jahlove (# 10290) on :
 
Over the last three days, I find I can only get into the Cafe intermittently, I get a coffee-cup icon but the *connect* button is greyed out - even if I can enter, I am often getting just a blank white screen or I can see user names but my typing does not appear in the chat-window.

I'm on an e-mac, using Safari as a browser. I am not tech-savvy so any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks

[ 04. December 2006, 20:25: Message edited by: Jahlove ]
 
Posted by Papio (# 4201) on :
 
I have changed address and now cannot get into the chatroom. Am using same computer etc etc as before, but now it tells me that "an unknown error has occured".

Have never had this trouble before. [Frown]
 
Posted by Pearl B4 Swine (# 11451) on :
 
ARRRGGHHHH, the dreaded "unknown error" ~
Hope you get back in soon, Papio, we miss you.

PB4S
 
Posted by pease (# 6) on :
 
quote:
Papio:
I have changed address and now cannot get into the chatroom. Am using same computer etc etc as before, but now it tells me that "an unknown error has occured".

If you've moved, does this mean you're using a different internet connection (ISP, or maybe modem or firewall) from previously?
 
Posted by Papio (# 4201) on :
 
My IP address my be different. I'm not sure what else might be/would be. I don't know enough about it.

I am using the same broadband company that I used at my old address, and the computer is the same computer, I haven't changed any of the settings AFAIK, and I am on the same package. The only things that I know has changed is the house I am living in. [Frown]
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Have you tried different browsers, Papio? Perhaps one of them might work, at least as a temporary solution?
 
Posted by ship's cat (# 11793) on :
 
My apologies if I'm raising this in the wrong place as it's not a specifically SoF problem -
Does anyone know what's going on with the Thinking Anglicans website? I've not been able to get on to it for days.
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
If it's thinkinganglicans.org.uk , I can access it without any problems, as I can the .org site, in both Firefox and IE.

Have you cleaned your cache and cookies yet?
 
Posted by ship's cat (# 11793) on :
 
I tried from your link but still got shunted to website not found. I know my colleague on our work server had the same problem - maybe it's at our end rather than their's.
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by ship's cat:
My apologies if I'm raising this in the wrong place as it's not a specifically SoF problem -
Does anyone know what's going on with the Thinking Anglicans website? I've not been able to get on to it for days.

Please keep this thread for Ship related technical issues, thanks.

Tubbs
Styx Host

PS Site works fine from my PC at home
 
Posted by Papio (# 4201) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Wesley J:
Have you tried different browsers, Papio? Perhaps one of them might work, at least as a temporary solution?

Seemingly, I can get in with IE but not with Firefox.

Odd.
 
Posted by Ophelia (# 3136) on :
 
Yesterday I sent a PM to Gort.
I just looked in my profile to check he'd read it, when I noticed that instead of the message I'd sent him in the "sent" section of the PM box, there was a message that had been sent to Alan Cresswell, entitled "Sunday lunch?". This message has been "recieved" by him, rather than "read by recipient" or "unread by recipient".
Now, as nice a chap as Alan is, and as much as I'd love to invite him for lunch, I don't recall ever having PMd him before. When I clicked on the message I was told to mind my own buisness, in true Ship style!!!!!
Also, the message I sent Gort has vanished.


Any ideas? It's all a bit odd. I'm definatly logged on as me, and unless my 2 year old is some kind of child genius, it really is only me that could be using this computer. Very strange.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Well, I did have an exchange of PMs with my brother yesterday on the subject of his coming over on Sunday. So there are PMs around with that title, but they weren't for you.

There do seem to be occasional glitches with PMs, resulting in people appearing to get PMs that weren't intended for them. To the best of my knowledge, it's never resulted in someone reading PMs not sent to them.
 
Posted by pease (# 6) on :
 
Ophelia - just to add that the glitch has probably obliterated your PM, so you'll need to send it again.
 
Posted by Ophelia (# 3136) on :
 
Thanks pease

Sorry Alan, wasn't meaning to appear nosy about the PM, I just clicked on it as part of the whole wondering what was going on thing. [Hot and Hormonal]
 
Posted by Gort (# 6855) on :
 
Just in addition to the mystery, I received email notification of your PM, Ophelia, so I did read it. When I went to my PM box to respond, I also found the PM to Alan C. (won't open) and nothing of yours. Unable to delete the mystery PM without the same "mind your own business" message.

There's a ghost in the machine, I tell ya; maybe Jacob Marley.
 
Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
I have a "ghost in the machine" tonight. Whenever I try to type the word Xmas spelled out in a pm, it gives me a string of asterisks!

Mary
[Confused]
 
Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
Scratch that. I am unconfused.

season's greetings,

M
 
Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Leetle Masha:
I have a "ghost in the machine" tonight. Whenever I try to type the word Xmas spelled out in a pm, it gives me a string of asterisks!

Mary
[Confused]

I've just had that same thing happen to me posting on a Private board. Has Scrooge got into the board software again?
 
Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
Oh, I see. [Roll Eyes]
 
Posted by Paul W. (# 1450) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
quote:
Originally posted by Leetle Masha:
I have a "ghost in the machine" tonight. Whenever I try to type the word Xmas spelled out in a pm, it gives me a string of asterisks!

Mary
[Confused]

I've just had that same thing happen to me posting on a Private board. Has Scrooge got into the board software again?
Again, have you failed to notice Erin's announcement above? Anything goes this weekend.

Paul W
 
Posted by jerusalemcross (# 12179) on :
 
From a relatively new Apprentice, this may belong in another thread but... when I want to quote from another message I can get it into "quotes" but I can't get it into bold by highlighting it and then hitting the "bold" key. Do I have to type out the whole quote into the space which comes up when I hit the "bold" key? what a bore!! I'm sure someone can help.... [Ultra confused]

Also is the protocol to say who you're quoting from when it's next to or quite close to your own reply? M thanx
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
There are several ways to do that with this software. Unfortunately one of them is not highlighting and clicking the bold button. You can copy and paste into the bold window. You can manually insert the bold tags around the text that you want bold. Probably the best way is to use the "reply with quote" button, which is the "" at the top of each post. That will give you the quote code, the bold code, the attribution to the poster, and the text, all with one click. Try it on the UBB practice thread if you aren't sure what I mean.
 
Posted by jerusalemcross (# 12179) on :
 
Thanks, Scot. Will try this. I've been playing with it and got it to work with manual coding a few times but doing it auto would be much easier.
 
Posted by jerusalemcross (# 12179) on :
 
me again, sorry. At the bottom of one of my recent posts was the notation "edited by..." and it wasn't me. what does this mean please, have I been naughty or something? I can't remember the full text of what I thought I wrote, is someone altering my posts (potentially changing my meaning) after I send them in?

Also how does one contact the board admin or hosts - can't find any link to them. But as it's so late I many be too bleary-eyed to find it!!
thanks v much
 
Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
I've noticed, using Mozilla-Firefox to read and post on the Ship, a funny thing occasionally happening with my code, especially when I do a quote using the "quote" button in the Instant UBB code menu, and then inserting the "bold" so that the quote comes out in bold.... it often loses the final [/QUOTE] thing so that the bold and the quote get lines above them or below them, but not in the proper places.

I've been able to fix it when I noticed it happening in Preview Post by going back to my original typed post and cutting/pasting the codes in their proper places, but it's a drag!

M
 
Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
Here's what happens when I don't fix it:

quote:

the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog

See where the close quote thingie went?

Now, if I fix it by cutting and pasting the [/QUOTE] thingie, I get

quote:
the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog
'Tis a puzzlement.

M
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by jerusalemcross:
me again, sorry. At the bottom of one of my recent posts was the notation "edited by..." and it wasn't me. what does this mean please, have I been naughty or something? I can't remember the full text of what I thought I wrote, is someone altering my posts (potentially changing my meaning) after I send them in?

Your post in Kerygmania was edited by Kelly Alves, one of the hosts of that board. When the hosts edit a post, they insert a note explaining what they did. In this case, Kelly left this note - [Fixed code] Evidently, there was some messed up code in your post and the host fixed it for you.

quote:
Also how does one contact the board admin or hosts - can't find any link to them. But as it's so late I many be too bleary-eyed to find it!!
thanks v much

You can contact us by posting here in the Styx, by PMing one of us. You can find the host and admins names and PM info by clicking the "Who's what" link in the left-hand menu.
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Jerusalemcross--yeah, all I did was fix a quote tag--two, actually-- that went awry. Nothing major.

I guess in the wake of H&A Day I should have put a less terse explanation. [Big Grin] Sorry.
 
Posted by jerusalemcross (# 12179) on :
 
Hi both above, thanks for replies. As a relative newbie I'm not sure of anything except the posted rules! I've been playing with doing ever increasing complexities of using quotes and even though I preview stuff it's almost certain that I'll screw it up more than once before getting used to the system. I know my way round computers but not the super-fancy stuff. DTP and design are more my forte.
 
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
Leetle Masha, this is because of two things:

1. Only Internet Explorer will insert your button results at the cursor point in the Edit window. Other browsers always insert the button results at the end of the browser window.

2. The QUOTE and BOLD buttons work slightly differently: QUOTE just puts the paired [QUOTE ] [/QUOTE ] tags into the edit window. BOLD gives you a blank place to type in what you want bolded, before putting it into the edit window wrapped in the paired [BOLD ] [/BOLD ] tags.

So what you're seeing is exactly to be expected: the QUOTE pair is going in at the end, and then the BOLD pair, with the text that you specially get to type in a special window, goes in after that.

(ETA: You mentioned having to cut/paste to get the tags correct -- yes, absolutely. This is why I've learned the tags I use frequently so I type them instead of using the buttons (typing of course is fraught with its own hazards); also since I often decide about formatting after I've typed, or want to insert a quote higher up in my post, or some such, I'm always on the alert for knowing tags will go to the end and then moving them where I want them.)

[ 05. January 2007, 20:34: Message edited by: Autenrieth Road ]
 
Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
Many thanks, Autenrieth Road! I'd been having trouble in the past with IE, so I had begun using Mozilla-Firefox instead! I could, actually, now use IE again now that I've got my computer back into shape, I guess.... but I don't mind cutting and pasting, and I've just been practicing on the practice thread typing the tags myself instead of using the buttons.

After all, if I'm quick enough (workin' on it!) I can still fix them with the edit function if worst comes to worst.

Thanks again!

Mary
 
Posted by mountainsnowtiger (# 11152) on :
 
I've previously been told that once you log in to Ship of Fools on a particular computer then you're permanently logged in on that computer unless and until you log out. A couple of hours ago I was sat at the same internet cafe computer that I'm at now, when the internet cafe had a monumental server failure and told everyone to go away for an hour or two. I came back specifically in order to log out of SoF. I'm 95% sure I'm on the same computer, but I was not logged in when I returned to SoF 10 minutes ago. What happened?? [Confused]
 
Posted by Paul W. (# 1450) on :
 
A lot of internet cafes wipe all customer data when you finish using a machine, including cookies, which is what tells the computer to keep you logged in. This is for security, so that the next person who comes along to use that PC can't find out what you've been looking at or login automatically with the cookies you leave behind.

Of course, you can't guarantee that they will do this, so it's still best to log out of the Ship when you've finished.

Paul W

[ 06. January 2007, 18:37: Message edited by: Paul W. ]
 
Posted by JB (# 1776) on :
 
Some help with PMs, please.
Is there some trick I am missing?
 
Posted by Apothecary (# 3886) on :
 
Preview post has just told me that the boards are closed for maintenance- it's a viscious lie! Thought this would be a good place to let the gremlin-hunters know.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
That was quick! When our boards close at work it is hours before we get them back. I suppose it shows which is more important. Thanks.
 
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
A viscous lie? Is that one that sticks around?

(Be vewy vewy quiet, we're hunting gwemlins... [Biased] )
 
Posted by mountainsnowtiger (# 11152) on :
 
Help! This irritating internet cafe 'puter always asks me whether I want Windows to remember my Ship password and today I absentmindedly clicked yes instead of no. I've tried to delete the 'puter's cookies and closed all my browser windows, but on returning to the Ship I find the puter still knows all my sign-in details as soon as I've typed 'm' into the username box. Is there anything more I can do or do I just need to pray that nobody who is minded to steal my Ship identity ever uses this particular computer?
 
Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
If it's in a 'Net cafe, they likely kill all the cookies every night, yes?

If you can make it through the day...

Can you contact whoever does the IT for the Cafe? Ask them how it is handled.

Hmmm. What can you tell us to prove that's really you right now?
 
Posted by Henry Troup (# 3722) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by mountainsnowtiger:
...I want Windows to remember my Ship password and today I absentmindedly clicked yes instead of no. ...

OK, this is not a cookie issue.

If it's IE, go Tools > Internet Options > Content tab
and click the "AutoComplete..." button. In the
"Autocomplete Settings" you'll find "Clear Passwords". Click it. You'll need to confirm the deletion.

While you're in there, turn off Use Autocomplete for "Usernames and passwords in forms".

Firefox I don't have on this box, so I can't give explicit directions.

Good luck!

P.S. changing you Ship password will protect you from abuse of this, if you can't get back to the same machine.
 
Posted by mountainsnowtiger (# 11152) on :
 
thank you - thank you - thank you - thank you
[Overused] [Overused] [Overused]

I am in IE and the 'puter now remembers that I am mountainsnowtiger, but doesn't fill in my password for me anymore.

Thank you so much Henry Troup, from a very relieved little tiger [Smile]


(ps - styx hosts who may be getting bored of me - hopefully I'm going to get my own puter and net access sometime in the next month, so you shouldn't have to suffer my net cafe woes much longer.)
 
Posted by jerusalemcross (# 12179) on :
 
Help again. Have been "accepted" onto the Via Media private board but can't find a way into it. Is there a link to it, clicking on the host name on the general info page about private boards brings no joy. Am I being totally dim or whatever???
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
PM a host of the board and ask again for the url address. Private boards don't have public direct links.
 
Posted by AdamPater (# 4431) on :
 
Or check a relevant host's "recent posts" list. If you've been granted access you'll be able to read any posts on the private board, which you can then bookmark.
 
Posted by The Man With No Name (# 10858) on :
 
Since I had the operating system restored on my laptop (which may be completely irrelevant) the flag menu no longer works for me. If I click on say "10 Commandments", it doesn't open the link for me. If I right-click on it, I still cannot open the link, though "Open link in new window" does then work.

However, it is a bit of a nuisance to end up with lots of windows open rather than be able to navigate around using the flag menu.

Is there a way for me to get it to work again? Any advice appreciated.
 
Posted by orkney fan (# 11683) on :
 
sorry to be a pain but if I try to change my profile I get this

Sorry, your profile has been specifically locked by the board admins. This means that you cannot make any changes to your registered profile information.

have I sinned in any way, I don't know of. If I have then I do apologise. I wanted to send some private messages, nice ones I promise but this means I can't.

Sorry if I am being very thick, I have checked FQA and I cannot see the answer, yes I am logged in and I have tried it more than once and I have tried deleting my cookies to not help

thank you [Help]
 
Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Orkney fan, have you changed your email address since registering? The main reason I've seen for this happening to other people is if the email address you registered with is no longer active, then if people send you a PM it just bounces back to an Admin, they get hacked off and lock the profile until a working email address is provided.

If that's not the reason, then I can't help, as it probably means you've sinned worse than I could ever imagine [Biased]

[good job my PhD isn't in correct word order]

[ 30. January 2007, 19:42: Message edited by: Jack the Lass ]
 
Posted by orkney fan (# 11683) on :
 
I am still using my email address but my other half is doing something with the email address

how do I get in to change my email address if that is the problem?

and how do I atone for my sin?

Orkneyfan
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by orkney fan:


and how do I atone for my sin?


Sounds a rollicking thread title for Purgatory...
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
One of the requirements for participation here is that you keep a working email address on record. When you closed the address in your profile, all of your PM notifications started bouncing back to the admins, and one of them got tired of it.

If you want your profile to be unlocked, you will need to provide a working email address to one of the Member Admins.

Scot
Member Admin
 
Posted by redoubt (# 9354) on :
 
I have received my first PM, to which I have replyed. When I returned to the profile page the incoming PM seems to have disappeared.

I have not knowingly deleted it. How can I save PMs, I cannot see anything in FAQs to tell me, I just assumed that they would stay there until I deleted them.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
It should still be there under "sent private messages", with your reply attached to it just like a mini-thread.
 
Posted by orkney fan (# 11683) on :
 
my email address hasn't closed it just gets so much spam it is screwed I am only beinging to realise how badly screwed as I have lost several emails that I know of. Anyways if someone has the time a happy, working spam free email address is Jennywaller@btinternet.com please update me when you can and I will try not to sin again

sorry
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by orkney fan:
my email address hasn't closed it just gets so much spam it is screwed I am only beinging to realise how badly screwed as I have lost several emails that I know of. Anyways if someone has the time a happy, working spam free email address is Jennywaller@btinternet.com please update me when you can and I will try not to sin again

sorry

Now you have provided a working email address, your profile has been amended. Go forth and sin no more.

Tubbs
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
If I click from an index (Purg, or whatever), read a thread and then click "back", quite often I will only get the top bit of the index, down to where I was, more or less. If I return to that thread, and then click "back" again, I get the whole index.

Is this a special feature of my computer, or is it part of the joy of IE7?

Perhaps I should always got the "Go To" box at the bottom of each thread, but I'm not always at the bottom of the thread when I go "back".
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
Was there ever a thread called Cafe problems?
Jahlove has had them and so have I. I couldn't get in at all yesterday and my cursor locked up a few minutes ago while I was listening to Radio 4 on BBC Radioplayer. I did select decaffeinated.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Do you mean something like this thread?
 
Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
I'm having trouble accessing the Flop Idol video. The page appears to open normally with a large QuickTime icon and a warning that it may take a moment to download then nothing happens. Mac G4 iBook Safari v 2.0.4 OS X10.4.8, and 333MHz iMac Safari 1.3.2 and OS X 10.3.9.

Any suggestions please?

[ 15. February 2007, 17:44: Message edited by: BroJames ]
 
Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
OK I've tried it again now and it worked. It just took way longer than I expected to get going.
 
Posted by mountainsnowtiger (# 11152) on :
 
sig test

(maybe I find this subject just a little bit emotive)


Can anybody help me out with my UBB ineptitude? Above (in the body of this post) you see the link which I want as my sig, all nicely coded. When I copy and paste it into my profile's sig space the code stops working. This does not the snow-tiger a happy bunny make.
 
Posted by mountainsnowtiger (# 11152) on :
 
(maybe I find this subject just a little bit emotive)


well, I'm not quite sure what went on there, but I think/hope it is sorted, so thank you to Ariel for providing me with a link to tinyurl.com
 
Posted by Henry Troup (# 3722) on :
 
Had a fun one... I posted about the SCA as "medieval-ish" - except I wrote
code:
medieval(ish)

and had the error message
code:
Sorry, we do not permit the following HTML
tag or attribute: eval (

It took me a few seconds to spot it ... and yes, I know why it should be filtered out. And I know how to use the code tag to post this.

{ETA: line break}

[ 15. April 2007, 19:28: Message edited by: Henry Troup ]
 
Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :
 
Is there a way to get "[ I ]" to display as my text, without being taken as an italics tag? On an ecclesiantics thread I wanted this:
quote:
Originally posted by some wise Shipmate:
[ I ]f you have a basic understanding <etc., etc.>

for my quote began in the middle of the Shipmate's original sentence and his initial eye was lowercase.

I tried to place an escape in front of the square bracket (/[) to take the square bracket as a literal. This didn't work.

Can anyone help?
 
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
You can use the numeric HTML code &#91; to produce [ . So typing &#91;I] results in the desired [I].

P.S. I googled "html left square bracket" (no quotes). I was hoping to find an HTML mnemonic code e.g. (hypothetical) &lbr; but couldn't locate one.

P.P.S. If I type a lone [I], ← bare just like that, it doesn't seem to try to start italics. Curious. It might have to do with whatever comes later in the post in terms of tags though. UBB practice thread, here I come...
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
UBB tags come in pairs. So, a single tag (say [I]) won't do anything without a corresponding closing tag. But, if you want to put some italics in your post as well the results could be unpredictable (ie: I don't know where it would start the italics from).
 
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
Yup. I was thinking "curious" compared to the results The Silent Acolyte was getting. None of my simple multi-following-tag experiments were producing vagrant italics, but I hadn't thought of starting more italics. Which I've now checked (thank you, Alan Cresswell), and the italics do indeed start at the earlier [I].
 
Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Autenrieth Road:
You can use the numeric HTML code &#91; to produce [ . So typing &#91;I] results in the desired [I].

[I]

amp-hash-9-1-semi-eye-leftSquareBracket. Yes. Of course. Silly me.

AR & Alan, thanks for the help.
 
Posted by DaisyM (# 9098) on :
 
After my harddrive crashed (Windows2000), a friend put together one for me with WindowsXP, and Office 2003. Alas, when I went to sign into the Cafe, I found (I think) that windowsXP doesn't have java capability. I went on the Microft update website, and tried to figure out what was going on. It was total geekspeak which I could not understand (not having that capability in my brain).
would someone who does understand that language explain why WindowsXP doesn't have Java capability, and is it possible to get it, and if so how. The best I could figure out is that a lawsuit is the culprit but that doesn't help me get into the Cafe.
Thanks very much.
PS--I am not, obviously, highly computer proficient technically. Please write in lay terms. I will not be offended or feel patronized. I will be grateful.

[ 06. May 2007, 01:01: Message edited by: DaisyM ]
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
Daisy, Java isn't part of Windows; it's an additional free program. You can download the current version of Java here.
 
Posted by DaisyM (# 9098) on :
 
Thanks Scot...the problem was/is the unintellible message on Microsoft update had these dire warnings about Java support ending on Dec. 31, 2007, and making it sound as if one couldn't download it anymore from anywhere.
I'm also grateful for the simplicity of your reply [Smile] [Overused]
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Is it just coincidence or have the Ship's boards needed maintenance more often recently? Twice in the last day or so I have been informed that the boards have been closed for maintenace, not for more than a minute or so though.

Just curious. Hope recent events haven't caused any trouble.
 
Posted by Sarkycow (# 1012) on :
 
When we move threads to Oblivion, the boards automatically close themselves briefly, so they can tidy up their back catalogues etc. The closure tends to be long enough to be noticeable if there are a lot of threads to be moved (e.g. three or four pages worth).

Over the past few days we've been Oblivioning old threads from all the boards, hence the repeated brief closures.

Sarkycow, member admin
 
Posted by Tumphouse (# 11321) on :
 
I am sure there is an obvious answer to this, but when I reply in a thread, and try to make a quote 'bold' I can not get the advice given in the 'what is UBB code?' work. Please help.
G
 
Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
If you want the quote to be bold, click on the " mark at the top of the post you want to quote. Delete anything you do not want to quote, but be sure not to delete anything in square brackets.

Moo
 
Posted by Professor Kirke (# 9037) on :
 
Tumphouse, if you want something to be bold, just put [ b ] before it, and [ /b ] after it, but don't use spaces between inside the [].

Quotes typically use [ qb ] and [ /qb ] for bold, but that does the same thing as the b tags.

[ 16. May 2007, 02:42: Message edited by: Professor Kirke ]
 
Posted by Tumphouse (# 11321) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Moo:
If you want the quote to be bold, click on the " mark at the top of the post you want to quote. Delete anything you do not want to quote, but be sure not to delete anything in square brackets.

Moo

Thanks Moo. And it works!
G
 
Posted by Tumphouse (# 11321) on :
 
Tumphouse, if you want something to be bold, just put [ b ] before it, and [ /b ] after it, but don't use spaces between inside the [].

Quotes typically use [ qb ] and [ /qb ] for bold, but that does the same thing as the b tags.

And this one works too. Thanks.
GThanks
 
Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 
I just tried to go to a thread I started about a meet in June, but got "You have requested a thread that does not exist!". I used this link which I'd put at the bottom of my profile & which was working before.
I suspect it's because no-one has posted for a while (I wanted to give it a *bump*), but I know people are coming along & I wonder if there is any way of reviving the original thread, or should I start another one?
 
Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
daisydaisy

It does look as though the actual thread has gone - tho if you want it it's still (but perhaps not for long) cached on Google
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
Daisydaisy, it looks like your thread was Obliviated during a recent housecleaning in All Saints. I moved it back where it belongs (click here) . The url is different, so be sure to update the link in your sig.

I may have been a mean admin, but I'm the nicest former admin ever. [Biased]
 
Posted by Mad Geo (# 2939) on :
 
We'll be the judge of that. [Biased]
 
Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Scot:
Daisydaisy, it looks like your thread was Obliviated during a recent housecleaning in All Saints. I moved it back where it belongs (click here) . The url is different, so be sure to update the link in your sig.

Thank you [Smile]

quote:
Originally posted by Scot:
I may have been a mean admin, but I'm the nicest former admin ever. [Biased]

The nicest former admin ever.... with a lost avatar - are you aware of this?
 
Posted by Scot (# 2095) on :
 
No, my avatar is right where it has always been. Are you not able to see it? There are some avatars that I don't see if I'm at work. The reason is that they are hosted on sites that are blocked by our network. Maybe you have something like that, although I can't imagine why anyone would bother blocking Earthlink websites.
 
Posted by Love the You you hide (# 12249) on :
 
I can't log in, under chat, it says my password is incorrect. So I changed my password, and it still doesn't work. Any ideas please?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Have you got in the Cafe previously, or is this a new problem? Make sure you use your username not displayed name to login, and I recall some people once had problems with unexpected case sensitivity on the password (needing to type password with caps lock on, or something like that - it was a while back).
 
Posted by Love the You you hide (# 12249) on :
 
D'oh! Thanks Alan, I was typing in my displayed name, not my username! [Hot and Hormonal] [Hot and Hormonal] [Hot and Hormonal]
 
Posted by mirrizin (# 11014) on :
 
Got a question from a random friend who wants to join the ship...

Do you need to have java to join? She says that she can't join the boards because she's having trouble installing java...

Thanks in anticipation!
 
Posted by mirrizin (# 11014) on :
 
Ach. Checked the registration requirements, and promptly answered my own question.

Mea culpa. [Hot and Hormonal]
 
Posted by Tractor Girl (# 8863) on :
 
Due to my complete lack of self-control and desire to actually get my dis written I need to be put on read only status for a month or so, so I can't log in.

Is this possible and how do I arrange it?
 
Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Tractor Girl, as far as I'm aware (as in, I'm sure I've seen someone else ask this before) it's not possible, and you just have to be self-disciplined [Smile]
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Tractor Girl:
Due to my complete lack of self-control and desire to actually get my dis written I need to be put on read only status for a month or so, so I can't log in.

Is this possible and how do I arrange it?

Can you log out and not log back in?
 
Posted by Pearl B4 Swine (# 11451) on :
 
Thank you, Admin's, for straightening out my problem. I be happy now!
[Yipee]
PB4S
 
Posted by Mark Wuntoo (# 5673) on :
 
I am changing my ISP - from tiscali (I guess I may not be the only person doing this!).

BUT I also am changing from a PC to a Mac (at my age?).

What do I do about keeping my present name / details? Or do I simply register again?

Are there any differences with the Mac that I should be aware of?

Thanks a lot.

[ 19. June 2007, 08:51: Message edited by: Mark Wuntoo ]
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
If you go into your profile, you can edit your email address (assuming you'll no longer be using your existing email address - in which case you don't need to do anything). This will cause the system to send a new password to your new email address, and then you continue as normal using the new password to login (once logged in you can always change your password back if that'll make it easier to remember).

As far as I'm aware, there's no difference using a Mac to access the Ship (or, Linux for that matter). Some browsers do slightly different things with how the Ship boards are displayed, so you may experience similar differences. The main ones appear to be with how long character strings (usually URLs) are broken, or not, which means some people will have over-wide pages that others don't see. And, some browsers will put any smilies of UBB code entered using the 'Instant' options below the reply window at the end of the post, irrespective of where your cursor is, and others will insert them at the point where your cursor is.
 
Posted by Mark Wuntoo (# 5673) on :
 
Many thanks Alan

My e-mail address will be changing. Not being sure how it will work, I may not have my new address before tiscali cut me off.

However I have a yahoo address. So I think I'll go into the Profile, change to the yahoo address and then change again when I get the new ISP address. This way, I gather from your reply, my details will remain the same.

I think I can probably manage with the Mac changes.

All the best.
 
Posted by Mark Wuntoo (# 5673) on :
 
Alan

Thanks. So far so good. New password received. (But I'm not on the Mac yet!).
 
Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :
 
Alan (or other techie person),

For some reason I cannot fathom, I am having to log in every time I post. I have no idea what's wrong. (I also do not have the "jump to news posts" feature showing, fwiw.)

[It won't let me into the hostly lounge, either. Was it something I said?] [Paranoid]
 
Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :
 
It is also calling for my login and password for me to edit a post. [Paranoid]
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
My first thought is "cookies". Have you tried clearing them, in case the cookie is somehow corrupted? If you go to "My Profile" (you'll probably have to type your user name and password there too) there's a "delete all cookies set by this board" link. Just above the text that says
quote:
Having a problem logging in? This can happen if the cookies have been set wrongly in your browser. Click the link above to clear your cookies so that the board can set fresh new ones.

 
Posted by Scarlett (# 1738) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Campbellite:
It is also calling for my login and password for me to edit a post. [Paranoid]

If it turns out not to be a "cookies" solved problem; last weekend I endured this torture due to having downloaded a cafeteria of security protection: spyware, anti-virus, firewall and I forget what else (one more). Prior to that I only had anti-virus protection.

Immediately I was encountering the identical problem; I could see "Hello, Scarlett [Log out] but as soon as I attempted to post I would not be logged in. I attribute it to the firewall and since no amount of tinkering would stop the hindrance I uninstalled everything but the anti-virus.

Call me happy but subject to attack... [Smile] [Paranoid]
 
Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :
 
Well, I think I got it fixed. I deleted the cookies, but oddly it didn't ask for my password when I went there. [Paranoid]

Still don't have the "jump to new posts" though.
 
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :
 
Don't know if anyone else is finding this at the moment, but I am not getting a you have a new message alert anymore when I receive a pm.
 
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :
 
Seems to be working again now, must be just one of them things ...
 
Posted by Love the You you hide (# 12249) on :
 
I can't get into the cafe any more. I get a java error, with a msg like http servlet address not specified.

I am running Vista, so it may have upgraded itself, but I have been able to access the Cafe with vista on this PC...

any ideas please?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
If you read this thread (with a title that I'd be sure would be an attention grabber) all will become clear.
 
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :
 
There are links to alternative hang-outs on the All Saints cafe thread.
 
Posted by Love the You you hide (# 12249) on :
 
Sorry - put it down to two things, tiredness and a willingness to blame Vista for all the world's ills [Hot and Hormonal]
 
Posted by dogwonderer (# 12169) on :
 
Wotcha!

I feel very confident this will have been covered ad infinitum already, but can't be bothered to search for the answer...

I recently made a post to which I wished to make an Edit. Between making the correction and clicking 'Add Reply', the board's Flood Protection had come into operation, and I had to wait 120 seconds before I could hit 'Add Reply' again. During that time, I missed the edit window, of course.

Please would someone tell me whether the edit window really does need to be quite so short? At any rate, shouldn't the Flood Control time delay be shorter than the edit window (by at least a minute), so people get the chance to make an edit even if they encounter Flood Control?

Thanking you. [Smile]
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by dogwonderer:
Please would someone tell me whether the edit window really does need to be quite so short?

We used to have a much longer edit window (when we were first permitted to edit our own posts), but this was abused. Consequently, we have ended up with our current very narrow window.

I'd encourage you to use Preview post as much as possible. If you do encounter something you want to fix after you've posted, with the current tight timeframe for editing I'd recommend just deleting the post and starting over (after you've copied the original text/code to your clipboard, of course).
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
Why does two minutes seem so short for an edit window, but so long for flood control?
[Confused]
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
I am having a login problem. I cannot login to the boards globally.

I've checked in cookies, and it shows a Ship cookie. I've asked for my login details to be resent, and they are ok.

If I post an individual post, it asks me to enter name and login, and that works fine.

Happens with both Mozilla and IE browsers.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
There are two common causes of this problem.

1) You have a corrupted cookie file. Try to clear cookies - if you can get into your profile there's a delete cookies link there, otherwise just delete the cookie you found.

2) You're using the wrong Ship address. Make sure you have forum.ship-of-fools.com (with hyphens) not forum.shipoffools.com (without hyphens)
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Cleared cache. Cleared cookies (though the address was correct). Specifically 'allowed' correct address.

Problem still there.

I will check tomorrow from my work connection.
 
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
It's interesting because I have a similar problem with my email account and a few other sites, but no problem here. If you figure out what's causing it Firenze, do tell.

<tangent>
By the way, Firenze, it took me a moment to figure out why there was a reference to a shipmate in my harry potter book a few days ago. [Smile]

[ 30. July 2007, 01:23: Message edited by: Gwai ]
 
Posted by Sarkycow (# 1012) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by dogwonderer:
I recently made a post to which I wished to make an Edit. Between making the correction and clicking 'Add Reply', the board's Flood Protection had come into operation, and I had to wait 120 seconds before I could hit 'Add Reply' again. During that time, I missed the edit window, of course.

Please would someone tell me whether the edit window really does need to be quite so short? At any rate, shouldn't the Flood Control time delay be shorter than the edit window (by at least a minute), so people get the chance to make an edit even if they encounter Flood Control?

I think you are a little confused?

If you make a post and then wish to edit it, you click the pencil and paper icon at the top of your post. This takes you to the edit screen, where you have a short amount of time to make a minor correction.

If you wish to make a major correction, I advise you to go to the edit screen, copy your post to notepad, Word, etc. then delete the post from the Ship. You can then amend the post, taking as long as you need. When you have finished, go back to the thread, click on 'add reply', and copy your new post across.

Preview Post really is your very good friend though - before you post, you have unlimited time to read it through, check it, and make any amendments you need to. By clicking 'preview post', you will be shown how your post will look when it is posted. Then you can thoroughly check it.

Flood control is different from edit time. Flood control stops you from making a second post on any thread or sending a PM within 2 minutes of making a previous post. This measure slowers spammers down. It also encourages people to think a little more carefully about what they are posting.

So flood control shouldn't stop you from editing your post.

Sarkycow
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Still no joy on the Login problem: I ran ALL my security software, updated Mozilla, 'allowed' the site in cookies, but to no avail.
 
Posted by JennyAnn (# 3131) on :
 
I have a small issue.

If I use the Ship with Firefox on my desktop PC, I can't log out. I press 'log out' and get the 'you have logged out' message, but still the >>Hello, JennyAnn in the top line.

This problem doen't occur in IE, or on firefox on my laptop (or work PCs)

Its not major, but it does puzzle me, anyone any clues?

Jen
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
It sounds as if you have the other half of my problem: you can't logout, I can't login.

However, it doesn't seem to be exclusively Firefox, as I have tried with IE as well.

There are, though, a range of Firefox-specific problems which I have noticed - principally pages not loading/loading blank/loading partially/loading the raw html.
 
Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Well done Clever tech support people: this hiccough/hiccup:
quote:
Note: Using your back button to return to the previous page may cause the data you were attempting to submit to be lost. Instead, you should use your browser's reload button when the time period has elapsed.

» Please use your browser's back button to return, unless you got this because of flood control, in which case, the back button will just try to screw with you. Sorry about that.

appears now to be fixed. Or has my computer started doing something different. Either way it's nice to hit the Back button and find my words of wisdom still there.
 
Posted by TubaMirum (# 8282) on :
 
Is this the place to work out email issues? I keep getting locked out because emails from SoF to me are apparently bouncing - I'm not getting notifications of PMs, anyway - but I don't know what to do about this. I've already contacted my ISP, and nobody else seems to be having this problem; what does anybody suggest? I can't PM the Admins, obviously, because I'm locked out from doing anything.

I guess the best thing is to get a Yahoo email account or something? What's that all about, anyway? Is it purely web-based, or can it be set up on an email client? Is Yahoo the best one?
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by TubaMirum:
Is this the place to work out email issues? I keep getting locked out because emails from SoF to me are apparently bouncing - I'm not getting notifications of PMs, anyway - but I don't know what to do about this. I've already contacted my ISP, and nobody else seems to be having this problem; what does anybody suggest? I can't PM the Admins, obviously, because I'm locked out from doing anything.

I guess the best thing is to get a Yahoo email account or something? What's that all about, anyway? Is it purely web-based, or can it be set up on an email client? Is Yahoo the best one?

The problem could be caused by a number of things - email no longer working, spam filters etc.

1) Check that the email address within it is still working. If it isn't, then change it to one that does work. Having a working email address is one of the conditions of SOF membership.

2) If your email is working, it may be because of your ISP's spam filters. You will need to fill out a white list form so you can receive the PM notifications by email

If that seems too complicated, then there's option 3)

Change the "Do you want to be notified by email when someone sends you a private message?" from Yes to No. This will stop the PM notifications from bouncing and clogging up the Admins email in box which pisses us off.

Tubbs

[X-posted with Alan]

[ 03. August 2007, 14:34: Message edited by: Tubbs ]
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
If your email is bouncing PM notifications, or if you do something like set up an "out of office" automated response, then the Admins get copies of all emails sent you - including PM notifications. This is a) very annoying and b) means we could (if we really wanted to) read your PMs. If that happens a lot we tend to lock the ability to send/receive PMs until the issue is sorted out.

You'll know you have a problem if you've asked for email notifications of PMs but aren't getting them (assuming anyone's sending you PMs that is).

You have several options. If it's bouncing because of a spam filter or similar, make sure that the board admin email address is allowed by your security software (probably run by your ISP, but you should be able to set exceptions to allow certain email addresses through). You could set up a new email account somewhere just for the Ship. Or, you could choose not to receive email notifications of PMs (there's an option in your profile for that).
 
Posted by Otter (# 12020) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by TubaMirum:
I guess the best thing is to get a Yahoo email account or something? What's that all about, anyway? Is it purely web-based, or can it be set up on an email client? Is Yahoo the best one?

I prefer Gmail (Google's e-mail service) to Yahoo, but I haven't used my Yahoo service for quite a long time, so I'm going by memory. Both have web-based access, not sure about downloading to a local mail program. I like the tagging/sorting options and spam filters on Gmail, and storage space is seemingly inexhaustable (according to friends who make great use of it). But you do have to put up with the sponsored ads. They're off on the side so they don't bother me.

Both Gmail and Yahoo are free, you could sign up for both and see which you like better. I think you can sign up for Gmail without being sent an invite, but if I'm wrong, I have a bunch.
 
Posted by TubaMirum (# 8282) on :
 
Thanks, and sorry about the emails bouncing. I will definitely switch the "Yes" to "No"; I didn't realize that was even an option.

Except that I'm locked out of my Profile, of course, and can't do this at the moment.

I have received PM notifications in the past, so the email address is definitely working. It must be a spam filter at my ISP, and I will try to address that again.

Thanks again. Can somebody unlock my Profile, or do I have to do something first?
 
Posted by TubaMirum (# 8282) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Otter:
I prefer Gmail (Google's e-mail service) to Yahoo, but I haven't used my Yahoo service for quite a long time, so I'm going by memory. Both have web-based access, not sure about downloading to a local mail program. I like the tagging/sorting options and spam filters on Gmail, and storage space is seemingly inexhaustable (according to friends who make great use of it). But you do have to put up with the sponsored ads. They're off on the side so they don't bother me.

Both Gmail and Yahoo are free, you could sign up for both and see which you like better. I think you can sign up for Gmail without being sent an invite, but if I'm wrong, I have a bunch.

Thanks, Otter. Will look into both. I have lots of perfectly good addresses available from my ISP, though, so I sort of hate to have to come up with yet another login/password to have to remember.... [Waterworks]
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
Tubamum,

I've unlocked your profile and set your pm notification email option to "no".

Tubbs
 
Posted by TubaMirum (# 8282) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Tubbs:
Tubamum,

I've unlocked your profile and set your pm notification email option to "no".

Tubbs

Thanks. I'll try to work out the spam filter thing, or else set up an email address elsewhere. Sorry again; didn't know.
 
Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :
 
I don't know if this problem is on my end or the Ship's end, but I am not seeing any time stamps on anything. The list shows who posted last, but not when the last post was made, nor does it disply when a given post was made. [Confused]
 
Posted by Thurible (# 3206) on :
 
It's fine here.

Thurible
 
Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :
 
OK, then I may be on my end. Let me re-boot and try again.
 
Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :
 
Ta Dah! That did the trick.

Wish they all were so easy.
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
I am still in this annoying situation of not being able to log in - can only post by putting in Login/password for every post. Can't do edits, for example.

I have done the whole thang with deleting cookies.

How would it be if we changed my password? Might this convince my PC that it was a whole new ballgame? (It doesn't have problems with other cookies)
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
I just remembered something else that can sometimes cause unexpected behaviour when logging into the Ship. Make sure your clock/time settings on your computer approximate fairly well to the actual time.
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
PC, watch, phone, clock on the wall - all show the same time.
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Drat, I thought I got something there.

I did a cookie cull before posting, and got a couple of lines of code come up when I did so - but too fast to read. I'll try again and see if I can get a screendump.
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Hum, just the set-cookie script (and the cookie has indeed reappeared in the list in Options).
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
PC, watch, phone, clock on the wall - all show the same time.

And date?
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
And date?

Yes.
 
Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Firenze

The few times I have been caught by this on my own computers (i.e. not when using a work or uni one) it was because of one thing and one thing only

The Firewall had updated itself.

Jengie
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Hmm, I have a very busy security suite, which is forever telling me it is updating itself.

Firewall settings are at max - there are lots of options you can turn on/off, but I have sod all idea of what they betoken.
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Done it! Thanks, Jengie. Once I turned on the firewall alerts, I could see it blocking the cookie, and change the permissions.
 
Posted by mountainsnowtiger (# 11152) on :
 
Oblivion and the search function:

When I search Oblivion for the terms 'eco thread' or 'thrifty thread', no relevant threads are found.

When I search Heaven (the board on which these two threads originally appeared), the search returns the relevant thread titles, but clicking on the thread title results in the error message 'You have requested a thread that does not exist!'

I thought all threads are now saved to Oblivion? (The eco thread is very recent, the thrifty one a few months old.) How come I can't get at 'em and these threads appear to be lost?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
The search function in Oblivion is not entirely perfect. It rarely seems to pull up threads I know are there.

As the threads are arranged in order of last post (most recent first), if you know approximately when the thread was last posted to you can go to the relevant section of the thread list and search through the thread titles one page at a time. It sounds tedious, but my experience is that it's by far the easiest way if the search function doesn't work.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Ok, who was playing around with deleting posts?
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
When is the official Ship's Cafe coming back? Next month?
 
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
Is it me or is there some trouble with the ship loading these days? I have no trouble seeing the frames, but as cool as Scargill is, that banner just doesn't do it for me without the forums too [Biased] . Please don't take this as a complaint, but rather an inquiry. Is my work computer having issues or is the ship a bit funky this week?
 
Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
I've had the same problem, mainly when trying to do a search - empty results page with just the banner.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I've had that problem also, here at the house. It mystifies me.
 
Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Am I the only one who can't congratulate PeteCanada and thank Flausa? I can post anywhere else, but not that thread.

[Help]
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
I'm guessing Welease Woderwick was also having trouble as the two of you seem to have posted lots of duplicate posts. There seems to have been a bit of a glitch with the boards last night - I know of at least one other person who thought they'd posted something (on a different thread) only for it to not appear at the time, but it's there now. But don't ask me what it was. [Confused]
 
Posted by pease (# 6) on :
 
There was a bit of a blockage which caused a backlog of posts to build up, but I've given it a bit of a kick, which appears to have released it.
 
Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Thanks pease and Alan; and apologies to the hosts.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
I strated a thread on a minor point about a line in Luke17:19 at 00:34 on Oct.6.

Noone responded, which is OK (I guess)

Two other threads have responses later in the day.

But when I open the kerygmania page, I see my thread at the top (well, actually, second, after the Greek-letter thread) and the other two threads below, with their later response tiomes showing.

Is my unanswered thread receiving some kind of sympathy from the server?
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
That would indicate to me that someone posted a reply and then decided to immediately delete it.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Like I just did on the Practice UBB Code thread (if you're around in time to see it before someone else posts there).
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
That would make sense.

Thanks
 
Posted by Esmeralda (# 582) on :
 
I feel really embarrassed about asking this after all this time on the Ship but: how do I post a link to a website or blog in my sig? If I just put the address in, presumably that's what will appear, and I would like what appears to be something like 'my blog/website here'.

Esme
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
This is what I do: I go to someplace like the UUB thread and hit "reply" then I use the URL button on the "reply" box to get my link and my tagline in place. Then I copy the whole mess and I do NOT hit reply.

After that it's just a matter of going back to the profile and pasting the stuff I copied in.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Or you can simply type in the UBB code yourself:

1. type [url= and then (without leaving a space) type in the url; end with the closing square bracket (again, no space)]

2. type whatever you want to actually appear; My Blog, for example

3. type [/url]

Since you can't Preview Post when you're in your profile update page, you might want to go make a post on the UBB Practice thread in order to check that it looks right and works.
 
Posted by BillyPilgrim (# 9841) on :
 
I wish to link to a post in Limbo. Where in the post do I find the link? Is it the “edit this post” icon (the notepad and pencil), or the “reply with quote” (the quotation marks) one?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
What you want is the smallest of the icons above the post, on the far left ... left of the "Posted ..." with the date. It looks a bit like a wee bit of paper. Right click that and you can copy the url into your clipboard.
 
Posted by BillyPilgrim (# 9841) on :
 
Ah that one. Called "get_topic". Thank you.
 
Posted by Esmeralda (# 582) on :
 
Thanks Kelly and jlg. So many people seem to be doing it that I thought there might be a slick way of doing it. But both of those sound as though they'd work.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I tried to e-mail cafe admin, but could not do so. Is the caf really up and running? [Confused]
 
Posted by Telepath (# 3534) on :
 
I tried at least half a dozen times to reply to the radical feminism thread on Purgatory. Each time after pressing "send" it hangs forever and my post doesn't show up. However, flood control still applies.
 
Posted by Triple Tiara (# 9556) on :
 
Okay, anyone know what's up with purgatory?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Apparently there are large globs of "gossip, speculation and paranoia" about at the moment, presumably resulting in fervant exchanges of PMs stretching the PM facility to the limit. This might be having a knock on effect on the rest of the Ship. Either that it's mere speculation fuelled by the paranoia that they're gossiping about me.
 
Posted by Beautiful_Dreamer (# 10880) on :
 
I am having the same problem, particularly on the feminism thread but on all threads in Purgatory. I do not have any problems on any other board. Is there something going on with Purg?
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sir Kevin:
I tried to e-mail cafe admin, but could not do so. Is the caf really up and running? [Confused]

No. When the cafe is back there will be an announcement in The Styx.

Tubbs
 
Posted by Triple Tiara (# 9556) on :
 
That seems plausible as a first stab Alan, but it seems to be only purg which is affected - and has been for some time. Was it my last post which did for it [Hot and Hormonal] ?
 
Posted by Beautiful_Dreamer (# 10880) on :
 
TT, I am only having the problem with Purg as well. It does not matter which thread or how short my message is, it will not go through even after several minutes or several attempts. But the other boards and my private board are fine.
 
Posted by Rossweisse (# 2349) on :
 
Okay, I have this brilliant, definitive answer to Trip in Purg, but I haven't been able to post it in more than ten tries.

At least it isn't just me...

Ross
 
Posted by Rossweisse (# 2349) on :
 
Oh, by the way, I had the same problem with the Styx a couple of weeks ago -- nothing would post.

I thought perhaps it was a way of putting a lid on the unrest....

[Cool]

Yes, Trip, you killed Purgatory! [Big Grin]

Ross
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Rossweisse:


Yes, Trip, you killed Purgatory! [Big Grin]

Couldn't be. Must have been one of the Anglicans...
 
Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I've also been attempting to post on Purgatory, and when I post my comment, everything whirls around and instead of arriving at the bottom of the thread, the whole page blanks out. I've cleared all my cookies, logged out and in again - no answer...
 
Posted by Triple Tiara (# 9556) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Rossweisse:

Yes, Trip, you killed Purgatory! [Big Grin]

Ross

[Big Grin]
 
Posted by The Bede's American Successor (# 5042) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Triple Tiara:
quote:
Originally posted by Rossweisse:

Yes, Trip, you killed Purgatory! [Big Grin]

Ross

[Big Grin]
No one expects the Romish inquisition.

(I'm trying to answer TT in Purg, too!)
 
Posted by Lynn MagdalenCollege (# 10651) on :
 
So that would be why I can't post a reply in Purgatory... hmmmm.
 
Posted by Beautiful_Dreamer (# 10880) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by basso:
quote:
Originally posted by Rossweisse:


Yes, Trip, you killed Purgatory! [Big Grin]

Couldn't be. Must have been one of the Anglicans...
You got me. I did it. Commence flogging now. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Triple Tiara (# 9556) on :
 
Oooh! All these good folks lining up to answer me!

Please can you keep purg broke for a little bit longer? [Two face]
 
Posted by Mad Geo (# 2939) on :
 
Crap. This sucks! I'm going into withdrawel because I can't post braindroppings with abandon. Oh the misery!

[Big Grin]
 
Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :
 
Ah, but it was worth it to see RooK post on TICTH [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Maybe we could take a leaf out of Doublethink's book and have a sort of emergency-raft-type Purgatory? "The Antechamber", or "Sheol", or some such?

Or temporarily move debate to the Circus - I'm sure Sine would approve.

[relieved to discover that the fact that Purg hadn't moved since yesterday evening was not symptomatic of a marked decline in the intellectual climate...]

[ 13. October 2007, 07:43: Message edited by: Eutychus ]
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
Ah, not just me, then! I tried to post on the feminism thread about 10 times.
[brick wall]
 
Posted by comet (# 10353) on :
 
happening for me too. FYI.
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
I've e-mailed the tech admin to work his mojo, like he did in the Styx a while back. For future reference, if you try to post and it doesn't show, take a look and see if there have been any new posts in the past few hours or so, instead of submitting the same post 10 times. They WILL show up when the bottleneck is cleared.

[ 13. October 2007, 09:05: Message edited by: Erin ]
 
Posted by comet (# 10353) on :
 
oh good, I'm looking forward to that! [Devil]
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
Thanks, Erin!

FWIW, my computer and ISP can both be iffy...so it took me a while to wonder if the Ship was broken. Then I thought maybe a host had (accidentally) locked the thread. Then I saw that *this* thread had bubbled to the top of Styx.
 
Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Erin:
I've e-mailed the tech admin to work his mojo, like he did in the Styx a while back. For future reference, if you try to post and it doesn't show, take a look and see if there have been any new posts in the past few hours or so, instead of submitting the same post 10 times. They WILL show up when the bottleneck is cleared.

Oh Erin,

That will be embarrassing, as similar to Golden Key, I thought it was me and my computer that were messing about, and then I tried a few times to post a purg reply... [Hot and Hormonal]

Will Triple Tiara go down in history? Did you, TT, irritate a techie alien, who grinned and waved his wand and fixed you on the top of the purgatory mountain?
 
Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Has Purgatory's clock gone a bit odd or is it just me? All the other boards are showing recent times, but the last one I see in Purgatory shows TT's post at 5:01 [which I think is 12/10/2007[*] 19:00 GMT].


[*]dd/mm/yyyy format for our American friends. [Smile]

[ 13. October 2007, 11:22: Message edited by: Ian Climacus ]
 
Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
I have twice tried to post on there since Triple Tiara's post. Neither time was successful. I thought that perhaps short term maintenance was being carried out, but its gone on too long for that now.

Jengie

[ 13. October 2007, 11:58: Message edited by: Jengie Jon ]
 
Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
Says 19:01 on my screen [Smile] The post rate seemed to slow down for the few hours leading up to that - I was unable to post for about half an hour before the last posts on some of the threads.

I have a horrid fear that my last post to purgatory, which was a very long one, is going to suddenly appear in 37 different copies on three threads.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
I have been trying to post a reply on the 'How do you doubt?' thread in Purgatory', but five attempts have failed. That dark line thing on the bar at the bottom of the screen starts moving along, then stutters and stops. What shall I do, please?
 
Posted by Scarlett (# 1738) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
I have been trying to post a reply on the 'How do you doubt?' thread in Purgatory', but five attempts have failed. That dark line thing on the bar at the bottom of the screen starts moving along, then stutters and stops. What shall I do, please?

Visit Hell, they are open for business... [Two face]
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
[cross-post with Scarlett]

The first thing you can do is actually read the most recent five or ten posts on this thread, in which case you might have noticed that Erin has recently posted this information:
quote:
I've e-mailed the tech admin to work his mojo, like he did in the Styx a while back. For future reference, if you try to post and it doesn't show, take a look and see if there have been any new posts in the past few hours or so, instead of submitting the same post 10 times. They WILL show up when the bottleneck is cleared.


[ 13. October 2007, 13:37: Message edited by: jlg ]
 
Posted by PeteCanada (# 10422) on :
 
I donno, I think the purg hosts are all partying today.

[Big Grin]
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
IngoB seems to have fixed whatever Triple Tiara broke. This has to have been a romish plot [Biased]
 
Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Thanks to whoever did the hard work.

Jengie
 
Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
Hurrah! [Overused] Thanks for restoring life! [Yipee]
 
Posted by PeteCanada (# 10422) on :
 
You know I never thought I would miss a board so much!! My hands were shaking!

[Eek!]

Thanks to the techies from a technopeasant.
 
Posted by Rossweisse (# 2349) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Eutychus:
...This has to have been a romish plot

I had the same thought. [Paranoid]

Of course, I couldn't get on the Ship at all earlier today.

Ross
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
Scarlett, jig and PeteCanada

Thank you for your replies. I will remember in future to look at other posts - I just assumed it was me wot did it! (Also, having to use magnification and voice, I cannot just glance at previous posts.) I did remember to copy what I'd written and store it on a draft e-mail, which I find is the easiest way for me.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
Out of mild curiosity, I opened the "scroll lock" thread in Styx. The box in which replies are posted extended off to the right, to about double the width of my screen.

When I opened the next thread down the list, I got the "usual" width - that is, the print fitted within my screen.

Is there some minor demon at work in scroll lock? You know, the kind of semicompetent one that gets into serious trouble with Screwtape?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
On the scroll lock thread, the giant cheeseburger posted something that illustrates what the problem is - which is that long uninterrupted text (eg: URLs) or code can result in posts that are wider than the available display width.

[just getting the right shipmate]

[ 25. October 2007, 21:51: Message edited by: Alan Cresswell ]
 
Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
I got this when I tried to send a PM just now:


quote:
Internal Server Error

The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.

Please contact the server administrator, admin and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error.

More information about this error may be available in the server error log.


 
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
I think the ship was momentarily offline. I couldn't get response from any ship webpage for a moment.
 
Posted by Doc Tor (# 9748) on :
 
Dear Lords of the Ship,

Are we BSTing all winter, or will we be reset to the glorious joys of GMT?

No particular beef here, except I'm suffering cognative dissonance between ShipTime™ and the clock in the corner of my screen... [Ultra confused]
 
Posted by Dave Marshall (# 7533) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:
I think the ship was momentarily offline. I couldn't get response from any ship webpage for a moment.

Maybe they're testing the new cafe on the live server, and it's not quite working yet.
quote:
Originally posted by Doc Tor:
Are we BSTing all winter, or will we be reset to the glorious joys of GMT?

We have to adjust the offset ourselves in our profile. I did, anyway.
 
Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Doc Tor:
I'm suffering cognative dissonance between ShipTime™ and the clock in the corner of my screen...

Odd. Mine agree again after being different all summer!
 
Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I've just adjusted my profile time, as I had been OK all summer and now had gone off time.
 
Posted by Doc Tor (# 9748) on :
 
Cheers, Dave. In all my time here, I hadn't noticed the time-shift doohickey. Tis now fixed, and I'm not early anymore!
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
You'll all have to make the adjustment again next weekend when the clock on the server goes back an hour. The server follows the US in changing clocks a week after the UK.
 
Posted by Doc Tor (# 9748) on :
 
Doh!
 
Posted by Carys (# 78) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
You'll all have to make the adjustment again next weekend when the clock on the server goes back an hour. The server follows the US in changing clocks a week after the UK.

Drat, I saw this after I'd made the change. Not that it's particularly difficult and I changed it because I was in my profile anyway.

Why is shiptime UK time -1 and on US clock changing rules?

Carys
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Carys:
Why is shiptime UK time -1 and on US clock changing rules?

I've never actually come across an answer to that question. Though it's one that gets raised regularly (like, every 6 months when the clocks change!)
 
Posted by Scarlett (# 1738) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
quote:
Originally posted by Carys:
Why is shiptime UK time -1 and on US clock changing rules?

I've never actually come across an answer to that question. Though it's one that gets raised regularly (like, every 6 months when the clocks change!)
I understood it was because Erin is the Supreme Protectress of the Ship's Server, and since both are located in the states, our time change takes precedence... in some mysterious, unknown way, of course.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Of course, the time hasn't actually changed yet here in the US, since the gummint, in its inifinite wisdom, decided to extend DST.

My computer, like the ship's server, wasn't informed of that fact.
 
Posted by Stumbling Pilgrim (# 7637) on :
 
Can anybody tell me why my computer keeps trying to install Flash Player every time I log on to the Ship? It's not doing it with any other sites, and it's only started doing it tonight - has the Ship been tweaked so that I need it? If not, how can I stop it happening? Excuse my ignorance, but I'm mightily confused and a little concerned [Confused]
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
You actually log off the Ship? Wow. What a concept.
 
Posted by Stumbling Pilgrim (# 7637) on :
 
Well, when I say log off, what I mean is, I occasionally visit other sites - and sometimes I even close down Explorer altogether [Eek!] (it's because hubby has an irritating habit of wanting to use the computer sometimes) Since yesterday Vista has taken to telling me it wants to install Flash Player every time I come to the Ship, which is especially confusing because I thought I had Flash Player anyway!
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Stumbling Pilgrim:
Vista

I think I see where your problem probably resides.
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
I just brought my computer home from the hospital and have re-logged onto the Ship. Everything's fine except I no longer have the "Click here for new posts" thingy. Is it my computer or is it the Ship?
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
I shut down and then came back to the Ship -- it's there again!
 
Posted by Melangell (# 4023) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Stumbling Pilgrim:
Can anybody tell me why my computer keeps trying to install Flash Player every time I log on to the Ship? It's not doing it with any other sites, and it's only started doing it tonight - has the Ship been tweaked so that I need it? If not, how can I stop it happening? Excuse my ignorance, but I'm mightily confused and a little concerned [Confused]

Just back from shore leave to find I have the same problem as Stumbling Pilgrim; moreover, it takes an average of four minutes staring at a blank screen before I get the "do you want to install Adobe Flash Player?" message. Every other site I use regularly is working normally: [Help]
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
What happened yesterday?

When I tried to read the BBs, the "Board Home" page took about 30 sec. to load, and every page after that required at least 30 sec (and up to two minutes) of nothing happening to load.

If I tried to post, I received a "not responding, try again" reply after several minutes. When I did do that, the net result was that my post appeared twice.

I noticed that there were over 200 on the boards at that time, but I also note that now, while I am typing this, that my "explorer" bar at the bottom of the screen shows (1 item remaining)Downloading picture (from)tjbeckhouse.home.comcast.net.other(then something I can't see). And this at least four minutes into the download.

(I did click on "Stop" and the beckhouse thing disappeared)

Is there some sort of infiltration problem going on?
 
Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 
It's taking ages to download for me today, too.
I've had a couple of occasions like that recently. I have just been giving up and coming back later, or the next day.
It's frustrating
 
Posted by J Whitgift (# 1981) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Horseman Bree:
What happened yesterday?

When I tried to read the BBs, the "Board Home" page took about 30 sec. to load, and every page after that required at least 30 sec (and up to two minutes) of nothing happening to load.

If I tried to post, I received a "not responding, try again" reply after several minutes. When I did do that, the net result was that my post appeared twice.

We seem to be going very slow today, is there a problem with the Servers?? It's taking minutes, rather than seconds to load the boards this morning and multiple-duplicate posts seem to be appearing on some boards.

Pray for us O holy mother of God!
 
Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 
It's taking ages to download for me today, too.
I've had a couple of occasions like that recently. I have just been giving up and coming back later, or the next day.
It's frustrating [Frown]
 
Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 
Yesterday and today I've been having a big problem loading the bulletin board pages. [Frown] I'm sorry that others are having the same problem, but very glad that it's not just me. It took me over five minutes to get here.

Also, and I don't know if this is relevant to anything, or not, but yesterday I was posting some replies, and whole sections of sentences would disappear! [Eek!] (Preview post is really my friend!)

Any thoughts?
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
I'll ask pease to check in, but honestly, this software is ancient, it might be dying. I'll start checking into what our upgrade options are (no UBB, I think, because this particular application doesn't exist any more).
 
Posted by Ancient Mariner (# 4) on :
 
It's almost certainly happening because of national UK media coverage of the 12 Days of Kitschmas (BBC, Daily Telegraph et al). It quadrupled our page requests yesterday before the real rush began today.

We are looking into what can be done...

[Votive]
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
It's moving at normal speed now - but it will be interesting to see how quickly this posts.
 
Posted by pease (# 6) on :
 
It was indeed because of Kitschmas...

I've implemented a workaround to ease the pressure.
 
Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by pease:
It was indeed because of Kitschmas...

I've implemented a workaround to ease the pressure.

Thanks, pease. Your work is greatly appreciated.

[Overused] [Overused] [Overused] [Overused] [Overused] [Overused] [Overused]

Moo
 
Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 
My twin messages above, were the result of two attempts at posting this morning. As far as I was aware I had abandoned the venture without getting a result - obviously everything comes to (s)he who waits!
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
Thank you for your efforts for us.

The least I can do is go to the Organ Fund (my memory having been jogged by this!)

Virtual choclates available, if they don't melt down in the stokehold!
 
Posted by Ancient Mariner (# 4) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Horseman Bree:
Thank you for your efforts for us.

The least I can do is go to the Organ Fund (my memory having been jogged by this!)


Very much appreciated, HB.
 
Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 
Many thanks, pease! Everything seems nice and smooth right now. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Many thanks for the fix. Two nights ago (Australian time) it was slow and last night was impossible to access. Pages took over 5 minutes to load.

However, if others are also reading, then that's a good thing.

Thanks again.
 
Posted by Foolhearty (# 6196) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Melangell:
quote:
Originally posted by Stumbling Pilgrim:
Can anybody tell me why my computer keeps trying to install Flash Player every time I log on to the Ship? It's not doing it with any other sites, and it's only started doing it tonight - has the Ship been tweaked so that I need it? If not, how can I stop it happening? Excuse my ignorance, but I'm mightily confused and a little concerned [Confused]

Just back from shore leave to find I have the same problem as Stumbling Pilgrim; moreover, it takes an average of four minutes staring at a blank screen before I get the "do you want to install Adobe Flash Player?" message. Every other site I use regularly is working normally: [Help]
Yes, this is exactly what I continue to experience -- the long wait. followed by the "Install Flash Player" message.

While I appreciate pease's fix for the other problem above, this appears to be a separate issue, as I just got the msg again.

Any suggestions?
 
Posted by Melangell (# 4023) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Foolhearty:
quote:
Originally posted by Melangell:
quote:
Originally posted by Stumbling Pilgrim:
Can anybody tell me why my computer keeps trying to install Flash Player every time I log on to the Ship? It's not doing it with any other sites, and it's only started doing it tonight - has the Ship been tweaked so that I need it? If not, how can I stop it happening? Excuse my ignorance, but I'm mightily confused and a little concerned [Confused]

Just back from shore leave to find I have the same problem as Stumbling Pilgrim; moreover, it takes an average of four minutes staring at a blank screen before I get the "do you want to install Adobe Flash Player?" message. Every other site I use regularly is working normally: [Help]
Yes, this is exactly what I continue to experience -- the long wait. followed by the "Install Flash Player" message.

While I appreciate pease's fix for the other problem above, this appears to be a separate issue, as I just got the msg again.

Any suggestions?

As of last night, this problem seems to have been fixed - thank you very much! [Smile]
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
In post #11 of the "Back to Basics" thread in Purg, I tired to set up a url link, which appeared in "non-link" form.

How do I do other than my usual use of the URL button?
 
Posted by OliviaG (# 9881) on :
 
Hmm. I may have experienced the same problem, but assumed at the time it was either operator error or a bad character in the URL. OliviaG
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
Maybe the apostrophe in "Pascal's" ?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Almost certainly the apostrophe. The software here objects to having odd characters (apostrophes, % and a few other punctuation marks)in URLs. Wikipedia seems to use them quite a lot.

Your best bet in working around the deficiency in the software is to put the URL in something like tinyURL and then use the address that generates.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
Thank you.

I'm sure the problem has been mentioned before, but I don't read Tech support pages just for fun!

(which may be a sidelight to the issue of the "but we discussed that two years ago" grumble that occurs every so often. The response is "But I wasn't there and I don't know how to find it")

Thanks again.

J
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
A while back I sent a cheque plus a link for an avatar picture - I was just wondering when it might appear, as I have heard nothing since. Could someone tell me how this works please?
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
You wait a while and then PM Simon to confirm that he received the request (and the check!).
 
Posted by Martin L (# 11804) on :
 
Apologies to the hosts if I'm posting this in the wrong spot, but I wonder if someone here knows the solution to this issue:

I receive the podcasts from S. Clement Philadelphia, and I keep the music listings for each liturgy in the "Lyrics" section of my iPod. However, S. Clement's has a default info section that appears to promote their website and overrides the lyrics display. Thus, I can view the music titles when I'm on the computer, but I can't when I'm viewing my iPod.

Is there any way to eliminate the default "Visit our website"? (Obviously, if I'm receiving their podcasts, I already know about their website. I would rather know who composed the beautiful music while I am listening to it.)
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Martin L:
Apologies to the hosts if I'm posting this in the wrong spot, but I wonder if someone here knows the solution to this issue:

I receive the podcasts from S. Clement Philadelphia, and I keep the music listings for each liturgy in the "Lyrics" section of my iPod. However, S. Clement's has a default info section that appears to promote their website and overrides the lyrics display. Thus, I can view the music titles when I'm on the computer, but I can't when I'm viewing my iPod.

Is there any way to eliminate the default "Visit our website"? (Obviously, if I'm receiving their podcasts, I already know about their website. I would rather know who composed the beautiful music while I am listening to it.)

This thread is for Ship related techinical questions only.

You try IPod help or get in touch with S Clements as you may not be the only person with this problem and they may be able to help.

Tubbs
Member Admin
 
Posted by Martin L (# 11804) on :
 
Thanks Tubbs. I rarely make it here to The Styx, and then I mess it up somehow. Sorry to all for the inconvenience.
 
Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Erin:
I'll ask pease to check in, but honestly, this software is ancient, it might be dying. I'll start checking into what our upgrade options are (no UBB, I think, because this particular application doesn't exist any more).

PHPBB 3 is now out. You may want to look into that if you're after a new bulletin board.

(Fear nothing from the security problem rumours that abound the web. They're almost always caused by people installing hacks, which I know you don't do, or not keeping up with security updates. Aside from that, PHPBB 3 is almost entirely new code with nothing much carried over from version 2.)

Amorya
 
Posted by Melon (# 4038) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Amorya:
Fear nothing from the security problem rumours that abound the web.

Having run phpBB2 on Church of Fools for a while, Pease and I would need a lot of convincing to even consider installing anything written in PHP ever again. Even well-written PHP is a disaster waiting to happen on a virtually-hosted site, and phpBB2 didn't qualify as 'well-written' by a long chalk.
 
Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Melon:
quote:
Originally posted by Amorya:
Fear nothing from the security problem rumours that abound the web.

Having run phpBB2 on Church of Fools for a while, Pease and I would need a lot of convincing to even consider installing anything written in PHP ever again. Even well-written PHP is a disaster waiting to happen on a virtually-hosted site, and phpBB2 didn't qualify as 'well-written' by a long chalk.
I completely disagree. Obviously badly written PHP is undesirable but there's no reason to write off the whole language because of some people's inability to use it. Why is well written PHP a disaster waiting to happen?

This probably isn't the place to go into this argument. I will say that if we're going for anecdotal evidence, I've been running sites based on PHPBB2 for many years, and found it lovely to work with.

Amorya
 
Posted by Melon (# 4038) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Amorya:
Why is well written PHP a disaster waiting to happen?

No suEXEC, which means, according to one source
quote:
Because all scripts running on a machine run as the same user, a file that one script creates can be read by another, regardless of which user wrote the script. All a script needs to know to read a file is the name of that file. There is no way to change this, so the best solution is not to use files.
AFAIC, any programming language that can't use files safely is fit for nothing more than personal home pages, which, of course, is what PHP originally stood for.

I haven't looked at phpBB3, but phpBB2 was a terribly-written system on every possible level, and we had to write our own patches for several exploits in the short time we were running it.
 
Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Melon:
quote:
Originally posted by Amorya:
Why is well written PHP a disaster waiting to happen?

No suEXEC
The only shared host I use seems to manage OK:

http://amorya.uwcs.co.uk/test.php

The above script is simply

code:
system("whoami");

Dunno how they did it. I could find out for you if needed.

Amorya
 
Posted by Melon (# 4038) on :
 
Oh you can do it, you just can't make any files created by any php script on a virtually hosted server secure, as the above quote explained. By contrast, with virtually-hosted CGI, each website runs as a different unix user, which gives you OS-level protection between sites.

You can run php in cgi mode, but I've never seen anyone do it.
 
Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Melon:
Oh you can do it, you just can't make any files created by any php script on a virtually hosted server secure, as the above quote explained.

The quote was wrong.

Since the host I gave the example on executes my PHP scripts under my user, I can't use scripts to read anyone else's files. Neither can they read my files. I thought my demo example made that clear; perhaps I should have explained better.

If multiple users on a virtual host can read each other's files, I'd say that's an error in the setup of the server.

Amorya
 
Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
I'm experiencing technical difficulties. The last few days, I've had problems with pages opening -- not so much when I click on the thread title, but (for example) when I try to open Page 8 on a multi-page thread. Also, I've tried more than once to post a reply using the Quote function, and the blasted page won't load. I get a white screen that just sits there.

I suspect this is a problem with my ISP, but since I'm a real rookie on matters technical, I thought I'd ask here. Any help appreciated. Thanks.
 
Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Correction to the above: It isn't a totally white screen. I get the Ship of Fools bulletin boards header and the blue panel down the side. It's the "innards" that are all blank.
 
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :
 
I am accessing the site from a religious study centre, interestingly when I try to click on the Hell board I get the error message:

"the page exceeds the wieghted phrase limit"

It then has an offical blurb saying the site is deemed inappropriate and I should contact the admin staff if I wish to discuss this. Has anyone ome across this form of particularly tailored censorship before ? Access to the rest of the boards seems to be fine.
 
Posted by Gort (# 6855) on :
 
The Hell front page displays (in no particular order) the words: hell, arse, castration, rapist, murderer, vomiting, batshit, tweakers, fucking and fuck you. I suspect most library filters stumble over some of these; especially those of the religous variety.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Does "something" happen just before 16:00 GMT each day? MadGeo on his "Visit to Paris" thread in The Circus mentions this and I noticed it too. I'm sure it has happpened on other days at this time.

Is it The Ship, The Ship's ISP or my imagination?
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
When I click on 'Next' at the bottom of a thread it usually takes me to the next thread. Sometimes it takes me to the previous thread. At other times it skips a thread. I've watched, and it isn't because the order of threads changes. Not a serious problem, just one of those odd quirks -- does it happen to anyone else?
 
Posted by Bacchus (# 11408) on :
 
How do I move a YouTube item that was Emailed to me to the "Favorite YouTube Moments" thread in the Circus?
 
Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
Short answer - put the YouTube URL into a reply on the relevant thread.

Long answer - step by step

Get copy the YouTube web address (URL) from the email.
Go to the end of the Circus thread and click the Post Reply button.

Type any text you want to into the Message space.

Click the URL button (you may need to scroll down to see this).

Paste the YouTube address into the first box it presents (be careful not to have 'http://' appearing twice) and click OK.

Type any suitable descriptive text into the second box it presents and click OK.

Use Preview Post to check your message. Once you are satisfied with it click Add Reply

Voila! you are done.

HTH
 
Posted by Bacchus (# 11408) on :
 
Thank you! I'll save these instructions forever.
 
Posted by Faust (# 13456) on :
 
Could someone please explain why the post edit window is so fantastically short on this forum? Is there a particular reason that I'm too thick to understand? Blink, and you miss it!
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Because some people thought it would be 'fun' to bugger around editing their posts, even deleting them, after they were responded to. Besides, with Preview Post (which is your friend) there shouldn't be any need to edit a post.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Here's a technical question that just occurred to me:

If I make a link to the "My profile" (the one in blue in the upper right corner of most pages) in a post, will it default to My profile or to the profile of whoever is reading the post?

I had always assumed the latter, but never much thought about it until I went to do it, and there's no way to test it oneself without having a sockpuppet.
 
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
Having a shippie husband works as well as a sockpuppet (and it's probably much safer to admit in the Styx that you have one [Biased] . I can confirm that it links to the profile of whoever is clicking the link.

[edited to clarify]

[ 02. March 2008, 21:40: Message edited by: Gwai ]
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Thanks, Gwai!
 
Posted by Mama Thomas (# 10170) on :
 
For about a week my Boards Home link on the left side of the screen hasn't been working. Just me or what?

thanks
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
I've just tried it, and it works for me.

I usually use the "Ship of Fools" link at the top of the boards page (just to the left of the '>>' and the list of which section, board and thread you're on).
 
Posted by JennyAnn (# 3131) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Mama Thomas:
For about a week my Boards Home link on the left side of the screen hasn't been working. Just me or what?

thanks

Its like that for me in IE6 but no other browser.

Jen

[ 12. March 2008, 13:18: Message edited by: JennyAnn ]
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Works for me on both Firefox and IE6.
 
Posted by Mama Thomas (# 10170) on :
 
That whole grey panel doesn't work for me anymore. Will ask our computer guy.

Thanks,

Mama T
 
Posted by bbio (# 13236) on :
 
OK, new here so posted this query on wrong thread probably.

trying again.

When I try to get into the cafe (firefox user) i get

IO Error (java.net.ConnectException: Connection timed out: connect)
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : socketConnect at line -2
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : doConnect at line -1
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : connectToAddress at line -1
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : connect at line -1
java.net.SocksSocketImpl : connect at line -1
java.net.Socket : connect at line -1
java.net.Socket : connect at line -1
java.net.Socket : <init> at line -1
java.net.Socket : <init> at line -1
uk.co.darkgreenmedia.faverolle.SocketComms : run at line 97
java.lang.Thread : run at line -1

I cant use internet explorer as it seems to think i have more than 1 java running - even tho i have not.

Any idea what I can do about either problem?

thank-you
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by bbio:
OK, new here so posted this query on wrong thread probably.

trying again.

When I try to get into the cafe (firefox user) i get

IO Error (java.net.ConnectException: Connection timed out: connect)
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : socketConnect at line -2
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : doConnect at line -1
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : connectToAddress at line -1
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : connect at line -1
java.net.SocksSocketImpl : connect at line -1
java.net.Socket : connect at line -1
java.net.Socket : connect at line -1
java.net.Socket : <init> at line -1
java.net.Socket : <init> at line -1
uk.co.darkgreenmedia.faverolle.SocketComms : run at line 97
java.lang.Thread : run at line -1

I cant use internet explorer as it seems to think i have more than 1 java running - even tho i have not.

Any idea what I can do about either problem?

thank-you

Nope, the cafe thread is the right place for this kind of technical problem. This thread is for other Ship related technical issues.

Tubbs
Styx Host
 
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
Over the past week or two, I've frequently had the Ship timeout before responding while I'm trying to read or post to the Bulletin Boards. A few minutes later it will be fine again. Anyone else have this? Anything going on behind the scenes that might be causing it?
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
Moved from another thread:

quote:
Originally posted by TomOfTarsus:
Hey, all.

It's been a while since I posted (been terribly busy). But I thought I'd drop by, a naturally had to try and stick my 2 pence in somewhere! [Hot and Hormonal]

I used to be able to login and stay logged in for weeks at a time. But now, all I can do is log in message by message.

During my non-posting interval, we started using an actual newtork with Windows Small Business Server 2003. However, my persistant login capabilities seem to be ok on other boards, so I don't think my cookies are over-restriced or anything like that. Can you have a look on your end and see if there's anything we can do?

Thanks, and blessings,

Tom

Tubbs
 
Posted by TomOfTarsus (# 3053) on :
 
Thank you, Tubbs, I hadn't seen the tech support thread...

I have at least a clue. I can't login with Internet Explorer 6, but I can with the latest Firefox, fom which I am typing this. Under IE6, I was seeing "ccokie text" code at the top of the page when I attempted to login. I could only login message by message.
 
Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
My visited links aren't going blue. I'm going to be wasting an awful lot more time than normal here ...

Is this me or the Ship?
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Drifting Star:
My visited links aren't going blue. I'm going to be wasting an awful lot more time than normal here ...

Is this me or the Ship?

This should be sorted out soon.

Tubbs
 
Posted by The Wanderer (# 182) on :
 
The new layout is working very well for me - but I still can't get into the Cafe. I click on the link, enter my username (which isn't Wanderer IIRC) and password, and nothing else happens. Where am I going wrong?
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by The Wanderer:
The new layout is working very well for me - but I still can't get into the Cafe. I click on the link, enter my username (which isn't Wanderer IIRC) and password, and nothing else happens. Where am I going wrong?

I've cut and pasted your question onto the cafe thread. That way, Melon et al are more likely to see and respond to it.

Tubbs
Styx Host
 
Posted by The Wanderer (# 182) on :
 
Many thanks - I'll check there.
 
Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Something is odd with login cookies on my machine. I cannot leave the board logged in. Well I say I can't but sometimes I can! Sometimes just by clicking on the login I suddenly become logged in.

what is more annoying is that I cannot get to a private board I am on regularly because of this. I have allowed cookies in my security from both forum.shipoffools.com and forum.ship-of-fools.com so I am somewhat puzzled.

Jengie
 
Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Something is odd with login cookies on my machine. I cannot leave the board logged in. Well I say I can't but sometimes I can! Sometimes just by clicking on the login I suddenly become logged in.

what is more annoying is that I cannot get to a private board I am on regularly because of this. I have allowed cookies in my security from both forum.shipoffools.com and forum.ship-of-fools.com so I am somewhat puzzled.

Jengie
 
Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Ignore previous post I have sorted it!

Jengie
 
Posted by Love the You you hide (# 12249) on :
 
I can't get into private boards anymore... what am I doing wrong please? [Ultra confused]
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Love the You you hide:
I can't get into private boards anymore... what am I doing wrong please? [Ultra confused]

Should be okay now.

Tubbs
Styx Host
 
Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
On the "dead space" thread there's lots of talk about having to scroll to the right and back to read threads. My problem is the opposite - on the right there is about 3" of grey dead space, which is the only thing that is really irritating me about the new look of the boards. Is there any way (preferably explained in words of not many syllables) that I can widen the middle bit where the boards (and ads at the side) are, so that I can lose at least 2" of the grey dead space at the right of the screen?
 
Posted by Gracious rebel (# 3523) on :
 
Jack, this was also discussed on the other thread. The answer to your question seems to be 'no', as the boards now use a fixed width display. My set up is like yours, with about 3" of grey on the right hand side. The only suggestion seems to be to resize the window so that it doesn't take up the full width of your screen, if you don't want to see the grey background.
 
Posted by Lolly (# 13347) on :
 
I'm a little confused about posting pictures on the board. This statement is in our profiles. "...pictures must be contained on your own webspace. Linking to pictures on third party websites makes the baby Jesus cry."

This sounds like Photobucket is a third party website and would not be allowed. If this is true, what would be an appropriate website that you could link to?

Or, does it just mean that you must be linked into your own account? Thank you for any clarification you can provide.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
A photohosting site (photobucket, flikr etc) would count as your own webspace. You have an account there to host your own pictures.

Linking to a photo elsewhere has two major potential problems. One is that you're not in control of the site, so the picture may be changed or removed without your knowledge. Second, if it's not your site then it's likely it's not your photograph, therefore there are issues of copyright to be considered.
 
Posted by Lolly (# 13347) on :
 
Thank you for the clarification and the explanation, Alan C.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
I want to change my e-mail address back to the one I originally used, but when I try to edit my profile, I'm told that I can't have that e-mail address because "Someone else has already registered with that email address.".

Well, d'uh, that someone else was ME.

Is this something that certain adminly powers can fix or shall I simply pursue Plan C?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
It'll be a variation of the system memory of users that prevented people from changing their display name back to something they'd already used. It'll need to wait until the system has forgotten.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
It's been at least three or four years!
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Was it the email address you used for the Nativity Play?
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
My ISP's DNS server crashed earlier today. It's back up now, but I can't browse the Ship from it. I can view the boards but not threads and I can't post (I'm using my backup ISP to post this). I get continually stuck on the "loading adserver" page and the ads don't load. Has anyone else had this problem and/or does anyone know how to fix it?
 
Posted by Melon (# 4038) on :
 
I get the ads without any problems - in fact I don't think I've ever seen the new Ship site so responsive.
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Melon, when Eutychus was having problems this morning, the board was randomly speeding up and slowing down for me too. Not sure that's any help. I didn't have any problem loading up or the ads appearing, but I did have a very slow response to preview post, like loading a pdf. Then it sped up again and was fine. I checked and there were a lot of people on board and 77 lurkers at the time.
 
Posted by East Price Road (# 13846) on :
 
As a newish shipmate I'm still learning how to use this site. Old hands may know why this happens, but several times when I've done a search for something on the site, I'm told that the results displayed "do not exist". If they don't exist, why are they displayed? [Help]
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
They did exist and have been moved to Limbo or Oblivion. Good luck with finding anything in Oblivion. It's arranged by date of last post on the thread.
 
Posted by East Price Road (# 13846) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Curiosity killed ...:
They did exist and have been moved to Limbo or Oblivion. Good luck with finding anything in Oblivion. It's arranged by date of last post on the thread.

Thanks - I did find what I was looking for in Oblivion, and I even found I could use the search facility in there. It's a bit misleading to have the instruction "does not exist" - I nearly gave up!
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
This morning, I made a post. Then I noticed another post on the same thread that I wanted to reply to, so I attempted to do so in an edit rather than double posting.

The time available for editing had expired.

"Ah well", thought I, "I'll put it into a new post."

Flood control stopped me.

My question is this: if the edit time and flood control are both set at two minutes, why did this happen [Confused] ? It's not a big thing or even a complaint, I'm just curious.

If I've missed something really obvious (like an announcement that the edit time has been reduced to one minute, or the fact that attempting to edit resets the flood control time), please feel free to point and laugh.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
I'm not certain, but it's entirely possible that the flood control timer is reset with an attempt to edit. It would seem a strange thing to do (I can understand why you might want to set flood control based on an actual edit), but possible.

Or, it could just be one of those strange bizarre undocumented features of the software.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
HELP! HELP! HELP!

After spending about an hour this morning trying to find a post I put in last night, and being unable to find it in the thread it's supposed to be in, and not being quick at this sort of thing, I suddenly remembered that I could look up in 'my posts'.....where I discovered I'd posted it in the wrong thread. I will copy it and post it in the right place, but could you please delete it from 'What keeps you going?' where it is {#48{

My sincere apologies. What I had done was copy and paste various quotes on an e-mail so that I could write the whole thing and then copy and paste it back. I spent ages on it as it was very interesting.

Oh dear, oh dear!! And I hope the above makes sense.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
I'd posted it in the wrong thread. I will copy it and post it in the right place, but could you please delete it from 'What keeps you going?' where it is {#48{

You're not the first, and probably won't be the last, to make that mistake. Go ahead and copy it onto the right thread. However, as it's generated responses and discussion on the "What keeps you going?" thread it would create a bigger mess deleting it now than leaving it there.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
Oh, dear x 6 or so!
So...I copied the quotes and text, put it into a 'Post reply' box on the right thread (Atheism a religion ..' but the quotes didn't come out!. Can I give up and go and sit and cry quietly in the corner?! [Waterworks] [Waterworks]
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
Just seen your response - thank you very much and it really cheered me up and made me laugh!! Okay, back to the boards. If I get stuck trying to copy it into the right place, can I come back with another 'Help, help' post, please?!
 
Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Is there any reason why, if one has "notify me of PMs by e-mail" checked in one's Profile, that notification would suddenly stop? I ask because I noticed Jahlove's question on the "Ancient Geek" thread in Heaven. The same thing happened to me in the past week, although I've not made any software or hardware changes as Jahlove had.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
One possibility is that they're being classed as spam and hence getting blocked. If your spam filter has the option to mark suspect emails as spam and deliver them anyway you can check what's being excluded (though, if it's excluding 100s of offers for penis extensions everyday you may not want to keep that setting for long!).
 
Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
I do check my spam filter every few days and I'm pretty sure I didn't see one from the Ship. (I usually have only a few, and many of them have been in German lately, for reasons which escape me.)
 
Posted by Jahlove (# 10290) on :
 
The ship pms are definitely not being marked as spam by my mail provider either.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
OK, the spam filter was the first thing that came to mind that could stop emails from the Ship getting to your intray.

Infact, the only thing I could think of. I know the Ship still sends those notifications because I get them. I'm assuming that you have the send notification option checked in your profile.
 
Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
A few times today when loging on to the Ship (but no other website)m I have received the helpful cryptic message
quote:
Access Denied (license_expired)

A license has expired on the Proxy, and your request is not permitted: "The SGOS license has expired" A new license must be obtained.
For assistance, contact your network support team.


Great: what licesne fee have I failed to pay, who are my "network support team", and what for that matter is a poxy proxy?
 
Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
There must be more to the message than that.

Where is the message appearing? Is it on a web page, or inside the web browser as a pop-up not on a page? Or is it a pop-up on your comouter screen but outside the browser?

If it is itself a web page, what is its URL?

Does it come after typing in the SHip password or before? Or at some other time?

What page do you see after the message?

What web browser are you using?

Where are you logging on from?


NB a proxy is a webserver between you and the Internet, so you ask for a page from that server, and it goes and asks for the same page from the next server. There are loads of reasons there might be one - the most common are employers trying to control employee web use, or as one ba way of reducing the number of separate IP addresses needed on a network.

[ 10. September 2008, 14:54: Message edited by: ken ]
 
Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
FWIW SGOS is an operating system used by a company called Bluecoat who do make proxy servers among other things, and a couple of largish ISPs in New Zealand use them - so the first point of call is whoever is providing your IP connection.
 
Posted by Organ Builder (# 12478) on :
 
In this post I discovered Ken's closing parenthesis had taken its own line in the quote. I edited it twice, and both times the preview told me the problem was fixed. Then it showed up looking like crap. Is this just one of those Eternal Mysteries?
 
Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by ken:
There must be more to the message than that.

Where is the message appearing? Is it on a web page, or inside the web browser as a pop-up not on a page? Or is it a pop-up on your computer screen but outside the browser?

If it is itself a web page, what is its URL?

Does it come after typing in the SHip password or before? Or at some other time?

What page do you see after the message?

What web browser are you using?

Where are you logging on from?

NB a proxy is a webserver between you and the Internet, so you ask for a page from that server, and it goes and asks for the same page from the next server. There are loads of reasons there might be one - the most common are employers trying to control employee web use, or as one ba way of reducing the number of separate IP addresses needed on a network.

Holey moley - I dunno! It came up as on big white screen when I clicked the "Ship of Fools" tag on the toolbar near the top of the screen. I didn't knotice a URL (is that the address thingy?). I don't type in a password I just click the tab. The next page I saw (when clicking on a different tab) was Facebook - but don't tell anyone. [Paranoid] I use Mozilla Firefox and I log on at home. I noticed that the same thing happened when I used kuru's computer, attached though to the same Router.

But it hasn't appeared again. So far.
 
Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by ken:
FWIW SGOS is an operating system used by a company called Bluecoat who do make proxy servers among other things, and a couple of largish ISPs in New Zealand use them - so the first point of call is whoever is providing your IP connection.

Cool, thanks. My ISP are so bloody slow to answer phones I can't be bothered. Seems okay now anyway.
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Mamacita:
Is there any reason why, if one has "notify me of PMs by e-mail" checked in one's Profile, that notification would suddenly stop? I ask because I noticed Jahlove's question on the "Ancient Geek" thread in Heaven. The same thing happened to me in the past week, although I've not made any software or hardware changes as Jahlove had.

Yes, this has now just happened to me as well.
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
I want to change my e-mail (to my main one, that I check regularly) and my password (to one that I can easily remember, as opposed to the one I was assigned). Can I just go ahead and change these on my "update profile" page? It seems to me that there was something more complicated about changing them, and I certainly don't want to lose my log-in due to some careless mistake on my part.
 
Posted by Pants (# 999) on :
 
Having just changed my email addy on there and been confused and had to ask a host, I can butt in and answer this!

When you change your email addy it logs you out and sends you an email with a new password. To get back into your own account you need to use this password. [And can then change it to whatever you want to.]

Sensible security!

[ 19. September 2008, 18:17: Message edited by: Pants ]
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
Thanks, Pants!
 
Posted by Lynn MagdalenCollege (# 10651) on :
 
I know I've read about how to procure an individual avatar and I've done a search on "avatar" here in Styx and the most likely threads no longer exist ("New Avatar" and "Custom Avatars and Titles") although the "Avatar Size" thread exists and references 1) Simon and 2) Babybear as having customized Duchess's avatar.

I was looking because I have, for the second time, been startled to find "my" avatar attached to someone else's name. First time, I changed my avatar to the current one. This time I've gone through the available choices and I'm not compelled by any of the choices (or rather, the ones I like are already in use by other shipmates) so I'm thinking maybe I'll get a unique avatar - but I can't find the "how to"...

Am I just being a weenie?

And, even if I am just being a weenie, can someone helpful either walk me through the steps or direct me to a post that describes the process? Thanks!
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Follow the link titled "Avatars" on the menu at the top of the page (between "Live Chat Cafe" and "FAQs". That'll tell you how to go about getting custom avatars and titles.
 
Posted by Lynn MagdalenCollege (# 10651) on :
 
[Roll Eyes]

Has that always been there, Alan?! *sheesh!*
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Since the redesign, at least. I think on the old layout it was called "Customisation" on the left hand menu bar. It's certainly be linked to as the "customisation page" on the main boards intro text for a long time.
 
Posted by Lynn MagdalenCollege (# 10651) on :
 
I'll chalk it up to selective blindness... *thank you* [Hot and Hormonal]
 
Posted by Zeke (# 3271) on :
 
How do you know what number post something is? Other people mention this sometimes, but I don't have any number anywhere.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
If you're using IE, point your mouse at either the "little bit of paper" icon to the left of the date above each post, or on the "reply with quote" icon then you'll see the corresponding URL in the status toolbar at the bottom of the browser window. It'll be of the form (for the OP of this thread):
code:
http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?
ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=000268;p=1#000000

for the lefthand icon or
code:
 http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?
ubb=reply;f=5;t=000268;replyto=000000

for the reply with quote.

That last 6 digit number is the post number.

Whether you'll see anything similar with other browsers someone who uses other browsers will have to say.

[ 15. October 2008, 06:19: Message edited by: Alan Cresswell ]
 
Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
The same thing works for Firefox 3.
 
Posted by Zeke (# 3271) on :
 
does anybody have Safari?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
I just remembered we do have Safari installed on this computer. I just don't use it.

With Safari, the status bar as "Go to #xxxxxx on this page" for the little bit of paper icon, and "Go to "followed by the reply with quote URL. Though, the status bar wasn't visible by default when I launched Safari.
 
Posted by Zeke (# 3271) on :
 
When I hit the little paper nothing happens. Rats.
 
Posted by Lynn MagdalenCollege (# 10651) on :
 
I need to right click it (left does nothing) and then I get the drop down menu... or did you already try right clicking?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
If you have the status bar visible (which I didn't when I started Safari so it may be invisible by default) you don't need to click anything. The URL appears in the text of the status bar (right at the bottom of the browser window) ... the purpose of the status window is (among other things) to allow you to view a URL before you click.
 
Posted by Zeke (# 3271) on :
 
I only have one click not two. Also there doesn't seem to be a status bar. I'm going to give up for the time being--it doesn't seem worth the trouble.
 
Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
To get the Status Bar to show select the View menu from the menubar. The second item is Show (or Hide) Status Bar. The Status Bar appears as a grey line at the bottom of your Safari window. Now if you move your pointer over any active link its URL is shown in the Status Bar.

On a single button mouse or a trackpad, Macs use Ctrl-click for a right-click, so to follow Lynn MagdalenCollege's suggestion you just need to hold down the Control key while you are clicking to see the drop down contextual menu.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
I just tried to post on the "No poppies"thread in Purg. There was a long pause, with no apparent action on my modem, so I "x"d it to "stop" any further action, saved my (brilliant!) reply for later, and went and did something else, since there seemed to be a hang-up on the Ship access.

When I came back, my post had appeared twice, having apparently hung around in never-never land for about ten minutes and then replicated itself.

Is this a common event? Is that what happens when other people are surprised that their post appears twice?
 
Posted by PrettyFly (# 13157) on :
 
Preview post is not being my friend. A few times when I've tried to use it today it just brings up a blank box... probably just a temporarary glitch, but thought I'd let it be known...
 
Posted by The Rogue (# 2275) on :
 
I've seen several double posts today where someone appears to have said the same thing twice and it's usually seasoned shipmates who probably know better than to hit the "Add reply" button more than once. Is something going on in cyber-space or is Simon feeding the meter too much?
 
Posted by The Rogue (# 2275) on :
 
I am resisting the temptation to cut, paste and post that again.
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
It happens when the boards go slow, and there was a while last night when the boards went really slow. Sometimes what you see after posting a reply is a long wait while everything stalls, including not being able to get back in, and unless you check that the post is there - out of edit time by this stage - the temptation is to click the post button again.

If it stalls, you've lost the edit time whatever happens.
 
Posted by Sir Pellinore (ret'd) (# 12163) on :
 
I appear to have 'lost' Via Media.

It's probably my fault. Apart from (mentally) abusing myself here, what can I do?
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sir Pellinore (ret'd):
I appear to have 'lost' Via Media.

It's probably my fault. Apart from (mentally) abusing myself here, what can I do?

I think you need to contact one of the VM hosts to get the log-in info.
 
Posted by Margaret (# 283) on :
 
Exactly! [Smile] Sir Pellinore, I've PMed you the link.
 
Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
Is it my imagination or did there used to be a 'jump to new posts' button? Cos I keep going to click it and hitting 'Printer Friendly View'.

Is it gone for good? I used to find it rather useful.
 
Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
On my screen the 'jump to new posts' arrow is on the left, and the 'printer-friendly view' is near the middle.

Moo

[ 14. December 2008, 23:51: Message edited by: Moo ]
 
Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
'Jump to new posts' has now returned.

On reflection, maybe it was a cache thing - I've had to log in to all my usual sites, a problem caused I think by antivirus software. So maybe it was just me.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
When I click in to the "Help! It's 1054 again" thread, the first post I see is Lyda Rose's at #72

I get this whether I click on the title or on the "1" page link.

Was there something about the first 71 posts that caused them to be erased? Did lightning stike? Is the Orthodox Plot somehow at fault?
 
Posted by Foaming Draught (# 9134) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Horseman Bree:
When I click in to the "Help! It's 1054 again" thread, the first post I see is Lyda Rose's at #72

So you do. It's all those prurient posts, someone's decided to do away with the foreplay.
 
Posted by geroff (# 3882) on :
 
I have spotted three threads where the first page is page Zero and the OP have disappeared - Help, its 1054, Help, its the 1970s and Admit It, You've missed me - all in Hell. I noticed this yesterday and pmed a Hell host - the 1970s thread returned to normal but its back today.
Is it gremlins or Pirates?
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by geroff:
I have spotted three threads where the first page is page Zero and the OP have disappeared - Help, its 1054, Help, its the 1970s and Admit It, You've missed me - all in Hell. I noticed this yesterday and pmed a Hell host - the 1970s thread returned to normal but its back today.
Is it gremlins or Pirates?

Dunno, but I think Pease and Erin are working on it and it should be fixed soon.

Tubbs
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by geroff:
I have spotted three threads where the first page is page Zero and the OP have disappeared - Help, its 1054, Help, its the 1970s and Admit It, You've missed me - all in Hell. I noticed this yesterday and pmed a Hell host - the 1970s thread returned to normal but its back today.
Is it gremlins or Pirates?

Dunno, but I think Pease and Erin are working on it and it should be fixed soon.

Tubbs
 
Posted by Major Disaster (# 13229) on :
 
I cannot preview my post at all. Nothing happens when I press the button. Is this a temporary or general fault, or is there something I can do to restore this facility to working order?
 
Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
"Preview Post" will not work for me unless I have first signed in, and then clicked either on the avatar of the person whose post I wish to answer, or else on their name in my "buddies" list in the Profile.

I use Firefox as a browser. If you use another browser, Preview Post may not work quite the same way.

Sometimes flood control prevents answering a post or pm right away, so then I save the reply to something like Microsoft Word, and wait. Then I attempt to reply again, pasting in what I've already written. While it's in Microsoft Word, before I paste it in, I can edit it so as not to need Preview Post.

M
 
Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
Meant to say that the clicks on the avatar or the name in the buddies list were for sending pms, rather than replies to a post. The reply button below the post is for replies to the post that will appear on the board itself.

However, in making these two replies, I noticed a rather lengthy delay in seeing the replies actually post, going through some sort of "transferring data" scripts, one having to do with "ad"something, and one having to do with "amazon.uk."! Once this posts, I will see what those transfer stages it goes through are--maybe net congestion is causing issues.

M
 
Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
Well, that time, the script stages did not appear below, so I don't know what is happening.

Sorry!

M
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Leetle Masha:
While it's in Microsoft Word, before I paste it in, I can edit it so as not to need Preview Post.

M

I sometimes use MSWord with longer posts, but if I'm using any UBB code, Preview Post is still a good idea.
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
I've been having the same problem occasionally with Firefox, also on other websites. Been wondering if it's a glitch in java script. Have tried a number of options there, but sometimes it works, and sometimes it don't.

A workaround, though a bit annoying, is to switch to evil Internet Explorer <gasp!> for the task. There's a neat IE tab add-on for Firefox that helps rather a lot.

Curious what the problem is really. Hmm... [Paranoid]
 
Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
Thank you, Wesley J, for that helpful link and information! I think the small ad scripts had to do with the attractive, unobtrusive ads that appear at the top righthand corner of the page and down the right-hand side of the page. Java had an update last week, I believe.

It certainly is true that Preview Post is a big help! Something I've learnt the hard way!

M
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
I attempted to post a response on the "women's right/abortion" thread and got hung up for several minutes with a sort of partial completion message. I was attempting to log in at the same time.

So I backed out, and attempted to log in first, which took two tries. Then the "Post a reply" box came up, so I copy/pasted my response and sent it in.

So it appears twice. This has happened a few times before.

Is this a problem with log-in combined with message, is it an overload of the input program or is it just one of those things?

And, would a host care to eliminate the second post, or does it matter?
 
Posted by Darllenwyr (# 14520) on :
 
Is there any way I can make adjustments to my public name? Whilst I can live with the fact that I have spelt it in the plural form, it has been brought to my attention that it is grammatically wrong and it is beginning to niggle. All I want to do it remove the offending 'y' (the title should be 'Darllenwr') ~ how can I do that? (Can I do that?)

Or could some kindly Admin do it for me?
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
No, not this instant.

Sometimes Erin allows name-change amnesty for a day, and reactivates the ability. She often gives some warning about when it might be.
 
Posted by Darllenwyr (# 14520) on :
 
OK, thanks.

Does this mean, as I suspect, that I am entirely at Erin's mercy on this one?

One hears stories ... [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Joyeux (# 3851) on :
 
D - We're all at Erin's mercy on this one. Any announcement about a name change amnesty (or similar title) would be in The Styx.
 
Posted by Alban (# 9047) on :
 
A quirk of the software means that Chorister's profile is nasty to her (this also applies to other members, particularly those with 9 letter names), see here for proof. Know not if anything can be done.
 
Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
You beasts [Waterworks] It's a conspiracy I tell you.

Although it doesn't show that on my profile - are you using an unusually narrow screen or an unusually large font?

My screen says:

Member ratings are not currently permitted on this message board because Chorister
we hate them


That would be much funnier if you substituted Pants name for mine [Big Grin]

[ 01. April 2009, 11:05: Message edited by: Chorister ]
 
Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
If it helps, Chorister, the software tells me that we hate Alban too.
 
Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
Well in that case I blame the Conficker worm. [Paranoid]
 
Posted by Phil the Bear (# 10464) on :
 
I've not been around here for a bit and thought I'd do a search to see if any of my favourite things had been discussed recently (or ever...) Problem is that the search function found a number of threads, supposedly current(ish) but when I clicked on the thread to read it I was then told "This thread no longer exists" - or words to that effect. I'm just guessing here - but I'd think that the search function actually searches and returns something it genuinely finds - given that's normal for a search function.

So, why then, can't I then access what it finds [Confused] It's VERY frustrating [Mad]
 
Posted by Viola (# 20) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Phil the Bear:
I've not been around here for a bit and thought I'd do a search to see if any of my favourite things had been discussed recently (or ever...) Problem is that the search function found a number of threads, supposedly current(ish) but when I clicked on the thread to read it I was then told "This thread no longer exists" - or words to that effect. I'm just guessing here - but I'd think that the search function actually searches and returns something it genuinely finds - given that's normal for a search function.

So, why then, can't I then access what it finds [Confused] It's VERY frustrating [Mad]

Because every so often, we have to go into the secret admin area and 'rebuild stats' or something like that. This reindexes the whole thing so that everything is where the search function thinks it is (as opposed to having been moved, closed, had its number changed due to other threads having been moved or closed etc...). The downside of doing this, is that it shuts the boards down whilst it's happening. And then people complain.

It's a fine balance - complain because the threads are inaccessible by the admittedly eccentric search facility, or complain because the boards are down when you want to do a bit of surfing in your tea break!

This is brought to you from an admin who doesn't understand what's going on back there, just which buttons to press!
 
Posted by Phil the Bear (# 10464) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Viola:
... every so often, we have to go into the secret admin area and 'rebuild stats' or something like that. This reindexes the whole thing so that everything is where the search function thinks it is (as opposed to having been moved, closed, had its number changed due to other threads having been moved or closed etc...). The downside of doing this, is that it shuts the boards down whilst it's happening. And then people complain.

Moi? Complain? Heaven forfend!

But, as I understand the gist of your reply, it's "give it a while, let the reindexing finish and all will be tickety-boo".

I look forward to it.

Thanks - and blessings upon you.
 
Posted by Phil the Bear (# 10464) on :
 
OK - I waited 24 hours (in which time even the slowest database ought to be able to re-index itself) but I'm still getting "You have requested a thread that does not exist!" when I click on the thread names that my search brings up. Because some of these threads are 'old' e.g. have dates in 2008 / 2007 I wondered if they might have been archived or moved.

What perplexes me is that, in order to give me an answer, it's likely that a search is actually being carried out and returning a correct thread - which is what I'd expect. I really wouldn't expect a complete index of all words in all postings to be continually refreshed (which would be a really OTT function).

So, if the search is finding the posts there's a very good chance that they are there. What seems to be missing is the ability to click through on the results to find them.

For example, I searched Heaven for 'benny hinn'. I got one result: "Nutty Bishops! (Reputedly)" dated 29 December, 2008. That's not a long time ago but it is before the currently first available posting which is dated 01 February 2009. Clicking on "Nutty Bishops! (Reputedly)" produced the error message.

A manual check of Dead Horses, Limbo, Oblivion... also turns up nothing, which inspires me to believe that the thread(s) I'm looking for are supposed to have been consigned somewhere - but haven't been. In turn, that will mean that you've got a database that's going to grow - and grow
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Phil the Bear:
I waited 24 hours (in which time even the slowest database ought to be able to re-index itself)

Perhaps this wasn't made clear: the re-indexing is initiated manually, and then not often due to the associated boards down-time.
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
What wasn't clear about the original post by Viola?

quote:
Originally posted by Viola:
Because every so often, we have to go into the secret admin area and 'rebuild stats' or something like that. This reindexes the whole thing so that everything is where the search function thinks it is (as opposed to having been moved, closed, had its number changed due to other threads having been moved or closed etc...). The downside of doing this, is that it shuts the boards down whilst it's happening. And then people complain.

It's a fine balance - complain because the threads are inaccessible by the admittedly eccentric search facility, or complain because the boards are down when you want to do a bit of surfing in your tea break!

my emboldening.

The thing Phil the Bear might have missed is that this is an international board, and time differences being what they are, somewhere in the world, it's always someone's tea break. (Before Phil the Bear comes back and suggests doing this overnight - whose overnight would you plan on using?)
 
Posted by Phil the Bear (# 10464) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Curiosity killed ...:

The thing Phil the Bear might have missed is that this is an international board, and time differences being what they are, somewhere in the world, it's always someone's tea break. (Before Phil the Bear comes back and suggests doing this overnight - whose overnight would you plan on using?)

Mine (obviously) [Smile]

But, to be honest, I'm still at a loss. Even if re-indexing is started manually the fact remains that over 24 hours after trying a search I still wasn't getting back the right answer. In fact - I've just tried again - and still no luck. I cannot believe that it takes that long to re-index. (I once investigated a database that had a similar problem but it did have 7 years worth of data and some 500,000 items added per month. That only took about 6 hours to straighten out and it had a ridiculously high number of keys.)

What is obvious is that the thread I'm looking for isn't in the 'current' section of the forum - but it doesn't seem to be anywhere else either.
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Phil, what you are missing is that the boards have to be shut to reindex.
 
Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
And therefore the powers-that-be don't do it on a very frequent basis. They don't want to hear us yammer more than we already do. Which seems reasonable to me.

In short, for the search feature to work as you want it to, you'll have to wait until after the next time the boards are shut down.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Phil the Bear:
Even if re-indexing is started manually the fact remains that over 24 hours after trying a search I still wasn't getting back the right answer.

...because in that particular 24 hour period, nobody with access to the Re-Index Button felt compelled to push it. Still haven't, I'm willing to bet - due to the lack of posts saying OH MY GOD THE SHIP WAS DOWN!

Try searching with Google instead.

[ 08. April 2009, 14:12: Message edited by: RooK ]
 
Posted by Phil the Bear (# 10464) on :
 
Forgive me, I pray, for trying to get this right but as an IT professional with some 40 years experience I'm completely bemused by the answers.

One step at a time. A post is made in a thread. It is indexed. A search will find it. (Simple)

At some point that thread is closed. (No problem - doesn't affect the posts or the indices).

At some other later point that thread is then moved from its original section of the forum to another (e.g.Heaven to Oblivion). And it's at this point that in most databases that the 'old' thread and its original indices get dropped and the 'new' thread gets inserted into the database. This latter operation should, automatically, cause a new index to be created.

Re-indexing, generally, is only required when a database's indexing gets very convoluted. Normally the index is destroyed and a whole new one is created. And, yes, that would normally require the shutting down of the database. (Although newer databases allow for reindexing without shutting down).

What's confusing me is that there seems to be some kind of hybrid activity going on where the original posts have been removed from one area and put into another without affecting the existing indices. The only databases I've ever met that do something like that ceased to exist about 20 years ago. Surely the technology here is a little more advanced?
 
Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
According to the UBB.Classic™ Administrator's Guide (PDF link)
quote:
UBB.classic™ uses a series of files ("metadata" files) to store frequently requested data about members and topics within a forum. From time to time, the information stored in these files may drift out of sync, resulting in occasional errors.
AIUI the moving of threads generally and/or when Oblivion was created has generated/does generate such a drift. The remedy apparently is
quote:
To rebuild the metadata files, click Rebuild & Reindex...
This same mechanism can be used to rebuild the search index ...

I guess that is why some things now simply don't show up in when the search function is used, and will not do so until the board's next temporary suspension. UBB.Classic™ 6.5.0 is 6 years old now and, I guess, may owe quite a bit to older data handling practices/capabilities.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Phil the Bear:
Surely the technology here is a little more advanced?

Ha ha ha! This board software is the internet equivalent of Methuselah.
 
Posted by Phil the Bear (# 10464) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by RooK:
quote:
Originally posted by Phil the Bear:
Surely the technology here is a little more advanced?

Ha ha ha! This board software is the internet equivalent of Methuselah.
In that case I shall possess my soul in patience. Thanks.
 
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
Hi,

This should be directed to a particular someone, but I'm not sure who. Pease maybe? I am loath to PM it to someone who may be the wrong person and may be not around anyway, so I'll start here:

A shipmate asked to have their picture deleted. I did so. Said shipmate asked me to delete the comments and I have tried but now that the picture is gone, I can't find anything on the ftp to use to delete the comments. Advice?

Thanks,
Gwai,
Photo Mistress
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:
Hi,

This should be directed to a particular someone, but I'm not sure who. Pease maybe? I am loath to PM it to someone who may be the wrong person and may be not around anyway, so I'll start here:

A shipmate asked to have their picture deleted. I did so. Said shipmate asked me to delete the comments and I have tried but now that the picture is gone, I can't find anything on the ftp to use to delete the comments. Advice?

Thanks,
Gwai,
Photo Mistress

Try Simon. He may know as it sounds like a website thing rather than an FTP thing.

Tubbs
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
I posted a reply on Belle Ringer's "Last Straw" thread. I'd glanced away while the two-step occurred, and when I looked back, my "New reply" window was still open. I thought that maybe I'd missed the button, and clicked again, but all I got was the flood control notice.

I found that my post had arrived safe and sound anyway, once I clicked on the thread ID in the "headline".

Is this a problem in my machine or is there a communication error somewhere? I've had several instances of very slow loading in the last few days. (Yes, I'm running IE8)
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
Adding a post to say that the same sort of thing happened again, on the "facial hair" thread, except this time, I got a double-post.

Is there some sort of communication error, or is it something I have to fix?
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
The boards have slowed down in the past few minutes and that's when double posting happens. If everything is running slow, I leave it and double check the thread (by opening another window to look) before clicking again to see if the post has gone through. If you get a flood control message you've undoubtedly posted it once.

Maybe there's maintenance going on somewhere to slow things down?
 
Posted by The Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
Just curious to know why the picture for the Mystery Worshipper link changes. for a while it seemed to be plate with napkin and bread on Firefox and wee white church on Safari, but today I've seen both on each site, so it seems to be random.
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
What page are you on? I don't have ANY pictures on my MW link (using IE).
 
Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
I'm sure the answer to this question exists somewhere, but the search facility decided not to work for me today, as did the preview post facility. Has anyone any idea why this might be?
 
Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
Having achieved shipmate status today [Yipee]
I have a new avatar which will shortly be appearing, not sure when, as it has to be hand activated, the filthy beast. [Snigger]

Delighted to say that preview has been restored to me. Thanks to the host, Administrator, universe or whoever was responsible. [Overused]
 
Posted by crunt (# 1321) on :
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpUn9tzwj2E&feature=channel

how do I shorten this link?
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Two ways: either use tinyurl or code it into an embedded link:
code:
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
HpUn9tzwj2E&feature=channel]Youtube link[/url]

which without the return to stop breaking the scroll lock or being shown in code comes out as Youtube link
 
Posted by crunt (# 1321) on :
 
Thanks
Curiosity killed the cat - but satisfaction brought it back!
 
Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
Who is Crunt? What is a crunt? Is it/s/he/they an acronym? [Roll Eyes]
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
Hmmm... I'm reminded of a joke I once heard, which I find is now immortalised in the Urban dictionary. I didn't realise the word had crept into any form of common usage. But I wouldn't want to suggest that that is anything to do with Crunt's choice of forum nic.
 
Posted by Lolly (# 13347) on :
 
Is there a link somewhere on the ship to only clear the ship's cookies? If so, I've not been able to locate it.
 
Posted by ephemera (# 13355) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Lolly:
Is there a link somewhere on the ship to only clear the ship's cookies? If so, I've not been able to locate it.

If you go into your profile, you will see a link in red type:

"Delete all cookies set by this board"

[Smile]
 
Posted by Lolly (# 13347) on :
 
Thank you, ephemera.
 
Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Perhaps it's just my browser being wonky, but the link to babybear's avatar gallery appears to be broken.
 
Posted by Think˛ (# 1984) on :
 
*whispers*

But T² will make avatars to your request if you grab her in the cafe ...

 
Posted by Bacchus (# 11408) on :
 
Okay, I'm sure this question has been asked before - if fact, I may have asked it myself sometime in the murky past, but.....
I have received a hilarious Email with a website attached. How do I forward it to the Circus for everyone's pleasure?
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
If there is a thread allowing random web links in the Circus (and I shudder at the thought, and refuse to look on principle), then simply paste the website URL there. Because the website is not IN the email you received; it's on the web. What you got was merely the web address that you could then browse (with your web browser). No forwarding involved.
 
Posted by lowlands_boy (# 12497) on :
 
There's a broken link on the main SoF home page. For the "Chapter and Worse" results, the image with the bible in it points to the correct results. Clicking on the text "Chapter & worse" points to a mystery worshipper report.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
I tried to post a reply on the Railway Enthusiasts thread, using the "log-in + post" form. The process of sending suddenly stopped, no communication with the Ship site, and finally I got the "cannot connect" window. So I backed out and read another site for a while.

When I came back to the Boards, my reply was posted, but I was not logged in.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Question about the UBB code on the ship. There exists more code than seems to be allowed here. In specific, there is code for hiding text unless one highlights it.
[spoiler]TEXT[/spoiler]
This would be wonderful for, well, spoilers. Too many folk here put the spoiler alert much too close the the spoiler itself. Not sure about anyone else, but my brain often processes both the alert and the spoiler at the same time.
Can this be enabled in some way on the ship?

[ 04. December 2009, 15:31: Message edited by: lilBuddha ]
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
While you're waiting for the Official Word from them that knows for sure, I'll give you a temporary answer:

No. The Ship's UBB code is old and limited and we live with what we've got.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
I thought this may be the case.
So, an unofficial thank you, jlg.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
Sorry about not providing a more timely response. I did a trawl through the control panel looking for available options for the UBB code with the board software - and came up empty-handed. All we can do is turn off images (which we have) or disable HTML (which we also have done). Later versions of UBB code do not seem to be available for a mere Admin to roll out for general Ship use.
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by RooK:
Sorry about not providing a more timely response. I did a trawl through the control panel looking for available options for the UBB code with the board software - and came up empty-handed. All we can do is turn off images (which we have) or disable HTML (which we also have done). Later versions of UBB code do not seem to be available for a mere Admin to roll out for general Ship use.

I think it would involve an upgrade to a later version of UBB OR a board hack.

Tubbs
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
I appreciate the search. An official thank you to both, Rook and Tubbs.
 
Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
I need some technical advice, please.
The ship is now taking at least 5 minutes for each page to load on my pc.I use Microsoft Windows.
The ship is the only site affected in this way.
A page starts to load, then hangs, trying to open a page that starts http//googleads.....
After a couple of minutes the page goes blue and stays like that for another 4 or 5 minutes until it loads. Very frustrating.
If you have any ideas, could you pm me as I have email notification of pm's and I'll actually be able to read it.
Thanks.
 
Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
I've been having this problem intermittently too. Avast was also having issues with Google ads here last week as well, although that seems to have stopped now.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
I have experienced occasional less than usual speed with Ship pages as well. On multiple computers and my phone.
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Drifting Star:
I've been having this problem intermittently too.

Ditto. When it hangs, I've tried switching from Chrome to Firefox, but no joy. Not only on SoF though, I also get the same problem on one of the blogs I frequent. It just hangs on loading the Google ads, so I've assumed that the issue is there, not with the websites. I just close the window, and check in again after five minutes, by which time the problem has invariably gone.
 
Posted by tiutchev (# 15355) on :
 
Hi, I'm a newbe. How can I ask to have an email sent when there is a reply to a message I have posted in a forum?
 
Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Hi tiutchev!

I'm afraid that's a degree of sophistication that the Ship doesn't have.
 
Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
Our software is more than eight years old.

Moo
 
Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by passer:
quote:
Originally posted by Drifting Star:
I've been having this problem intermittently too.

Ditto. When it hangs, I've tried switching from Chrome to Firefox, but no joy. Not only on SoF though, I also get the same problem on one of the blogs I frequent. It just hangs on loading the Google ads, so I've assumed that the issue is there, not with the websites. I just close the window, and check in again after five minutes, by which time the problem has invariably gone.
My problem is that the page freezes so I can't close it.
Is there any way of loading pages without the Google ads? (Silly question?!)
 
Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
I'm trying to find out how to post links. At the moment, I can't access the home page, and clicking on FAQs got me a this website cannot be found response. Can anyone help? The problem with these techniques is that if you don't use them often, you forget how do do it. Applies to a variety of topics...

But FTM how do I post a link? It would be so helpful if this kind of info were posted loud and clear and in dayglo colours all over the ship. Just for those of us who have serious orientation problems. It would be an act of charity...

Yours in faith and hope. I'm relying on the charity
[Votive] [Votive] [Votive] [Votive] [Votive] [Votive]
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
When you open the "Post Reply" window there's a box marked "URL" towards the bottom, next to the smileys. That will open up a prompt for the URL and then for the name of the link.
 
Posted by Imaginary Friend (# 186) on :
 
Personally, I find typing the UBB code for urls much easier than using the button. If you want to do it manually, you do the following: (substituting square brackets for curly ones throughout)

{url=http://youwebsite.com}the text to be highlighted{/url}

For example, if you want to link to google.com, with the phrase "search engine" as the link, you type
{url=http://www.google.com}search engine{/url}.

There's a tutorial on UBB code here if you're interested.

Hope that helps [Smile]
 
Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
Thanks, both of you. I've copied the info into my diary, so it will travel everywhere with me! [Overused]
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Tree Bee:
My problem is that the page freezes so I can't close it.
Is there any way of loading pages without the Google ads? (Silly question?!)

I'm afraid that there isn't any straightforward way to view pages without the ads... and if there were, we wouldn't tell you.

Page freezing so that it won't close sounds irritating. I'd suggest trying Google Chrome browser - theoretically it keeps page processes isolated so that they don't hang other functions.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by RooK:

Page freezing so that it won't close sounds irritating. I'd suggest trying Google Chrome browser - theoretically it keeps page processes isolated so that they don't hang other functions.

I have had this problem as well. However, since I run multiple tabs and multiple programs, I had not definitively linked the problem to SOF.

As to the speed of access issue, this is a new problem. Switching to a different browser might solve my issues, but would not explain why SOF has changed in its performance.
 
Posted by Hiro's Leap (# 12470) on :
 
I've had problems on my PC ever since installing Google Chrome, e.g. intermittent page freezes when using other browsers, even if Chrome wasn't open. Uninstalling it fixed everything.

Pity - I really liked it.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by lilBuddha:
Switching to a different browser might solve my issues, but would not explain why SOF has changed in its performance.

Indeed. Or why I haven't noticed any change in the loading performance of SOF in some weeks.

But, sadly, all I can attempt to address is user issues - and only minorly. I have no direct contact to the mustache-twirling administrators of the servers we run the Ship on, nor the servers that the advertisers run their feeds from, nor the ad-hoc array of interconnecting outdated telecoms that link any given user to those far-flung servers.

Sorry.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hiro's Leap:
I've had problems on my PC ever since installing Google Chrome, e.g. intermittent page freezes when using other browsers, even if Chrome wasn't open. Uninstalling it fixed everything.

That's funny: the second-best explanation I can think of for this involves a conspiracy in Redmond WA. Oh well - glad everything is fixed now and that you have nothing to complain about.
 
Posted by frin (# 9) on :
 
I've recently had ridiculously slow page loading on most websites. Thinking through what was happening, and when it started, I realised that my antivirus software had integrated an add-on to firefox. Uninstalling that add-on returned my page load speeds to normal. When such problems arise, it is worth looking at antivirus and firewall programs to see whether they have made changes in how they handle your browsing activity.

'frin
 
Posted by Hiro's Leap (# 12470) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by RooK:
That's funny: the second-best explanation I can think of for this involves a conspiracy in Redmond WA.

The problems started after an automatic Windows update, but were solved by ditching Chrome.

If I could be bothered, I'd do a fresh install of XP, get the newest drivers and try again. Chrome's a nice browser. Sadly, I'm a lazy git so it'll have to wait till my next PC.

(I'm not going to ask what the best explanation is, but I guessing it's a variation on EBCAK. [Smile] Quite possibly true.)
 
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
Just to respond because I love Chrome and obviously use the ship website: Not sure that the problem is just Chrome and XP together because Bullfrog and I use Chrome, on XP and Vista without troubles. Actually I have fewer troubles with ship pages now that I use Chrome.
 
Posted by Jude (# 3033) on :
 
Something else now - please can you tell me how to shorten a url, as sometimes I get the message that a link is too long. It's probably been done before, but I've forgotten and can't find the appropriate post.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
A common URL-shortening service is tinyurl.

Incidentally, please keep your signature to a total of 4 lines. Thanks.
 
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
For some reason, every time I try to post on the Rozencrantz thread in the circus, I am taken to the main page of the forums. No error messages, no nothing. I was able to post in at least one other Circus thread and posted a test in the UBB thread before I deleted it. Just not in Rozencrantz.

Wasn't anything about the words I was trying to post either "Can these knitted people be brought to life too?"
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
More for information than the need for action: Does editing a post cause that thread to lock up while the editing is going on?

Every so often, I try to access a thread, and the response takes forever. If I click "Stop" and retry it, then, quite often, I'll then get a quick response. So I wondered what might be going on to slow the reponse.
 
Posted by Erin (# 2) on :
 
Sometimes it gets caught in some weird loop. I see it occasionally when I click into a particular board -- I get nothing. Refreshing the page clears it right up.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
Another question: today when I opened the boards, none of the thread indexes showed any of the changed colour that indicates which ones I had read before. All of them were red.

Does the ship computer control this, or is it something to do with the cookies on my computer?

Or do I have some other problem within my computer?

This happened once before, about a month ago.

And, no, I didn't clean out all the cookies.
 
Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
"You Make Me Feel So Young!"

Just now, when I was signing on, I got a little box-message saying "Age Verification: We do not permit members under 16"!

I logged on again, and the message didn't reappear...sigh. I guess it knows I'm well past my threescore years and ten....

Mary
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Leetle Masha:
"You Make Me Feel So Young!"

Just now, when I was signing on, I got a little box-message saying "Age Verification: We do not permit members under 16"!

I logged on again, and the message didn't reappear...sigh. I guess it knows I'm well past my threescore years and ten....

Mary

Maybe they thought you were trying to buy quiche.
 
Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Horseman Bree:
Another question: today when I opened the boards, none of the thread indexes showed any of the changed colour that indicates which ones I had read before. All of them were red.

Does the ship computer control this, or is it something to do with the cookies on my computer?

Or do I have some other problem within my computer?

This happened once before, about a month ago.

And, no, I didn't clean out all the cookies.

This has also been happening to me on Ship for several days - I don't know why - and I have an iMac, do you have that or a PC? Is there any difference happening? Do others also have everything red? The yellows showing what posts I've read are still behaving properly.
 
Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
Quiche... hadn't thought of that! [Smile]

Mary
 
Posted by Full Circle (# 15398) on :
 
How do you quote?
I have read the facs - and the page about the url code. I've read it twice but still not posting quotes correctly.

At present I am pressing the button that goes at the beginning and end of everything that I have cut and pasted from another shipmate like this


Origionally posted by David
quote:

From today, I will NOT be providing technical support for the following problems.
quote:

It is sort of, but not quite right. However it totally falls apart when quoting someone who is quoting someone else.

There must be a simple way of doing this
Thanks in advance (& sorry if the advice is repeated twice in the past 17)
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
Just click on the quotation mark icon above and to the right the post you want to quote.
 
Posted by Full Circle (# 15398) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
Just click on the quotation mark icon above and to the right the post you want to quote.

Thank you Pigwidgeon.
 
Posted by Angel Wrestler (# 13673) on :
 
How do I get a status? I just figured out what I wanted mine to be ....
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Angel Wrestler:
How do I get a status? I just figured out what I wanted mine to be ....

There's a description of the usual method of obtaining a custom title in the FAQs.

[ 17. February 2010, 01:43: Message edited by: RooK ]
 
Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
Just click on the quotation mark icon above and to the right the post you want to quote.

[Hot and Hormonal]

I've been kicking around the Ship for how long, and not worked that one out before now?! I've been doing some beautifully complicated things to make my quoting of someone else's words look right!

Thanks, Pigwidgeon.
 
Posted by Angel Wrestler (# 13673) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by RooK:
quote:
Originally posted by Angel Wrestler:
How do I get a status? I just figured out what I wanted mine to be ....

There's a description of the usual method of obtaining a custom title in the FAQs.
me, too ... [Hot and Hormonal]
 
Posted by MSHB (# 9228) on :
 
I posted something to a thread recently (24 Feb) and it isn't showing up in my "Recent Posts" page. I found the thread and the post is definitely there. My "Recent Posts" page still claims that my last post was on 21 Feb (a different post on a different thread).

Are there any problems with the "Recent Posts" pages being out of date? I have tried reloading the page but that didn't change it.
 
Posted by MSHB (# 9228) on :
 
Some links:

My Recent Posts:

http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=recent_user_posts;u=00009228

My "missing" post:

http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=014152;p=1#000010
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
Huh, I see what you mean MSHB. I've never encountered that before. Presumably there's a glitch with that post's indexing, and I doubt there's any way to correct it.

We'll keep an out out for this sort of glitch to see if it becomes a more common problem.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Nice typo, RooK. Right in keeping with the idea that the venerable old software keeping the Ship afloat is slowly losing its ballast* as it ages.

~~~

*I wanted to say losing its marbles, but decided to at least attempt to maintain a semi-coherent metaphor.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Actually, 'typo' is the wrong word. What *is* the term for replacing an entire word with the wrong word, as opposed to simply hitting the wrong key ("humn" for "hymn") or transposing two letters ("hte" for "the"), which are the classic typos?
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
Huh, I see what you mean jlg. I've never encountered that before. Presumably there's a glitch with that post's composition, and I doubt there's any value in correcting it.

I'll keep a badger badger badger badger badger badger - mushroom mushroom - badger badger badger badger badger badger
 
Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :
 
FYI, I noticed the same thing happened with other people who had posted on that thread prior to it being moved to Purgatory: their posts to that thread no longer appeared in their recent posts. It may be related to the fact that the thread disappeared completely from Kerygmania, with no forwarding address.

[ 27. February 2010, 03:32: Message edited by: W Hyatt ]
 
Posted by Taliesin (# 14017) on :
 
sorry, can anyone tell me how to do URL links in a sig??

thanks.
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
code it, so
code:
[url=http://www.and the rest]what you want it to say[/url]


 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
Beware of the limitations of UBB coding; it doesn't like the underscore "_" in link addresses. If you mean to use the link you currently have listed in your signature, I suggest creating an alternative with tinyurl.com or something similar.
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Am I getting old and slow, or has the edit time been reduced when I wasn't looking?
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Wow, the first page of this thread is an incredible trip down memory lane, with Scot owning up to having created a sockpuppet, Tomb and Viola not managing to use the boards properly, Erin describing Kelly Alves and others as "new and innocent" and even an appearance of the infamous "flowerface" icon.

Meanwhile, I'd still like to know if the edit window has changed - thanks!
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
It hasn't.
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Oh dear; anno domini it is then.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
I think this is the right place to ask the following:

When I've answered a post-plus-quote and posted it, is there a short cut something to click on to go straight back to the post I'm answering?
Thanks.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
It'll go to the post you just posted. The only "short cuts" in the software are too the last post on a thread. You'll have to do it the long way and scroll back up the thread to where you were when you hit "reply with quote" - although if you've already read the rest of the thread there's no need to do so, and if you haven't how do you know your reply hasn't already been posted by someone else?

[ 16. March 2010, 07:03: Message edited by: Alan Cresswell ]
 
Posted by Foaming Draught (# 9134) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Eutychus:
Am I getting old and slow, or has the edit time been reduced when I wasn't looking?

Funny you should ask that. I was wondering if it had been lengthened, because it usually seems more like 2 seconds (make that nano-seconds) than 2 minutes, but a recent attempt to edit, in hope rather than expectation, was successful.

It would be too much of a chore to use a stop watch for every post on the offchance that I needed to edit. But unnecessarily short and whimsically arbitrary as 2 minutes is, until a few days ago I wouldn't have thought that we even had 2 minutes.

FD
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
It'll go to the post you just posted. The only "short cuts" in the software are too the last post on a thread. You'll have to do it the long way and scroll back up the thread to where you were when you hit "reply with quote" - although if you've already read the rest of the thread there's no need to do so, and if you haven't how do you know your reply hasn't already been posted by someone else?

Thank you for your answer. As far as not knowing whether my answer has already appeared, I find this very seldom happens, as I write from an atheist view point! However, I do mostly read all the way through first.

It is interesting that SoF was about the only site where Supernova worked consistently efficiently last year, whilst I had quite a few problems on other forums. In the end I had to send it back to Dolphin. All well now.
 
Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I'm sure I'm just being denser than usual, but how do you link to a specific post on a thread? I ask because I mentioned in the Sceptred Isle thread a recipe I'd posted ages ago and Basso posted a link to it; but any time I've tried I've not managed to link to a specific post.
 
Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :
 
quote:
how do you link to a specific post on a thread?
I'm hoping someone can point out an easier way, but the way I've done
it is the following:

  1. After finding the post, look at the "header" section for that
    particular post (where the icons are for the poster's profile,
    emailing, PM'ing, replying, and editing). At the very left of the
    "header" section, there is the "Posted" date and immediately to the
    left of that is a small icon that looks (to me) like a sheet of
    paper. Click on that sheet of paper and your browser should position
    that particular post at the top of the visible page (unless it's too
    close to the bottom).
  2. Go to your browser's address bar and copy the URL into the clipboard.
  3. Insert the clipboard contents into your URL code:

    [URL]http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=000268;p=17#000810[/URL]

Hope that helps.
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
quote:
how do you link to a specific post on a thread?
the way I've done it is the following:

After finding the post, look at the "header" section for that particular post. At the very left of the "header" section, there is the "Posted" date and immediately to the left of that is a small icon that looks (to me) like a sheet of paper.

In most browsers, you can right-click on that sheet-of-paper icon and choose "copy this link" or something like that. (It varies from browser to browser.) When you're ready to insert the link, right-click and choose paste.
 
Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :
 
Ah - thank you! It's "Copy Shortcut" on my Windows system using IE. I appreciate the tip.
 
Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Thank you both. It worked! [Smile]
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
I copied the link for the "Via Lucis" thread from the "sheet of paper" thingy into an email and sent it to a friend, who replied that the Ship told him that the thread didn't exist. But I was able to click the link from my "sent e-mail" file and it worked. He has an updated computer and uses the same server that I do.

?
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Horseman Bree:
I copied the link for the "Via Lucis" thread from the "sheet of paper" thingy into an email and sent it to a friend, who replied that the Ship told him that the thread didn't exist. But I was able to click the link from my "sent e-mail" file and it worked. He has an updated computer and uses the same server that I do.

We've recently cleaned up a bunch of threads to Oblivion. It's possible that what you're seeing when you click the link is something that your computer has kept in its cache, while the thread is actually now buried in Oblivion. If you go to the linked thread now and hit "refresh", is it still there?
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
Second possibility: Your email program may have inserted a line break into the link you sent, so that it wasn't clickable when your friend received it.

You could try pasting the link into a link-shortening service like tinyurl and sending that instead of the full link.
 
Posted by Full Circle (# 15398) on :
 
In one thread devine outlaw dwarf posts something like - I'm paraphrasing - for the zillionth time you cannot interprete 'render unto Caesar that which is caesars & God that which is God's' in modern secular/sacred terms of allegiance.
This would be a new discussion for me and one I would like to follow up
So my technical question is how should I go about searching for an old thread on this issue. I know I can go to oblivion but I'm not sure how I know what I'm looking for - titles are not always obvious. I also need to learn how to use the search function
Thanks for any help
Kind Regards
Full Circle
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
The thread is the "Via Lucis" one that is still active in Eccles, so the Oblivion slide isn't the problem.

But I'll try the tinyURL thing. Thanks
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
He was able to read the tinyURL link, so I guess that indicates the problem (and solution)

Thanks
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
It's always nice to see a happy ending. [Smile]
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
It is. Glad it worked, HB.
 
Posted by Silver Faux (# 8783) on :
 
A quick question; has www.google.ca become unavailable from anyone else's computer today?

It is the only way I get to The Ship; I don't want anyone else who uses my computer to know that I visit here, so never bookmark ship-of-fools.com
Now I have to get in through yahoo.ca and that takes an extra click or two!
 
Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
I clicked on your link and I have no problem.
 
Posted by Silver Faux (# 8783) on :
 
This is really strange; I clicked on the link to try it, got a message "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage", ran a dianostic program, got a message saying there is no problem and to try hitting refresh, hit refresh, and eventually got the message again "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage."
I will try it on another computer in a while.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
I've used google.ca several times today, and didn't have a problem any time.
 
Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Silver Faux:
A quick question; has www.google.ca become unavailable from anyone else's computer today?

It is the only way I get to The Ship; I don't want anyone else who uses my computer to know that I visit here, so never bookmark ship-of-fools.com
Now I have to get in through yahoo.ca and that takes an extra click or two!

I don't know if this is relevant to you but I use a USB drive with Opera and Firefox portable apps loaded on it so no-one who uses the same computer can see my browsing history, and at internet cafes it also means they can't track my passwords, even with key-loggers, I think. This works only for windows computers.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Latchkey Kid:
I use a USB drive with Opera and Firefox portable apps loaded on it so no-one who uses the same computer can see my browsing history, and at internet cafes it also means they can't track my passwords, even with key-loggers, I think.

I think you think partially incorrectly.

Key-logger: You type it, it has it. Period. There's no circumventing it because it's resident in the processor that is actually interpreting the keystrokes.

Portable Firefox is good for keeping your log files with you, though. Pity I can't port it at work.
 
Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by RooK:
quote:
Originally posted by Latchkey Kid:
I use a USB drive with Opera and Firefox portable apps loaded on it so no-one who uses the same computer can see my browsing history, and at internet cafes it also means they can't track my passwords, even with key-loggers, I think.

I think you think partially incorrectly.

Key-logger: You type it, it has it. Period. There's no circumventing it because it's resident in the processor that is actually interpreting the keystrokes.

Portable Firefox is good for keeping your log files with you, though. Pity I can't port it at work.

Well, I don't actually type the password as it is auto-completed by Firefox or Opera. Of course, if the auto-completion is done by the browser effectively typing them in, then a key-logger would catch it. An internet search has failed to provide me with a definite answer to this.
 
Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Latchkey Kid:
Well, I don't actually type the password as it is auto-completed by Firefox or Opera. Of course, if the auto-completion is done by the browser effectively typing them in, then a key-logger would catch it.

I should think that would be stored in a cookie.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
One way to help prevent theft by a key logger is to cut and paste PART of your password from a file. Such as a Word doc, notepad and the like.
I say part since it is not necessarily a good idea to have whole passwords stored on an accessible file.

And SF, be sure to delete the history and cookies as well. Your ISP likely can track your browsing history regardless, if it cares to.
 
Posted by watfordpete (# 14797) on :
 
I am unable to post a reply to the Lay Presidency thread in Purg. When I click REPLY TO POST at the foot of page 2 I get a long screen which appears to be the frame of the thread... ie post dividers but no text. I don't see the box to put my reply into.

Never happened before.

I use Opera Mini on a nokia phone...

[ 15. April 2010, 15:18: Message edited by: watfordpete ]
 
Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :
 
I tried to post a URL and then tried posting a straight link, but got a message that I can't have a link with parenthesis as it isn't permitted. Is there a reason for this?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
The software doesn't permit it. Also, some other characters are not supported in URLs. If a link doesn't work, I suggest using something like tinyurl to create an address that is supported.
 
Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :
 
I'm sure I used to know the answer to this question...

Where are closed threads languishing at the moment? Or are they being deleted?

I started a thread in January and I do seem to remember reading a recent post in March but although I can find it now by searching for a title word, it doesn't come up as a recent thread of mine and when I click on the thread it says it doesn't exist.

I have a dim memory of such threads moving to Oblivion but it does not exist there either.

It was a thread on devotional reading in Heaven; searching for "devotional" in the thread title in Heaven appears to find it (but it then does not exist).
 
Posted by Mr. Spouse (# 3353) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by chukovsky:
I have a dim memory of such threads moving to Oblivion but it does not exist there either.

Look harder!
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
There's been a significant number of times when I've clicked "post reply", and the process has gone on for several minutes. On occasion, I've played a few games of Freecell before the message appears in the thread.

But tonight, when I posted a comment to the railway thread, there was the common five-minute pause, which led me to read something else, and, when I came back, I had an "internal server error", with a Microsoft request to ask what the problem was that I had caused, and I couldn't go directly back to the Ship. But my post appeared intact on the thread anyway.

Is there some problem with the interaction between my computer and the Ship's?
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
Five minute pause? You're officially more patient than I am. If 30 seconds go by, I've tried opening up the page on a different tab or even a different browser. After 60 seconds, I'm testing my modem.

I guess maybe the internet doesn't like you.
 
Posted by Think˛ (# 1984) on :
 
I find my browser doesn't seem to the automatically-takes-you-somewhere thing anymore. So I post a reply and it says going to thread or whatever - and then I have to click that link to get to the thread.

Maybe you have the same issue.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
I'm with RooK in being aghast.

My main computer is so old and out-of-date that it's been years since the stupid thing has been able to accept its own software updates, much less any others.

But five minutes to see a Ship post? Never. Horseman Bree, you have a serious problem.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
This only seems to happen when I try to post a reply, not when moving between threads, etc.

Is it, possibly, something to do with my MacAfee protection, or is there some other likely problem?
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
I have seen very slow responses like that - occasionally, not every time and not for quite some time (crossing fingers that I haven't jinxed myself now) For me it has been when everyone else has been complaining about Ship response times and I have been having problems getting the Ship to load.

Is it your internet connection? or is there something happening with your browser?
 
Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
I would like to upload some pictures to the web, but when I follow the instructions on the Share-to-web upload folder Help instructions, in fact the first instruction, which is to right click on the Share-to-web icon, my computer crashes. This has happened several times on the trot. Has anyone any tips?
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
This technical support thread is specific to Ship-related issues, jacobsen. Please take your question to one of the Heavenly technophilia threads.

-RooK
Styx Host
 
Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
OK. Thanks.
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
I've copied your question to the 'Ancient Geeks' (click here) thread.

Sorry for seeing this, but not linking to that thread any earlier. All should be ok now.
 
Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
Thanks, WJ.
 
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
I now have a new favorite error-type message from the ship. Even better than the flood message is:

Sorry, UBB has encountered an unexpected, fatal error. This error is extremely abnormal. Please contact the board administration, who are also extremely abnormal. The error text is:
Can't open 'CachePath/ubb_files/forum_page/Forum3/forum3-1000.cgi'.

I was unable to find that file or directory. Please check the paths.

The exact error returned by the operating system is:
No such file or directory
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Am I the only one getting bucketloads of spam of late purporting to be from Twitter and featuring a variety of xxx@shipoffools.com e-mail addresses? Is there a list of these addresses somewhere which has been compromised?
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
None here. Sender addresses can easily be doctored; I keep receiving spam purportedly from one of my own accounts. Which hasn't been hacked in any way, just to make this sure. Luckily it all gets stuck in my brilliant Spamihilator filter. As my ISP is quite strict, I would've been told long ago if I was really sending spam, e.g. due to a virus or Trojan.

However, there may well be evil forces that have accessed @SoF addresses, in which case it'd be wise to change the passwords rather soon. This is always good practice for any mail account, I'd claim.
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
The addresses are not spoofed but in the body of the spam, as in "hi xxxx@shipoffools.com...". The xxxx includes such illustrious people as frin, tonyK, and so on, plus various other defunct domain addresses such as cofsupport@shipoffools.com. The fact that they are in the body of the spam (which is all in my Gmail spam file btw) suggests somebody found a list somewhere, doesn't it?
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Or has gained access to, i.e. hacked, someone's account where these were stored, yep.

Alternatively, a spam creator searchbot might trawl the net and find some of these e-mail addies undisclosed, I imagine.

I wonder what the powers that be make of it. [Paranoid]

[ 09. June 2010, 12:22: Message edited by: Wesley J ]
 
Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Hi all,

How do I put a link in my sig line with a title (like I can do in a normal post) and not just the URL?

Or should I ask this in the UBB thread?

Thanks!
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
You'll need to type the relevant code manually. Or, more simply, compose a dummy post with the link done as you would do normally and then copy and paste it into your sig. You can use the UBB practice thread to put the dummy post and check your sig if you want.
 
Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Thanks for the reply Alan. Can't do it. [Tear]

Made the link in a normal post
Copied and pasted but no link transfered, just the words...so tried "copy link location" and that didn't work either.

What am I doing wrong? [Confused]
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
You'll need text that says something like
code:
[URL=http://somesitesomewhere.htm]Site description[/url]

When you use the URL button below the reply window that text will be generated for you. Copy the whole lot to your sig.
 
Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Evensong:
Thanks for the reply Alan. Can't do it. [Tear]

Made the link in a normal post
Copied and pasted but no link transfered, just the words...so tried "copy link location" and that didn't work either.

What am I doing wrong? [Confused]

I think you need something like
URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqnakuXMG5g]Pagan[/URL]

with an initial square bracket
 
Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Latchkey Kid:
quote:
Originally posted by Evensong:
Thanks for the reply Alan. Can't do it. [Tear]

Made the link in a normal post
Copied and pasted but no link transfered, just the words...so tried "copy link location" and that didn't work either.

What am I doing wrong? [Confused]

I think you need something like
URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqnakuXMG5g]Pagan[/URL]

with an initial square bracket

You can find the whole string for Pagan here if you use the quote button.

replace 'Pagan' with the text you want to use to represent the hyperlink.
 
Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Thank you both. We have action. [Yipee]
 
Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :
 
Here is a question about how private messages work.

Here is the scenario:
  1. I send a private message.
  2. Events move along so that the private message is no longer pertinent.
  3. I examine My Profile and see that the private message is Unread by recipient.
  4. I delete the private message.
  5. That message no longer appears in my Sent private messages list.
  6. The recipient of 'my' private message to him now logs onto Ship of Fools.
Has the system also deleted that private message for the recipient, or does it still exist in his Incoming private messages list?

It doesn't much matter to me one way or the other, but I'm curious what deleting an Unread Private Message actually does.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by The Silent Acolyte:
Here is a question about how private messages work.

Here is the scenario:
  1. I send a private message.
  2. Events move along so that the private message is no longer pertinent.
  3. I examine My Profile and see that the private message is Unread by recipient.
  4. I delete the private message.
  5. That message no longer appears in my Sent private messages list.
  6. The recipient of 'my' private message to him now logs onto Ship of Fools.
Has the system also deleted that private message for the recipient, or does it still exist in his Incoming private messages list?

It doesn't much matter to me one way or the other, but I'm curious what deleting an Unread Private Message actually does.

Once a Private Message is sent, the recipient has a copy. The sender deleting their sent original does not change the message in the recipient's queue, read or unread.
 
Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :
 
It also does not change the copy the recipient may have chosen to receive automatically by email (which also means that Unread by recipient doesn't necessarily mean it hasn't been read by the recipient).
 
Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :
 
Thanks, RooK.

And, thank you W Hyatt. Had I thought harder, I should have been able to suss that path out myself.
 
Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :
 
On a recent thread I wanted to demonstrate how clever I was by spelling soupcon with a cedilla. Only I wasn't so clever.

To get the codes for special characters I used to google babybear ubb, and presto-change-o babybear's website came up with all I needed. But, that fails me now. How do I find a character map?

I know I've asked this before, but for the life of me I can't remember the answer.
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
You reminded me, that bookmark was one that I haven't re-discovered after computer crashes - but this looks like what you're looking for.

Coding for a cedilla in terms I'll remember is soupçon - which is
code:
&ccedil;


 
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
For the last few days to a week, I've been having a lot of issues with the loading of pages on the boards. This is on two DIFFERENT computers, although both are running Internet Explorer.

The weird thing is that after saying it can't load the page, if I press the 'Back' button I frequently go 'back' to the page I was trying to get to. This suggests to me that the problem isn't in the main page, but in some side code, the kind that is often used to load Google ads or Facebook links.

Is anyone else having these experiences and/or understand what I'm talking about?
 
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
Update on the above: at my work, they have just announced that an issue affecting web browsing more generally for the last couple of days was due to "a particular set of external advertisements" (and their fix is to prevent these ads appearing, though they haven't specified which ones they are).

So that strengthens what I said in my previous post. It's probably not directly due to the main Ship code, but to something in the advertisements on the side. Can someone tech-minded look into this?
 
Posted by Dave Marshall (# 7533) on :
 
No idea about a fix, but I've been getting what sounds like the same problem in IE6.
 
Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Can anyone advise on how to attach a pdf file to a post?

[Confused]
 
Posted by AdamPater (# 4431) on :
 
I don't think you can, because a post is just UBB-coded text that gets displayed nicely by the Ship. But you could load your pdf into some handy location on some home-page you have access to, then include a hyperlink to it, same as for any other link.
 
Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
HHhhhhmmnnn, thanks AP.

I just saw someone post a link with a pdf ending....and it opened like a pdf. Now I can't find it. [Roll Eyes]
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Here's a little something I wrote in a pdf file. It's linked to in exactly the same way as any other file on the web. As long as your browser is set up to open pdfs (ie: have Acrobat reader or similar installed) it will open, if not it'll probably ask you if you want to save the file or open it with another program. The same is true of, for example, graphics files.
 
Posted by Robert Armin (# 182) on :
 
Is the Ship having any technical problems at the moment? I keep "losing" pages at the moment, especially when trying to post replies. To find anything I have to reload the main page and work through from there. Now it could well be my dodgy server - but I don't have the same problems on other websites. This has happened to me for the last 3 or 4 days, I think, so I am wondering if anything at the Ship's end might be responsible.
 
Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
Here's a little something I wrote in a pdf file. It's linked to in exactly the same way as any other file on the web. As long as your browser is set up to open pdfs (ie: have Acrobat reader or similar installed) it will open, if not it'll probably ask you if you want to save the file or open it with another program. The same is true of, for example, graphics files.

I figured it out! [Yipee] [Yipee] I had to right click on the website link to the pdf file. Then paste into the URL window.

Thanks for the 1.8 megabyte download on spectrometry Alan. [Biased]
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
Huh. I just clicked the link and it loaded directly in my browser, in exactly the manner Alan described.
 
Posted by Silver Faux (# 8783) on :
 
Not urgent, just baffling!
When I begin to sign in, if I put the first letter of my sign-in name, and then click beside it, my full name comes up under the sign-in spot.
If I then click on that name, it appears in the sign-in space, with dots for my password appearing underneath.
So, then, if I hit enter, the system tells me there is no one by that name registered!
So, is the system simply screwing me around, or is this some sort of anomoly?
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
I've noticed that not all pre-fill systems store the password. The correct number of asterisks will be displayed, but sometimes I still have to over-type the password. Could be that.
 
Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :
 
This may be deliberate, and it may have already been reported, but, when you click on the picture at the top of each board/new post, which says e.g. The Styx, it takes you back to the main board home page, not e.g. The Styx.

I was slightly surprised by this as I was expecting that clicking on a picture saying "The Styx" would take me to The Styx...
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
It's always done that.
 
Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :
 
Guess I've never tried clicking on the pictures before then. Odd, as I normally click on everything I can lay my mouse on, especially when bored.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
I went to bed last night, closing Explorer, but without logging off the Ship. The computer ran all night with no interruptions.

When I opened the Ship Community page, I was logged off.

And all threads on the intro pages for Styx or Heaven... are still showing as "new posts", even though I have logged on.

Did I just enter an alternate universe?
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
Having left the site and come back, I find the "new posts" indicator to be working OK.
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Horseman Bree:
Having left the site and come back, I find the "new posts" indicator to be working OK.

It's not that simple, as you rightly say. [Smile]
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Golden Key:
Hi. I've been trying to reply to a PM, and I keep getting the following error:

quote:
Sorry, we do not permit the following HTML tag or attribute: Parenthesis in HTML tag

There isn't any such tag. And IIRC this is a known problem that's occured before.

Anything I can do about it???

Thanks!

PS And when I tried to preview this post, it tried to open the preview in *this* window, rather than a separate one, and gave me a blank screen.

Please post your example post inside of {code} {/code} tags - it should show us what you're trying to do.
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
Sorry for not posting on this thread originally. I looked for it, but didn't see it.

The PM is personal, so I can't really post it here. But I didn't use any HTML tags, URLS, etc. A couple of emoticons, and some hug brackets.

I'll try removing the brackets later, and get back to you.

Thanks!
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
Ok, I got it to work!

The only thing I changed was the use of > and < to set off quotes from the person I was replying to. I substituted *. Normally, the < and > don't cause a problem.

So what I originally had was something like:

code:
>This is the person's PM quote that I pasted in.<

And here is my response.

I changed it to:

code:
*This is the person's PM quote that I pasted in.*

And here is my response.


 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
HTML tags are enclosed in < > ... so anything between any such pair would be parsed as HTML code. If that includes ( ) or some other characters it can generate the error you encountered - even though HTML is turned off on the boards.

If you're using those characters to mark quotes and split the quote then you can get that situation.
 
Posted by Bullfrog. (# 11014) on :
 
I don't wander this way much, but I was going to send a transcript of a preached sermon to Mamacita, and (I suppose because the message contained bullet points) got this lovely error message:
quote:
Ouch! An error has occured:
Wide character in syswrite at CGIPath/Modules//Net/Cmd.pm line 429.
Please inform the board administration of this error so that they can abuse the vendor. Thanks!

Board Administration: consider yourself informed. Thanks!
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Ah, the ghost of our beloved Gator lives on in Ship error messages.

Sadly, I have no access to a software vendor so I can't commit a random act of abuse in Erin's memory. (Abusing the poor schmuck who answers the customer service phone doesn't count.)
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
I'm not sure whether that one was Erin or not. All the Admins have played with the error messages at some point.
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Well, whether she actually wrote it or not, she had a lot to do with setting the tone of things around here, aided and abetted by all the usual suspects (including Simon and AM).

And having had a recent month's experience with Erin's Mothership in Minnesota, where brilliant and wonderful people work within a classic major medical bureaucracy, I appreciate her blend of truly caring about people while having no patience with idiots even more.
 
Posted by Apocalypso (# 15405) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
HTML tags are enclosed in < > ... so anything between any such pair would be parsed as HTML code. If that includes ( ) or some other characters it can generate the error you encountered - even though HTML is turned off on the boards.

If you're using those characters to mark quotes and split the quote then you can get that situation.

Erm . . I'm confused. I am trying to post a normal-looking URL in order to link to an outside source. There are no parentheses in the URL, but I keep getting the error message about parentheses referred to above.

What do I do in order to post the link?
 
Posted by Gracious rebel (# 3523) on :
 
Could try Tiny URL ?
 
Posted by Metapelagius (# 9453) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by RooK:
quote:
Originally posted by The Silent Acolyte:
Here is a question about how private messages work.

Here is the scenario:
  1. I send a private message.
  2. Events move along so that the private message is no longer pertinent.
  3. I examine My Profile and see that the private message is Unread by recipient.
  4. I delete the private message.
  5. That message no longer appears in my Sent private messages list.
  6. The recipient of 'my' private message to him now logs onto Ship of Fools.
Has the system also deleted that private message for the recipient, or does it still exist in his Incoming private messages list?

It doesn't much matter to me one way or the other, but I'm curious what deleting an Unread Private Message actually does.

Once a Private Message is sent, the recipient has a copy. The sender deleting their sent original does not change the message in the recipient's queue, read or unread.
Has something changed (or been changed)? I send and receive very few private messages (average 3 per year) - I have never got around to clearing old ones but as there is no danger as far as I can see of the box being full this shouldn't matter particularly. For the present purpose, however, it should have everything I have ever sent or received as still visible - according to hostly information.

The last incoming message in the box is dated October 24th last year. However I received a later message - on January 25th this year - which appeared in the ordinary mail system, not the SoF private messages box. A week or two ago I sent a p.m. - the first since July 2009. No copy of this message appears in the SoF private messages list. From what Rook says, I would expect one to be there. I haven't had a reply to my message - this may mean no more than that the addressee is away, has an ailing computer, or doesn't wish to rely to my question, of course. But the absence of a 'file copy' makes me wonder whether I have done something wrong and that the message has gone nowhere. But that would not explain the message of Jan 25th not being there either. Is anyone able to shed any light on a minor mystery?
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Are you sure you didn't send an e-mail via the Ship, rather than a PM?

[ 10. July 2011, 17:53: Message edited by: Eutychus ]
 
Posted by Metapelagius (# 9453) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Eutychus:
Are you sure you didn't send an e-mail via the Ship, rather than a PM?

As far as I remember whatever it is that says 'send new private message' at the top. But as I do it so rarely I could have got it wrong I would have to admit. In the case of the message sent to me, I wouldn't know how the sender did it. But thanks for your reply!

[ 10. July 2011, 22:45: Message edited by: Metapelagius ]
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Depending on what options you've enabled in your profile, the two icons (which look quite similar) may be adjacent - they are on your own posts. The e-mail message function text has the words "private" and "message" in it, so it's not impossible to get them mixed up.

I'm only a very occasional PMer, have messages going back to 2003 in my box, and have noticed nothing awry.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
I was reviewing the MWs of the Camino, and tried Cathedral of Santa Maria del Romeral, Monzon . All I got was a dull grey page with the mystic words "table width"

All the other MWs I tried worked as advertised, so I don't think the problem is at my end.

?
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
It just opened for me with no problem.
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
It just opened for me with no problem.
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
The grey is the background grey that accompanies the Ship pages(either side on a wide screen)

I still get ">table width", but only for that one page - all the others I try give me the appropriate page.
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
Sorry! I'm havng computer problems -- I didn't think my post went through once, let alone twice.
 
Posted by Metapelagius (# 9453) on :
 
I added a contribution to a thread at two minutes past nine (BST). When it came up after the "wait while" message had cleared the time indication on it showed as two minutes past midnight tomorrow morning. Seeing a hideous typo I edited it - after which the editing note under the text showed the editing time as two minutes past eight.

Why the discrepancy ? Even if the bridge of the ship uses a time zone of its own, surely it should be consistent?
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
I can't remember which way round it is (because I'm on Ship time mostly) but the Ship is in one time zone which I *think* is what shows in the edited messages, and you've set yourself a time in your profile, which shows the other time
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
I amtrying to search for "suicide" in Oblivion, but

a) the Ship search function does not admit that anything is in Oblivion (or anywhere else)

b) I seem to have forgotten how to ask Google to do it for me

c) the threads that used to have that latter clue are nowhere to be found (and I can't search for them because of b).

How do I write a search request in Google for the forums?
 
Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Google for: suicide site:forum.ship-of-fools.com

[ 27. October 2011, 20:59: Message edited by: Drifting Star ]
 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
Thanks, I'd reversed the order.
 
Posted by lily pad (# 11456) on :
 
Try Googling "Ship of Fools" and whatever clues you have. There are lots of possibilities when you use that and the word "suicide". You can also type in the word "Oblivion".

eta - crossposted!

[ 27. October 2011, 21:03: Message edited by: lily pad ]
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
I clicked on a link ('dogma free' in a post of Yorick's near the end of the 'What should Christians tell their children?' thread) and it went to a page with a cartoon. I then clicked on the back arrow to go to the previous page, but couldn't (so closed that page and started again!), but I would be grateful if someone could tell me why this happened, please.
 
Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
... I then clicked on the back arrow to go to the previous page, but couldn't ...

Probably because the link you selected actually passed you through to another page which then redirected you to the one you wanted. So going "back" returned you to the one that sent you away in the first place, IYSWIM.

An irritating way of coding web pages, beloved of spammers, pornographers, and online advertisers in general. Though Wikipedia does it on their mobile site [Frown]

Partly because of this, I nearly always open links in a different tab. There are different ways to do that depending on what browser I am using but in most of them on Windows you do it by right-clicking rather than left-clicking the link & selecting something like "open link in background tab" from a drop-down menu. (It certainly works like that in Firefox, Chrome, and Opera - I just checked) On my Mac I do it by holding down the splat key when I click the link, which works in both Safari and Firefox.

Though the main reason I do tab browsing like that is probably that I get bored waiting for a web page to open so when I go to a link I open it in a background tab and carry on reading the one I'm already on.

Though that gets scuppered by irritating sites that pop up questions or warnings when you open a page or, even worse, close one. Yes I mean you, google mail. Yuck. Another evil spammer's trick. No respectable website should sink so low as to try it on.

Yes, and I do currently have 31 tabs open in 7 windows in 3 browsers - I just counted!
 
Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :
 
And they say only women can multitask!
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
I clicked on a link ('dogma free' in a post of Yorick's near the end of the 'What should Christians tell their children?' thread) and it went to a page with a cartoon. I then clicked on the back arrow to go to the previous page, but couldn't (so closed that page and started again!), but I would be grateful if someone could tell me why this happened, please.

Because when you click on a link it opens a new window. As it's a new window, there's nothing to go back to, so the back button won't work.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by ken:
Probably because the link you selected actually passed you through to another page which then redirected you to the one you wanted

Thank you for your answer. Would this passing through have been so fast that it was invisible to me?
quote:
So going "back" returned you to the one that sent you away in the first place, IYSWIM.
Does that mean that if I'd clicked twice - very quickly?! - I'd have gone back to SoF?
quote:
Yes, and I do currently have 31 tabs open in 7 windows in 3 browsers - I just counted!
[Eek!] [Big Grin] [Big Grin]
I have learnt how to do new tabs, but I'm far less likely to close one accidentally if I use a new page each time ... and I think my maximum number ever is about 4!!
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
Would this passing through have been so fast that it was invisible to me?

Could be, yes. Though if you watch the address bar carefully, sometimes you might see the flicker of the in-between address.
quote:
Does that mean that if I'd clicked twice - very quickly?! - I'd have gone back to SoF?
Possibly. A more reliable method is to use your browser history to go back to the specific page you're interested in.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
that is very interesting; thank you very much for the info.
 
Posted by Caissa (# 16710) on :
 
I was interested in joining a private board. I sent a pm to the person identified on Oct 18th and according to my account the pm lies unread. Any suggestions?
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Caissa:
I was interested in joining a private board. I sent a pm to the person identified on Oct 18th and according to my account the pm lies unread. Any suggestions?

Some Shippies can be reached by e-mail, via the Boards. Could try this, if available?
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Caissa:
I was interested in joining a private board. I sent a pm to the person identified on Oct 18th and according to my account the pm lies unread. Any suggestions?

I don't know if it would affect your Private Messages, but I notice that you're an Apprentice with one post to go before becoming a Shipmate. I don't think you can join a private board until you're a Shipmate.
 
Posted by Caissa (# 16710) on :
 
Okay. I guess I must be a shipmate now. [Smile]
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Caissa:
Okay. I guess I must be a shipmate now. [Smile]

Nope, you're an apprentice until you have more than 50 posts.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
During the past few days I have had to Log In, although I am sure I haven't logged out. This is not a problem, but I am usually permanently logged in, and would much appreciate help and advice on how to get back to this.
Firenze (on he 'pedia' thread in Heaven) suggests checking cookies, but I'll have to get help on that I think.
 
Posted by Niteowl2 (# 15841) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:

Firenze (on he 'pedia' thread in Heaven) suggests checking cookies, but I'll have to get help on that I think.

What web browser are you using? Generic instructions for Firefox click Tools, then Options, then click the privacy tab to see if cookies are being deleted after the session or if it's set to keep cookies.

In IE click on the widget icon towards the right top of the page, then click on Internet Option, click on the privacy tab and again check your cookie settings.

I don't use Chrome (gasp, I know) so can't much there.
 
Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
Okay, a weird one that has happened several times in the past couple days.

I was on page 3 of the today's thread list, which ended with July 9 posts. Flipped to the 4th page and suddenly we were on July 4 posts, as if nobody had ever posted to the Ship between the two dates at all. Knew that couldn't be right, so flipped back to three, clicked on four again, and this time it came right (dates July 9 and 8).

Got into an interesting looking thread on page 5 (the diabetes one), because the last post shown on the todays' thread list referenced my name (and was dated July 8). It brought me to the correct thread, but the final post was again several days ago, and NOT the correct final post. I think it was July 4 or 5 this time. Clicked back, tried again, this time I got the right one.

What the heck is going on?
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
What the heck is going on?

Undoubtedly more indexing leaks in our creaky old Ship. Hopefully this particular error will be written-over with a new parsing. If it persists, flag it up and we'll try an actual re-index.
 
Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
Ooh, ouch! Let's hope not.
 
Posted by geroff (# 3882) on :
 
I have just noticed something odd in a post - On the 'East midlands meet 14 July' thread in All Saints, Tom Day's post of 15 July has a quote in it that includes a web address that I didn't put in my original post. How has that got added into a quote?
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
Probably finger trouble from Tom. An inadvertent ctrl-V when composing the post perhaps?
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by geroff:
My purple penguin perforator has punctured My Pretty Pony!

You know, stuff happens.
 
Posted by geroff (# 3882) on :
 
OK thanks - i did think that after posting.
 
Posted by Qoheleth. (# 9265) on :
 
Is the Ship's search function even more broken than usual? Searching Oblivion for "God" returns nothing - which may be true theologically, but not bibliographically.

I'm actually trying to locate the "my first smartphone" thread, formerly in Heaven. A Certain Well-known Search Engine tells me it's still in there, but I suspect it's been Obliterated recently, and the WKSE hasn't/can't/won't access Oblivion.

Any sightings, please?
 
Posted by Qoheleth. (# 9265) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Qoheleth.:
Is the Ship's search function even more broken than usual? Searching Oblivion for "God" returns nothing - which may be true theologically, but not bibliographically.

I'm actually trying to locate the "my first smartphone" thread, formerly in Heaven. A Certain Well-known Search Engine tells me it's still in there, but I suspect it's been Obliterated recently, and the WKSE hasn't/can't/won't access Oblivion.

Any sightings, please?

PS: Google cache to the rescue - still in Heaven when it last crawled there on 10 August, and the last post was in June.

But God cannot be found in Oblivion
[Big Grin]
 
Posted by Scarlet (# 1738) on :
 
Buying my first smartphone!

hopefully the one you had in mind ~~
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
You can't search Oblivion using the Ship search function. Google often does a better job of searching Oblivion - but you use this string with what you are looking for site:forum.ship-of-fools.com
 
Posted by Qoheleth. (# 9265) on :
 
Thanks all - I knew there were problems and so I did use Google with the "site:" function, but as Rook said in the linked thread:
quote:
... even mighty Google's webcrawlers tend to focus mostly on corners of the web that actually have traffic. Oblivion is not such a place

 
Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
Tried posting on the Election thread in Purg.

Having "sent" it, my little activity whirly kept on going forever, and nothing else changed on my screen while I played two games of Solitaire.

So I cut the comment, returned to the thread, opened the "Post reply" page again, reposted the comment, and sent it. Almost instantly, I got the appropriate reponse and discovered I had two copies of my comment. Is there something on my machine that is holding up the interaction?
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
I'm finding I get hung up or flood control messages occasionally and if I keep clicking, I end up with two messages. If it happens now I open the Ship in another window to check if the post has gone through before reposting.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
A while ago, when I was on 'my posts' page, I must have accidentally clicked on something which has made the space 1.1/2. A friend checked this by referring to old pages which are single spaced. Now, although I realise this is probably not a problem, I just wondered how I - or someone else! - can change this back to single spacing.
 
Posted by Huntress (# 2595) on :
 
Hi there,

I wanted to change the readable text in my signature (which linked to my blog) and somehow messed it all up so I deleted the ubb text to start again, only to realise I'd forgotten what to do. Can someone please tell me what to type into my signature box so that I get a link to my blog with covering text (e.g. "my blog"). Thank you [Hot and Hormonal]
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
You need to type the following
code:
[url=http://...........]my blog[/url]


 
Posted by Huntress (# 2595) on :
 
Thank you very much Curiosity Killed... [Smile]
 
Posted by Bob Two-Owls (# 9680) on :
 
Having edit problems, every time I try to edit a post I get the flood control thing for about five minutes by which time the post is added as a second post rather than an edit.

Any ideas?
 
Posted by Bob Two-Owls (# 9680) on :
 
Just seen Curiosity's post further up, sorry!

Still can't edit anything though...
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Are you sure you're clicking the edit post icon (the one like a bit of paper), not the "reply with quotes" which is next to it? Because the reply with quotes should generate a second post and flood control warning, whereas the edit post should do neither.
 
Posted by Bob Two-Owls (# 9680) on :
 
Fairly sure, although now I'm thinking that the touch screen on this blasted pad might be going wonky...
 
Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 
I just had a very weird thing happen when I posted on "fall" in the Circus. Instead of going to my post after entering it, the screen went to the top of the page. When I scrolled to the bottom to see my post, it wasn't there, but going back to the front page of the Circus, it says I made the last post.

Does this make any sense?

ETA, I just checked my posts, and it lists this post and the previous one in "fall", which isn't there. [Confused]

[ 09. November 2012, 01:54: Message edited by: jedijudy ]
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
jedijudy, that happened to me last week (I think), also in the "fall" thread. I posted at the same time as someone else -- when it went back to the thread, my post didn't show but the other person's did. So I tried to delete my post (since it no longer made sense). Since it didn't show, I couldn't delete it (but it showed in my history). By the time it showed up it was of course too late to delete it.

[ 09. November 2012, 05:20: Message edited by: Pigwidgeon ]
 
Posted by Chamois (# 16204) on :
 
I've just downloaded Firefox onto my new mac. The 'jump to new posts" option at the top of each thread has disappeared. Does anyone know how I can get it back?

If I log on to the ship using Safari the option is there.
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Chamois:
I've just downloaded Firefox onto my new mac. The 'jump to new posts" option at the top of each thread has disappeared. Does anyone know how I can get it back?

Read a few threads, then close Firefox and reopen it. The option will have returned.

It decides which posts are old and which are new based on your browser history, and as far as your new browser is concerned they're all new right now.
 
Posted by Chamois (# 16204) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:

quote:
Originally posted by Chamois:
I've just downloaded Firefox onto my new mac. The 'jump to new posts" option at the top of each thread has disappeared. Does anyone know how I can get it back?

Read a few threads, then close Firefox and reopen it. The option will have returned.

It decides which posts are old and which are new based on your browser history, and as far as your new browser is concerned they're all new right now.

Marvin, thanks for the advice, but it hasn't worked. None of the threads I've read show the 'jump to new posts' link.

Does anyone have any other ideas? I assume it's caused by a browser setting. Could it be caused by having the "no tracking" option enabled?
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Chamois:
Could it be caused by having the "no tracking" option enabled?

Gosh, ya think?
 
Posted by Chamois (# 16204) on :
 
I'm still stuck without the "jump to new posts" link. Firefox shows me which threads I've visited, and it shows me which pages of long threads I've visited, but "jump to new posts" has completely disappeared.

I've now tried with and without every browser option I'm aware of, but I'm not very technical and may have missed something, so if anyone here can suggest anything else I could try I'd appreciate it.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
If you fire up a new browser, it has no history cookies for what you've "read". So as far as it understands, there's no jumping required to get to nominally new posts.

Likewise, if the browser you normally use has tracking disabled then it too will not permit any cookies to keep track of what might be new to you.

In order to have the "jump to new posts" function work, you need to allow cookies, and you need to leave them unpurged for a while. And, obviously, visit threads such that when you later return to them there can be comparatively new posts to jump to.

Or, that's my theory. I never use the stupid function, because I use too many different computers for it to ever be meaningful.
 
Posted by Chamois (# 16204) on :
 
RooK thanks for the advice. I have definitely got cookies enabled, and the browser does know which threads I've visited in previous sessions (it shows them in blue). The new Firefox apparently downloaded with "tracking disabled" as default. I didn't spot that at first but I've fixed it now. There must be some other setting in Firefox which I've missed so if anyone happens to know about it please post here! In the meantime I've decided to stick to Safari, at least for my visits to the Ship.
Thanks again.
 
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
More Firefox problems...

I've finally switched away from ye ancient version of Internet Explorer. Firefox is on the whole a big improvement, but one of its glaring issues is that it shows no signs of remembering which threads I've read on here. They're all yellow and won't turn white.

Any pointers? And yes, the cookies are turned on, dammit.
 
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
Ahem. Amazingly, it seems to have fixed itself just by virtue of me clearing the Ship's cookies.
 
Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
That has happened to me twice, without my making any changes, and has corrected itself twice, also without my making changes.

Moo
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Moo:
That has happened to me twice, without my making any changes, and has corrected itself twice, also without my making changes.

Moo

test

Huh.

OK, see what happened to the bottom of the post here? Is this happening to anyone else?

[ 14. February 2013, 22:10: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
 
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
quote:
Originally posted by Moo:
That has happened to me twice, without my making any changes, and has corrected itself twice, also without my making changes.

Moo

test

Huh.

OK, see what happened to the bottom of the post here? Is this happening to anyone else?

You mean with the 'small' tags? Yes, but only when H&A day was on. I suspect it was related to the 'message buggered about' message replacing the normal 'messaged edited' one.

[ 15. February 2013, 01:20: Message edited by: orfeo ]
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
So it's something that still needs to be cleaned up? Because I quoted that about 30 seconds before I linked it here.


or is it just the changes working their way through the system?
 
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
So it's something that still needs to be cleaned up? Because I quoted that about 30 seconds before I linked it here.


or is it just the changes working their way through the system?

It's not a permanent problem, because it will only affect quotes of messages that were edited during H&A day.

In other words it's the timing of the message being quoted, not the timing of the act of quotation.

[ 15. February 2013, 05:06: Message edited by: orfeo ]
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Ah, Ok. Then I will go back and tidy it.
 
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
Is the clock still buggered up from H&A Day? When I do an edit it's showing as 12 hours out of whack from the actual post.
 
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
*bump* Still happening. I make a post, and then if I edit it, the edit time stamp is 12 hours out from the time stamp for the original post (the original one being correct).
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
Don't know how many servers the Ship uses, but is the clock out of sync on just one of them, perhaps?
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
To enlarge on that, if editing a post is classed as an administrative function, it may be routed through a specific log, and pick up a timestamp there when it's forwarded.
 
Posted by A.Pilgrim (# 15044) on :
 
I found out a while ago that one can find out the number of a post within a thread (in order to link to that specific post) by hovering the cursor over the small 'page' symbol in the top left of the post heading. It used to work, but recently I've found that I no longer get the sequential number, but just a hyphen '-' (without the quotes) symbol. Does this happen for other shipmates (indicating a change in Ship software) or do others still get the number (indicating perhaps a browser problem for me)?
Thanks
Angus
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by A.Pilgrim:
I found out a while ago that one can find out the number of a post within a thread (in order to link to that specific post) by hovering the cursor over the small 'page' symbol in the top left of the post heading. It used to work, but recently I've found that I no longer get the sequential number, but just a hyphen '-' (without the quotes) symbol. Does this happen for other shipmates (indicating a change in Ship software) or do others still get the number (indicating perhaps a browser problem for me)?
Thanks
Angus

Just checked -- it works for me (using Internet Explorer).
 
Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
I doesn't work for me using Firefox. I have never tried it before.

Moo
 
Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
I get the url link displayed at the bottom left of the screen, and the link has the post number at the end (your post appears to be no 967). I'm using Firefox, and I'm not aware that it was ever displayed in any other way.
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
Works for me too using Google Chrome, but I am another who had never noticed this feature before. If I want to post a link to a specific post, I hover over the icon as described (although I've never bothered to look at the bottom of the screen), then right-click on the icon and choose "copy link address" from the menu.
 
Posted by A.Pilgrim (# 15044) on :
 
OK, thanks for the replies - I've got the post number in the URL at the bottom of the screen (but in IE I haven't found a way of copying the whole URL correctly). It must be the tiny pop-up window with the hyphen that confused me. It's a while since I tried the feature, and memory must have failed. My excuse is that it's been a long gloomy winter (and summer before it [Frown] )
Cheers, Angus

[ 10. March 2013, 18:53: Message edited by: A.Pilgrim ]
 
Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
In IE, if you right click on the page icon and choose 'copy shortcut' it should copy the url to your clipboard. It did for me anyway. I also got the hyphen on hovering.

Back to Firefox now...
 
Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :
 
Allow me to use this 46.6kb modem over a rural POTS line to tell you folk what a delightfully snappy lil web site y'all got.

This text-heavy, graphics-light BBS blows the doors off the competition.

Don't ever change it.

Thanks!
 
Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :
 
Still snappy at 14.4!
 
Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
ok another weird one.

I am used to the virus that puts hyperlinks into webpages.

What I want to know is if anyone knows of one that solely acts for readmill, does some intelligent sort of reading of your posts on the ship and then when you post something vaguely related to readmill puts a link into your sig! Yes that weird.

i.e. I am only seeing one link, only on one of my own posts for readmill in a post where I talk about reading.

Jengie
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
In all Saints, in the Face Book thread, no prophet mentions setting up computer to delete cookies at the end of every session. How does this affect speed of getting on to a page in SoF please?
 
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
In all Saints, in the Face Book thread, no prophet mentions setting up computer to delete cookies at the end of every session. How does this affect speed of getting on to a page in SoF please?

Someone might correct this, but I *think* cookies only affect logging in, and whether a page shows as having new unread entries. The actual loading of pages wouldn't be affected. I think.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
orfeo

Thank you for your help. I think, in that case, that I have only a few cookies! [Smile]
 
Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
quote:
The Silent Acolyte: Allow me to use this 46.6kb modem over a rural POTS line to tell you folk what a delightfully snappy lil web site y'all got.

This text-heavy, graphics-light BBS blows the doors off the competition.

I have accessed the Ship over slow connections as well, and it works rather good (although I can forget about the two minutes edit window).
 
Posted by ChaliceGirl (# 13656) on :
 
What happened to my signature? I still have it in Settings, but I post its not showing up. [Confused]
 
Posted by ChaliceGirl (# 13656) on :
 
Now it's showing up...but it doesn't always..
Um..OK? [Confused]
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
That happened to me at while ago. If I remember rightly, it's a glitch in the software: you don't get the sig, if you were logged out, then reply to a post and directly log in there and then. Apparently, the sig shows up however, if you log in first, then go to the thread and post. Or something of that sort.

At the bottom of each 'post a reply' window, you have some 'options': make sure that 'show signature' is checked if you post directly.
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by ChaliceGirl:
Now it's showing up...but it doesn't always..
Um..OK? [Confused]

Yep, as I said: Your sig-less affliction here has just been replicated by me here and - with sig, because already logged in! - with my earlier post just there.

By the way: if you write a direct reply having been logged out, you won't get the preview post feature either, as discussed in March 2009 here. (Good old late Leetle Masha. Time flies. [Angel] )
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I have an iMac: I can never ever get on to the Ship's Cafe on it, but I have no trouble on the PCs at school. Is there a fault in somebody's software?
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sir Kevin:
I have an iMac: I can never ever get on to the Ship's Cafe on it, but I have no trouble on the PCs at school. Is there a fault in somebody's software?

Are the PCs at school also Macs?!

There's a fix of sorts here. It sounds like you need to update the software on your Mac.

Tubbs
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
PCs at school are Dells, mostly. They run on Windows. I'll try the fix.
 
Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
Since today, when I want to put a link in a post using the URL button, there is a new box that asks me (in Portuguese) "Prevent this page from creating additional dialogue boxes."

Is this something new? Or is it a Chrome thing?
 
Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
Just ignore it. Nothing happens if you say yes. Nothing happens if you say no.

(I had this problem before and I think it was on Chrome.)
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
I was trying to send a PM, and got the following:

quote:
Ouch! An error has occured:

Unable to connect to the SMTP server. The following error was returned: Connection refused

The server either does not exist, or rejected the connection.

Please ensure that the UBB is allowed to relay mail through the server.

Please inform the board administration of this error so that they can abuse the vendor. Thanks!

Reporting the incident as ordered!

{Salutes.}
 
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by LeRoc:
Since today, when I want to put a link in a post using the URL button, there is a new box that asks me (in Portuguese) "Prevent this page from creating additional dialogue boxes."

Is this something new? Or is it a Chrome thing?

It's a Chrome feature that you will be glad of if you ever accidentally click to a page that auto-generates many tabs of ads.
 
Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
An odd problem has developed recently.

For years I have done links by typing [url= followed by the url, followed by a closing bracket. Then comes the name of the link and finally [/url]. Suddenly, the final [/url] does not come through. Preview post shows me the url and the title, but no closing bracket. The software loses it. If I have several links, this happens only to the last one. When I try to outwit it by omitting my last link, the software drops the [/url] from what has now become the last link.

Is this my computer or is it our creaky software?

Moo
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
Had to test it, because I don't usually use the Instant UBB code buttons. On my system at least (OS X 10.8/Chrome 27), it still seems to be including the final bracket. If you tell us what OS/browser you're running, I'll see if I've got an old machine capable of replicating the fault.
 
Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
I don't use the Instant UBB buttons either.

I am using Firefox.

Moo
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Not exactly technical support, but close enough that I did not wish to start another thread.

I clicked by name on one post to go to my profile in order to view recent posts. I noticed my post count there was 7000 yet elsewhere just 6994. (Now 5)
Why the difference?
And as an aside, I noticed my recent posts were grouped by day, but within that group were not in a noticeable order.
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
I think it's just one of those loveable idiosyncrasies of our creaky old software.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Hmmm, now it matches. Aha! It is part of the conspiracy. If you, erm, but consider the post count with....
Nope. Cannot manage to get anything other than you are probably correct.
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
It's due to the way the software displays post counts. Your post count will update correctly on the board to which you posted last, but it may take some time to filter through to the other boards. Those other boards will - for a short time - show your post count as it was when you last posted to them. The more prolific a poster you are, the greater the difference may become before the software catches up.

The same thing happens with signatures, by the way. If you change your sig, for a short while you will see the old sig at the bottom of your posts on boards you haven't posted to since the change.

As far as I know, it has always been thus. This one isn't directly due to the age of the boards, though that may well be a factor in how quickly they manage to catch up with your posts.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
It's due to the way the software displays post counts. Your post count will update correctly on the board to which you posted last, but it may take some time to filter through to the other boards. Those other boards will - for a short time - show your post count as it was when you last posted to them. The more prolific a poster you are, the greater the difference may become before the software catches up.

The same thing happens with signatures, by the way. If you change your sig, for a short while you will see the old sig at the bottom of your posts on boards you haven't posted to since the change.

As far as I know, it has always been thus. This one isn't directly due to the age of the boards, though that may well be a factor in how quickly they manage to catch up with your posts.

It's probably worse now that more posts are kept on line.

I always said Oblivion was a bad idea [Disappointed]
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
It's probably worse now that more posts are kept on line.

That certainly means that reindexing the boards (which fixes these sort of problems) takes considerably longer.
 
Posted by Arabella Purity Winterbottom (# 3434) on :
 
quote:
FYI
Error: No board selected

» Please use your browser's back button to return, unless you got this because of flood control, in which case the back button will just try to screw with you. Sorry about that.


I've been getting this message frequently and randomly when I click on boards, threads, go to make an answer, or use the back button. Its taken me 7 goes to be able to post this message (this is the first of those goes where I've got to the Post a Reply screen). Its been going on for about 2 weeks now.

This is now my 8th try! When I clicked Add Reply, I was put right back to the Boards Home without my post being added. Definitely screwing with me.
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
Have you tried changing your DNS settings? Might be worth a try.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Thank you for the explanation, MtM. This clarifies the idiosyncratic nature of the Old Tub.
 
Posted by Og, King of Bashan (# 9562) on :
 
Is the left column of the front page stuck on Saturday night / Sunday morning? No matter how many times I visit the Ship, and no matter what device I visit on, it shows that there are 39 members actively discussing various topics, and the order of topics has no resemblance to the order on the main board pages (Right Wingers Cant be Christians is the top post, and the bottom Heaven post is stuck on Can You Read Music).
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
It's probably still catching up from the server migration on Sunday morning.
 
Posted by St Deird (# 7631) on :
 
Is part of the "If we found the bones of Jesus" thread missing?

The first post I can see is by David, on the 14th of October at 8:40 am. But it's referencing earlier discussion, which I can't find - and in trying to track it down, I went through Rolyn's post history, which lists 3 posts by Rolyn in the thread, but only one of them seems to be showing up.

...Just me?
 
Posted by David (# 3) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by St Deird:
...Just me?

Nope, looks pretty rooted.
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
Seems OK to me now. This sort of thing does have a habit of popping up from time to time, and it usually goes away again eventually.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
I have a laptop! It's going to take me quite a while to get used to, as apart from difficulty with the routerand using it in different -parts of the house, I have to get used to the key strokes for SuperNova on laptops. However, my question at the moment is: do I have to register to be on the forum there, or can I just log in using name and password?
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
Your Ship login and password will be the same regardless of the hardware/software combination you are currently using.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
Thank you. I will do that as soon as I can.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Completely trivial to board usage, but possibly indicative of real problems.

When viewing from the Community page, I've noticed that the most recent post listed on board is not always the actual most recent post. Even after refreshing.
More likely spilled coffee on the decking than signs of a leak, but thought I'd mention.
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Sometimes posts get lifted out of order when someone posts them deletes their post. The software knows that deleted post existed.
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
I thought it was a managed feed, to exclude Hell and possible bad language, so presumably it's a batch job to do the extract, every hour or some-such.
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
For a while now, after I hit "Add reply" I get the usual message of "Coming soon: your deep and meaningful thoughts in print." But then that message never goes away. My deep and meaningful thoughts are posted, but the screen just doesn't change. I have to open the Ship in another tab and window to continue.
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by passer:
I thought it was a managed feed, to exclude Hell and possible bad language, so presumably it's a batch job to do the extract, every hour or some-such.

It's the top 7 threads in Purg, the top 3 in Eccles and the top 1 in Heaven. I don't know how often it refreshes, but hourly is certainly plausible.
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
For a while now, after I hit "Add reply" I get the usual message of "Coming soon: your deep and meaningful thoughts in print." But then that message never goes away. My deep and meaningful thoughts are posted, but the screen just doesn't change. I have to open the Ship in another tab and window to continue.

Weird. There might be something in the "Coming soon" page that's causing your browser to freeze, though I'm not sure what that would be.

Is your browser set up to not allow a page to automatically redirect to another, or something? If you click on the thread name in the "Coming soon" page will it take you there, or does the whole tab stop working?
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
For a while now, after I hit "Add reply" I get the usual message of "Coming soon: your deep and meaningful thoughts in print." But then that message never goes away. My deep and meaningful thoughts are posted, but the screen just doesn't change. I have to open the Ship in another tab and window to continue.

Weird. There might be something in the "Coming soon" page that's causing your browser to freeze, though I'm not sure what that would be.

Is your browser set up to not allow a page to automatically redirect to another, or something? If you click on the thread name in the "Coming soon" page will it take you there, or does the whole tab stop working?

I don't have this problem with any other page or website. I can click on the thread name to get back to my post -- I just don't know how long to wait to be sure it's posted. So I can never edit my post once it's up; I just have to proof carefully before posting. Not a major problem, just a bit vexing.
 
Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
I think you're OK to click on it as soon as it appears - speaking as someone with no patience (for websites) who always clicks rather than waiting.
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Drifting Star:
I think you're OK to click on it as soon as it appears - speaking as someone with no patience (for websites) who always clicks rather than waiting.

I'll try that.


It worked -- thanks!

[ 08. November 2013, 15:58: Message edited by: Pigwidgeon ]
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
I can click on the thread name to get back to my post -- I just don't know how long to wait to be sure it's posted.

If you see the "Coming Soon" page at all, it's posted.

In fact, it will generally have posted even if your PC freezes before ever getting to the "Coming soon" page. Clicking on "Add Reply" is the only thing that has to happen for a post to be made.

I suspect this sort of thing has been the root cause of many double posts over the years!
 
Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Another recent problem. A post will appear Ok, but when I hit the back button to return to the menu for the particular board, I get a drop down box asking if I want to send a for again. When this happened the first time, I clicked Yes and there was a double post. Now I click cancel, open a new screen and make my way back to the Ship's boards.

Are others having this problem? I use Safari, and there was an update the other day.
 
Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gee D:
Another recent problem. A post will appear Ok, but when I hit the back button to return to the menu for the particular board, I get a drop down box asking if I want to send a for again. When this happened the first time, I clicked Yes and there was a double post. Now I click cancel, open a new screen and make my way back to the Ship's boards.

Are others having this problem? I use Safari, and there was an update the other day.

I thought this was always the way that this (and many other boards) worked. After you've just made a post, the logical page you would go 'back' to is the page where you wrote the post. I don't know why you would expect it to go all the way back to the thread list, because that has to be at least 3 pages prior.

The easiest way to go back to the menu of the the board you're on is either scroll to the bottom and use the 'Go To' option, or scroll to the top and click on the board name. Which is easier depends on where you happen to be on the page.

[ 11. November 2013, 08:10: Message edited by: orfeo ]
 
Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Thanks - I'll try that. It's just that there has been a change, and not for the better.
 
Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
What happens for me when I post a reply on a thread is that I get a "Wait for it…" window, then I am redirected to the thread which now has my post on it.

Once I am on the thread again, if I press the 'Back' button then it takes me back to the posting process (i.e. back to the last window I visited) with a message about whether I really want to do that.

IIRC this has always been how it is.

[ 12. November 2013, 12:27: Message edited by: BroJames ]
 
Posted by Thyme (# 12360) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
For a while now, after I hit "Add reply" I get the usual message of "Coming soon: your deep and meaningful thoughts in print." But then that message never goes away. My deep and meaningful thoughts are posted, but the screen just doesn't change. I have to open the Ship in another tab and window to continue.

This started happening to me a while ago. I used to hit the 'Community' button at the top of the screen to get back. Very annoying because I often missed the edit window.

It fixed itself when I cleared ('reformatted'?) my hard drive and installed a brand new operating system (windows 8). So far everything is fine again.
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gee D:
It's just that there has been a change, and not for the better.

It wasn't us who changed - it must have been the Safari update.
 
Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Yes, I think that's right. I'm now using the trick Orfeo pointed out and at the end, creating a new screen, exiting the old. It swords well thanks.
 
Posted by Jammy Dodger (# 17872) on :
 
Where has the Welcome Aboard thread gone? Seen a few newbies arrive and thought I'd click on the thread but it seems to have vanished?
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Heavens to Betsy! Swept away by the Doom Broom in the last tidy up!

I'll see if an Admin can retrieve it.

Firenze
AS Host

 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
And they have.

Post away, JD.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
With my SuperNova software, it is best to set Tools Options to 'ignore colours and fonts'. The layout of the dialog box thing for doing this has changed and I seem to have changed the size of the font which used to be - nice, clear Arial. For instance, I've just done a preview and the font doesn't look the same size. I use the voice, but having the magnification on too helps me orientate myself round the screen and if I need to I can put it up very high and peer! May I ask if someone would be kind enough please to have a look at that dialog box and see if there's a place where this can be changed? Ah yes, I remember to add I'm now on IE10, which they also updated for me and which probably doesn't help!

The software has had a new patch which upset a few of my SuperNova settings , and I think maybe a few of theirs too!, which means I haven't been able to join a thread I'd like to!! [Smile]

[ 22. December 2013, 07:28: Message edited by: SusanDoris ]
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
I think I have, quite by accident, solved the problem. [Smile] The voice said 67%, and I realised that it was saing the figure at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. I'd never thought of that, so I changed it back to 100%.... and am keeping my fingers crossed! All seems well so far.
 
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on :
 
The Hell thread "Offenderati" shows as having two pages, but the first four on the second page appear to me to be the same as the last four on the preceding page. Not sure if that's just me seeing that, though.
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
My other half just told me the same thing. Time for a re-indexing methinks.
 
Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
I've tried getting into the cafe on my ipad but it keeps trying to open a Dropbox file.

Is it possible to open the cafe on a tablet?

(Apologies if this is an old query, I tried to search for an answer but couldn't find one)
 
Posted by Alex Cockell (# 7487) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Chocoholic:
I've tried getting into the cafe on my ipad but it keeps trying to open a Dropbox file.

Is it possible to open the cafe on a tablet?

(Apologies if this is an old query, I tried to search for an answer but couldn't find one)

Tablets preclude the use of Java SE - so no joy there, unless or until there was a tech change to how the cafe worked.

Over tablets generally - would help if there was a more touch-friendly skin - as it means pinching to grow then reaching for a stylus to advance to the next page in a thread....
 
Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
Thanks Alex, I'd not thought of that.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
I realise that this is not really a fair question, because it's probably got something to do with my Dolphin SuperNova (13.53) software, but it does seem to have a strong M/S connection too, so I'm just wondering whether anyone has any ideas. I was on the phone to ~Dolphin Tech Support this afternoon, and it seems to be a problem for them too.

For all the years I've been using a computer, to highlight and then copy or delete a line, or a paragraph when, for instance, composing posts, I have put the cursor at the end, then done Control+Shift+up arrow. This has highlighted the part I want. Now when I do that, on any window on the internet as far as I can see, everything above that line is highlighted. I have tried a test in the UB Practice thread, which failed.

If anyone has any solution, I would be most grateful.
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
For all the years I've been using a computer, to highlight and then copy or delete a line, or a paragraph when, for instance, composing posts, I have put the cursor at the end, then done Control+Shift+up arrow. This has highlighted the part I want. Now when I do that, on any window on the internet as far as I can see, everything above that line is highlighted. I have tried a test in the UB Practice thread, which failed.

If anyone has any solution, I would be most grateful.

Ctrl+Shift+Up arrow highlights all the way to the top of the selected paragraph in Internet Explorer. Shift+Home works to highlight a single line once the cursor is placed at the end.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:

Ctrl+Shift+Up arrow highlights all the way to the top of the selected paragraph in Internet Explorer. Shift+Home works to highlight a single line once the cursor is placed at the end.

Thank you very much for your help. Re the Ctrl Shift Up Arrow, I think there must be a glitch in my IE then, because I've just tried it on an edit area like this and it highlighted right to the top.
The Shift Home one I didn't know, but have tried for a line and it worked. [Smile] So, fingers crossed, that's one problem solved.
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
I've just got a spam PM from a new 'member'. Who do I contact on this, please? Ta muchly. [Paranoid]
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
A spam account has just been locked. PM me to make sure it is the same one.

Everyone, else-- if you receive a message requesting you urgently contact someone at a linked email-- do not respond. And for God's sake, don't click that link.
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Actually never mind-- enough people have gotten the same exact PM that I have no problem outing the sender. If any of you have a PM waiting for you from monico, delete without reading. The account has been locked.
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Thank you, axe-wielding bunny. [Overused]
 
Posted by Marama (# 330) on :
 
As we are travelling with only one computer between us, my [shipmate] husband and I are sharing it. I am logged in to the Ship, but if he wants to post something, can he log me out and log himself in instead?

Hitting "logout" seems only to provoke the automatic message " you can never leave".
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
You should be able to log out, and the other log in. I don't know why that's not working.

An alternative approach is to install a different browser. One of you can be logged on in Chrome, the other in InternetExplorer (or, whichever two browsers you have).
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
OK, I've just logged out (for the first time in years!) and got the "You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave" message. Which is the result of an Admin with a sense of humour.

But, above that is a link to either login or register. ie: it might say "you can never leave" but you have left! Or, at least, I had left.
 
Posted by Marama (# 330) on :
 
That tip worked in Internet Explorer but not in Mozilla Firefox.

With Firefox, the line under "ship of fools' remins unchanged after hitting 'logout' ; it offers 'register', 'my profile' etc but NOT 'login' as an option.

We have 'solved' the problem by me logging in under Mozilla and him under IE, so we have a work aroudn but the ship still has a technical issue for the IT gurus to work on.
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
If it's working in some browsers but not others, then it's probably a browser issue rather than one with the Ship itself. I don't have Firefox so I can't try to replicate the problem myself.
 
Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
I just logged out and I'm using the latest version of Firefox.

[shudder] That was weird. [Ultra confused]
 
Posted by Taliesin (# 14017) on :
 
All afternoon, the ship was offline... or was it just me? It said closed for maintenance.

you WILL survive!

but since there is no comment here, I'm wondering if it was just me. [Eek!]
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
I noticed it as well. Doubting the "reassuring" message I might have, survive I did. Though my keepers now bear mental scars beyond the most twisted existential imaginings. Two needed to be restrained themselves. Not quite sure I quite trust the one who seemed to manage unscathed.
 
Posted by Gracious rebel (# 3523) on :
 
quote:
I noticed it as well. Doubting the "reassuring" message I might have, survive I did. Though my keepers now bear mental scars beyond the most twisted existential imaginings. Two needed to be restrained themselves. Not quite sure I quite trust the one who seemed to manage unscathed.
Wasn't just you, I couldn't get in either.

(ETA quote added for context. Don't you just hate it when your one liner appears at the top of a new page?!)

[ 06. February 2014, 15:25: Message edited by: Gracious rebel ]
 
Posted by Gracious rebel (# 3523) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Taliesin:
All afternoon, the ship was offline... or was it just me? It said closed for maintenance.

you WILL survive!

but since there is no comment here, I'm wondering if it was just me. [Eek!]

OK lets try again, having completely screwed up my last post by editing it to include the post I thought I was referring to, but it turned out that another one had snuck in since I started writing, so copying the last post on the previous page didn't do the trick!

All I was trying to say was, yes I noticed the 'outage' too.
 
Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
Me three, but at least five times today and yesterday--and usually "fixed" again within five seconds to five minutes. Very weird. (Might have been an Unknown Force preventing me from posting garbage)
 
Posted by Taliesin (# 14017) on :
 
I was out for ages... i noticed cos I'm not usually hanging around the ship for any length of time, but am sick, so was.
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
Me three, but at least five times today and yesterday--and usually "fixed" again within five seconds to five minutes. Very weird. (Might have been an Unknown Force preventing me from posting garbage)

We've been having to do a lot of reindexing and rebuilding lately. You may notice Oblivion has been pruned in an effort to make it less of an albatross around our necks, for example. Just some of the behind-the-scenes stuff that has to be done to keep this old boat sailing.
 
Posted by Taliesin (# 14017) on :
 
well, many thanks, crewmates all. You're doing an amazing task for which we are most grateful. [Smile]
 
Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
[Overused]
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
(Might have been an Unknown Force preventing me from posting garbage)

If that force worked reliably, my post count would be much lower.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
Me three, but at least five times today and yesterday--and usually "fixed" again within five seconds to five minutes. Very weird. (Might have been an Unknown Force preventing me from posting garbage)

We've been having to do a lot of reindexing and rebuilding lately. You may notice Oblivion has been pruned in an effort to make it less of an albatross around our necks, for example. Just some of the behind-the-scenes stuff that has to be done to keep this old boat sailing.
The nautical term is "jetsam".

On a serious note have the pruned threads been archived so that come the Great Day on which a shiny new Ship of Fools sets sail, they can be restored to a complete(ish) and searchable Oblivion?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
I've just been deleting individual threads ... but in almost all cases threads which are duplicated (eg: the copy left behind on one board when a thread is moved, because they weren't always deleted before the shift to Oblivion, and also there appears to have been at least two occasions when the software made two copies in Oblivion when we tidied up the main boards).
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Thanks for the reassurance Alan.
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
Me three, but at least five times today and yesterday--and usually "fixed" again within five seconds to five minutes. Very weird. (Might have been an Unknown Force preventing me from posting garbage)

We've been having to do a lot of reindexing and rebuilding lately. You may notice Oblivion has been pruned in an effort to make it less of an albatross around our necks, for example. Just some of the behind-the-scenes stuff that has to be done to keep this old boat sailing.
The nautical term is "jetsam".

On a serious note have the pruned threads been archived so that come the Great Day on which a shiny new Ship of Fools sets sail, they can be restored to a complete(ish) and searchable Oblivion?

Unfortunately at the moment the Ship doesn't have access to an off server archive so they're gone forever. Sorry. [Frown]

Oblivion's like any store cupboard, there's only so much you cram in before it gets so full that everything falls out and lands on your head.

Tubbs
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
I suppose we could have something like a statute of limitation? 7 years and that's it, unless you can make a compelling case for any particular thread, Shipmates. Have an Oblivion annual day! Bring out your dead or they are gone, gone, gone! Use Limbo and Glory to preserve the stuff we think falls into the real "keep indefinitely" category.

That might take the pressure off a bit.
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
Whilst appreciative of the surrounding issues, I am rather despondent, having just discovered that eighteen (yes, 18) of my bookmarked favourite threads are now deleted.

Should it prove necessary to undertake a further exercise of this kind, might it just be possible to provide a week or two's notice so that some copying and pasting might take place, rather than be presented with a fait accompli?


 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Our policy is clearly stated in the FAQs. Any thread that hasn't been posted on for more than 2 weeks may be removed to Oblivion without notice. That some hosts post a notice warning of such a move in advance is a kindness, and is not something we require of them. But, rest assured, if your favourite thread has only just gone it will be in Oblivion or Limbo. Just go and look for it, it's going to be quite easy now ... though well nigh impossible in a years time.
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
You misunderstand, or perhaps I'm insufficiently precise. The threads I've lost were already in Oblivion, unfortunately. However, thank you for responding - I guess I shall just have to lump it.


 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by passer:
You misunderstand, or perhaps I'm insufficiently precise. The threads I've lost were already in Oblivion, unfortunately. However, thank you for responding - I guess I shall just have to lump it.


Ideally there would have been an announcement so people could have saved their favourite threads. In this instance, it wasn't possible and I'm sorry for that. I'll unpack this a bit more tomorrow when I'm not out and about and only able to access on my phone.

Tubbs
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
When Oblivion was set up around 2006, it was intended to be a complete repository for all the threads on the Ship as any one of them could be of interest to someone. (Limbo is more a showcase). But until Oblivion started filling up, no one really appreciated just how much discussion happens here or the impact that a board that only ever continually increases in size would have. My personal estimate if that Oblivion hadn’t been pruned back periodically then it would be heading rapidly towards 2,000 pages by now. Each page holds 25 threads so you do the math.

Once Oblivion starts touching 700 plus pages, the rest of the Ship starts creaking. When that happens, one of us goes in and flushes the Oblivion's bilge tank, does a rebuild and often that fixes things. If that doesn’t work then pease hits the engines with a hammer. Unfortunately, the need to fix things NOW means it hasn’t been possible to give people a heads up that Oblivion is about to be tidied.

Going forward, whilst we're in our current space, the plan is to keep Oblivion around the size it is now – so it acts as more as a rolling archive than a complete repository. As and when new software and more server space become available, that will change. What this means in practice is that whilst bookmarking your favourite threads so you can revisit them later is an excellent idea, if you want to keep the thread forever, then save it locally. I've up-dated the board intro so this is clearer.

Tubbs
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
Thanks - I understand. Can you provide a link to the new board intro update please - I can't find it.

For clarity, may I assume that Limbo threads are effectively secure for the time being?

For info, at the moment I seem to be unable to access board 70 (using this address. I get a return of "no such thread number exists", as you will see. Without a start thread number, I can't navigate, obviously. Does this mean that I need to have some index knowledge before I can proceed, or is the board currently locked?


 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by passer:
Thanks - I understand. Can you provide a link to the new board intro update please - I can't find it.

For clarity, may I assume that Limbo threads are effectively secure for the time being?

For info, at the moment I seem to be unable to access board 70 (using this address. I get a return of "no such thread number exists", as you will see. Without a start thread number, I can't navigate, obviously. Does this mean that I need to have some index knowledge before I can proceed, or is the board currently locked?


Your link contains an extra piece of code, try this one. There's also a link to Oblivion on the front page of Limbo. You gave me a horrible fright btw.

The change to Oblivion's intro is shown below in bold italics:

quote:

It's not exactly appropriate to say a breezy "Hi and welcome to Oblivion!" so we won't. Old threads come here when they're dead and gone. They range from mildly interesting to terminally dull. Feel free to browse, but don't say we didn't warn you. Oblivion does get tidied up occasionally, so if you want to keep your favourite thread forever, save it locally.. If you'd rather look at threads which the hosts picked out for their intelligence and wit, click here for Limbo. Please note: you cannot post messages on any of the threads here – they have been archived for reading only.

There are no plans to delete any threads from Limbo. If that ever changes, there will be plenty of notice.

Tubbs

[ 10. February 2014, 21:28: Message edited by: Tubbs ]
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
Thanks, and sorry for frightening you - my messed-up link Bad! [Hot and Hormonal]


 
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on :
 
I get a "500 internal error" when attempting to post on the Mafia thread in Circus. I can't say I do anything odd in particular other than write a long post and press "add reply". I finally managed to get it in, but having to correct some right-spellings, I wanted to edit it, but got the same error message. I also could not preview - it took forever to load.
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
The Donate by UK credit card link is, apparently, screwed. I will keep the money until I hear it has been sorted.
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
Screwed in what way?
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Sorry Spike - I clicked on the UK Sterling link and it took me to a page for Donate by credit card asking for an amount so I entered that*, clicked Send and got a 404 message.

*Perhaps it doesn't like dealing in groats and farthings.

[ 05. March 2014, 07:37: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
My avatar (lightbulb on black background) appears to have just disappered [Waterworks]

[ 05. March 2014, 22:24: Message edited by: Barnabas62 ]
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
... and is now back. Had to reset my profile for some reason.
 
Posted by TheAlethiophile (# 16870) on :
 
I just tried to quote a post earlier, by clicking the shortcut indicated by the quotation marks and got this message:
quote:
This is none of your business. Go away.

» Please use your browser's back button to return, unless you got this because of flood control, in which case the back button will just try to screw with you. Sorry about that.

What's going on? Can someone choose to not be quoted? [Confused]

Evidently, it's not all quotes, otherwise I wouldn't have managed the above quote.
 
Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
Are you sure you didn't inadvertently click on the next icon, the editing one? Clicking on that if it's not your post will give you that message.

Moo
 
Posted by TheAlethiophile (# 16870) on :
 
That's a possibility. [Hot and Hormonal]
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
An FYI.
On the main Community page, I see a brand new thread The Gaping Maw of Hell (Mere Nick) shown as the newest post for Purgatory. I can click on it and read.
However, on the main Purgatory page, it does not appear at all. Refreshing the pages does not change this.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Alright, now it is there. Still weird.
 
Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
I just tried to change my sig but, when I tried to save it, I got the message that there were problems with my email address: there were spaces in it. I didn't attempt to change my email address, but the actual address doesn't display - the relevant box just shows my name.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
According to what the Admins see, there are no spaces in your email address. Very strange.
 
Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Got the same message again, so re-entered same old password and all seems to be OK now.

eta: Ah. Except that the new sig did not save. [Frown]
Have you got a ban on cute puppy links?

2 eta: Clearly not.

[ 02. July 2014, 17:00: Message edited by: QLib ]
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by QLib:
cute puppy links

[Axe murder]
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
If it's possible, could someone please tell me how to tick a box somewhere which will mean that I am notified of another poster's posts?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
There is no such box to tick.

If you click on the post count number below a post you will get a list of the last 50 posts they have made on boards you have access to.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
Alan Cresswell

Thank you for your help.
 
Posted by Potoroo (# 13466) on :
 
Can someone please tell me how to pinpoint another person's post? It doesn't seem to be on the "UBB Code" instructions.

I have seen people do it, but I don't know how. I am wanting to show a link jumping to another person's post halfway down an another thread, or even on another Ship board, so that I can say, "After reading this post, I think blah blah blah."

I hope this makes sense. Thank you in advance!
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
Immediately above the post is a line that shows the date and time of the post. To the left of that is a small icon that looks a bit like a sheet of paper with the right hand corner folded in. Right-click on that icon, and on the drop down menu choose the option "Copy Link", then paste the link in the post as you would with any URL.

Hope this makes sense. If not, ask and I'll try to clarify.
 
Posted by Potoroo (# 13466) on :
 
Thanks, Spike. That seems pretty clear. I'll try it.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Is The Ship subject to short absences just at the moment? I'm getting 'undergoing maintenance' messages sporadically' but they don't last.
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
We're in the process of tidying things up and moving threads to Oblivion. Each time we do this the boards have to be re-indexed which temporarily makes the boards unavailable. As you've noticed, this takes a very short space of time.
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
So you know that reindex I tried that shut the ship down for a couple hours? Now it only takes a short time!

Try an Oblivion search, too!

[Yipee] [Yipee]

[ 11. January 2015, 16:50: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
I sent a load of threads to Oblivion yesterday, so search is probably broken again.
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
I thought thar's what reindexing is for. No?
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
Hi. Are we having a re-indexing, or a system burp, or something? Times, personal info, etc. are all missing. It looks like I'm not logged in, even though I logged in again, just to make sure.

Thanks.
 
Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
Please can someone point me to the Quotes file?

Mrs. S, mystified
 
Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
Here you go.
 
Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
Thank you passer!
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
The edit post button seems to have disappeared. At least on my iPad using Safari.
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
An extra special encouragement to preview post? [Two face]

It's still here on Firefox/Windows 7.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Eutychus:
An extra special encouragement to preview post? [Two face]

It's still here on Firefox/Windows 7.

That is truly funny. [Smile] Everything is cool on my iPhone as well.
As I also use Firefox/Win 7, I suspect that will be so as well for me.
 
Posted by Sipech (# 16870) on :
 
When I try to post some links, I get an error message saying that URLs with parentheses in them are not permitted. While it's simple enough to bypass with a URL shortener, I wondered why this was?

Here is an example of a page that can't be linked to unless using such a shortener. If you hover over the link you'll see it says bitly address rather than Wikipedia.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
It's a "feature" of the basically obselete software we're running here.
 
Posted by Alaric the Goth (# 511) on :
 
I'm getting a ridiculous number of 'pop-up' adverts today including one or two that look distinctly dodgy. One of these is offering 'Tech support' to stop pop-up ads (!!), which looks very suspicious. Any advice? (I've run various Norton security checks)
 
Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alaric the Goth:
I'm getting a ridiculous number of 'pop-up' adverts today including one or two that look distinctly dodgy. One of these is offering 'Tech support' to stop pop-up ads (!!), which looks very suspicious. Any advice? (I've run various Norton security checks)

Malwarebytes - demo (fully functioning) version is free. Make sure you download it from their website.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
An odd thing has been happening: I have been typing responses on a Word doc and for the last two days, when I type ..., or -, or single quotes, highlighted, copied and pasted into the edit area, the preview comes out with : K, |V, or something else - which I've forgotten! I've got round this by deleting the marks on doc, and putting them in in the edit area. Any ideas, please?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
First guess, Word is auto-replacing what you type with special characters that the software here doesn't recognise.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
First guess, Word is auto-replacing what you type with special characters that the software here doesn't recognise.

Thank you. Ah, well, I'll cross my fingers and hope that it will have sorted itself out by tomorrow!!
 
Posted by Enoch (# 14322) on :
 
I don't normally follow this board. However, I have just had a private message from a new joiner, an Apprentice, which I'm fairly sure is merely a circular about a campaign he or she is particularly interested in. It's a cause that may or may not be worthy. I'm not sure and I'm inclined not to give it the benefit of the doubt. It could be some sort of spam.

It relates to a campaign in a different country from mine. So I suspect, I will not be the only person to have received this. It's possible that he or she may just be working through the entire list of Shipmates and messaging all of us.

Anyway, I've deleted it and have no intention of responding.

Three questions:-
1. Am I right in thinking this is a misuse not just of Private Messages but of the Ship?
2. Have others had the same sort of message? and
3. Is there anything more I need to do about this?
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Enoch:
1. Am I right in thinking this is a misuse not just of Private Messages but of the Ship?
2. Have others had the same sort of message? and
3. Is there anything more I need to do about this?

  1. Yes, but on the fringes of enforceability.
  2. Yes, this is not unprecedented.
  3. No, and thanks for flagging this. Though I wouldn't mind if you contacted me (or another Admin) directly as to the identity of the PM Spammer.

 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
I'm not sure if this is the right place for this question: a friend of mine is quite interested wen I tell her about topics on this forum - I've given her a link for her to have a browse, but for some reason, she has never followed it! She says, 'what did they say?' but I point out that when a topic runs into pages, I couldn't begin to describe itand can't read it out to her since I only listen anyway.

She phoned me today and suggested a question she'd seen in a book on philosophy which is: 'How can you know what is true?' I said that I thought this has probably been covered in many ways already, but I'm no good at searching for things, and would be most grateful if someone would be kind enough to do a quick search and check?

Thank you.
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
I'm not sure I understand what you're asking. Do you want to know how to search for a topic on the Ship?
 
Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
I did a quick search of what SusanDoris seems to be looking for, but couldn't find such a thread easily.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
Spike and Leroc

Thank you for your help - much appreciated. I'm not sure that I can construct a suitable OP, but will give it a try.
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
I hope this is the right thread to ask.

A fellow Shippie has apparently changed her e-mail address on the boards and/or her password. She says she cannot log in any longer, and claims having not received any message or new password from the Ship.

She has filled in the 'Contact Us' form, but to no avail so far. Any ideas on how she can get back in?

Many thanks. [Smile]
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
If it's who I think it is, I sent the login details by email a few days ago. Get her to check her spam folder.
 
Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
And lo, it was like the prophet, Spike, had predicted, and there was great rejoicing and praising of the Lord. Selah! [Smile]

Ta muchly.

[ 30. May 2016, 22:52: Message edited by: Wesley J ]
 
Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Something has gone wrong with my e-mail address and as a result I am transferring everything to a new e-mail address.

When I attempted to change my e-mail address in my Ship profile, I got a message saying that my new address was not acceptable because it "must contain an @ sign." It does contain an @ sign, so what is the problem?
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by North East Quine:
Something has gone wrong with my e-mail address and as a result I am transferring everything to a new e-mail address.

When I attempted to change my e-mail address in my Ship profile, I got a message saying that my new address was not acceptable because it "must contain an @ sign." It does contain an @ sign, so what is the problem?

The Ship's software has decided it doesn't like you. No technical reason for it; it's just cranky like that.

Let us know if you have any problems logging in or posting.
 
Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
How do I access my pms when on the Ship? I couldn't find any indication from my profile page, and have to go back into my email to use the link mailed to me. When a new message comes in, of course there's no problem, but sometimes I just want to re-read something whilst already logged in.
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by jacobsen:
How do I access my pms when on the Ship? I couldn't find any indication from my profile page, and have to go back into my email to use the link mailed to me. When a new message comes in, of course there's no problem, but sometimes I just want to re-read something whilst already logged in.

Not sure what profile link you're clicking but I can see my PMs if I click on the "My Profile" link underneath Post A Reply and next to the Directory, Search, FAQs and Board Home link at the top of the page.

If that doesn't work, then it's a sign from heaven of something ... Although I'm not sure what.

Tubbs
 
Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
On my screen there is no My Profile link under Post a Reply.
 
Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
On my screen there is no My Profile link under Post a Reply. Aha! clicking on the link at the top of the page works. I was clicking on the profile icon in my own posts. Problem solved. Thanks, Tubbs.
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
This morning my Android Tablet decided to log me out of The Ship and won't let me log back in again - indeed it denies I exist! I have checked in the mirror and I'm pretty sure I'm really here. This Desktop PC has no such problems hence me posting this.

Anyone got any ideas?

[Using the Desktop involves standing up and walking into another room and my knees are already having a bad day.]
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Stock answer: have you cleared cookies? (though I've no idea how to do that on Android)
 
Posted by ElaineC (# 12244) on :
 
Another stock answer: Have you rebooted the tablet?
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I also have no idea how to clear Android cookies but what I have done is a complete Factory Reset on the tablet and I have checked that the phone is also behaving in the same way - not signed in, can't sign in.

The weird thing is that this Windows 7 PC also gets its connection through USB Tethering to the same phone but it remains fine.

I think I may blame Bill Gates, either him or Uncle Pete.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
I think I may blame Bill Gates, either him or Uncle Pete.

Come to think of it, I've never seen Bill Gates and Uncle Pete at the same time... DUN DUN DUNNN.
 
Posted by no prophet's flag is set so... (# 15560) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
This morning my Android Tablet decided to log me out of The Ship and won't let me log back in again - indeed it denies I exist! I have checked in the mirror and I'm pretty sure I'm really here. This Desktop PC has no such problems hence me posting this.

Anyone got any ideas?

[Using the Desktop involves standing up and walking into another room and my knees are already having a bad day.]

What web browser are you using on the tablet. Some of them will not remember or not log in if you are on "incognito mode" or doing "private browsing".
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
I also have no idea how to clear Android cookies

Assuming you are using Chrome.*
After opening the browser, click on the three vertical dots on the top right.
Then click settings.
Down below, under the Advanced, are the two relevant links. Privacy and Site Settings.
PrivacyClick on this.
Then click on Clear browsing data at the very bottom.
Check the boxes of the things you wish to clear and the press Clear Data

After this, you will want to make sure that your browser is accepting cookies, so then back out to Settings and click on
Site settings.
You will see Cookies, click on that.
Make sure the setting is set to allow cookies.


*There will be similar with other browsers (or different versions of Chrome than the one I am using), but the paths and labels might be slightly different.
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Thanks lilBuddha, cookies all cleared, etc. but it is still denying my existence:

Sorry, we have no one registered with that name.

Yes, I generally use Chrome but I get the same result in UC Browser.

Hmmm, it is late, I shall sleep on it.
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Curiouser!

It now won't recognise my email address, despite it appearing in my profile on the desktop machine.

Could my Tablet be possessed of an evil spirit?

eta: all other functions are as normal, it is still signed in to things like the Quiz and all other sites that I use regularly - it appears to be a Ship's Peculiar - and no, I shall resist the temptation to name other peculiars of the Ship for fear of litigation as much as anything else...

...and it would be one hell of a list!

[ 15. September 2016, 12:34: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
You shouldn't need to enter your email address to login here. Where are you trying to enter it, that it's failing to recognise it?
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I was using the tablet to access my login details thinking that might be a way around it but apparently I must be a figment of your collective imaginations - you poor, sick, twisted people!

In a sense it doesn't worry me too much as I can access the Ship from this machine but that only works when I am at home - when away I usually rely on the Tablet. If this situation continues then when I go away Hosting just ain't possible unless I can find cyber-cafes and there aren't so many about these days as everyone has a Tablet or...

It just seems weird to me that everything else works on the Tablet except the Ship. I would log out here on the PC then check I can log in again but I'm worried I might just disappear in a puff of smoke!

Perhaps I'm a figment of my own imagination.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Try Firefox
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
WW--

If you want time off from hosting, just say so! [Biased]
 
Posted by no prophet's flag is set so... (# 15560) on :
 
If I understand the problem, it involves two browsers, Chrome and UC. These are different. If the problem involves both it is an upstream problem within something in the Android system on your tablet. I'm not an Android expert, but I understand Linux well, which is similarly based. I'd suspect something wrote something into some system file. Given info on the 'net reporting security, spyware and data problems with the UC browser makes me consider it as the culprit. I suspect no other website you use is UBB based other than the Ship. ?reset the tablet and start over? I know people hate doing that sort of thing.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
he did a factory reset.
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Yup, did full factory reset - it takes a while!
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Yes, good idea lilB, I'll try installing a version of Firefox for Android, even if I don't usually use Firefox any more.
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Same result with Firefox! No such shipmate as Welease Woderwick!
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
To my mind that points to an Android issue. And, you get the same thing on your phone (also Android?). But not the Windows PC.

If it was something related to an update to the Android OS that would explain both tablet and phone - but, we'd be seeing the problem for all Android users (at least all who haven't disabled automatic updating).

Do you have any security software running that might interfere with things? That would probably require the same thing running on the phone.

Have you checked that entering your username via a touchscreen rather than the PC keyboard isn't doing something funky, like not putting in the capital letters?
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
I attempted to log into the ship on my Adroid tablet, in both Chrome and Firefox. And I noticed something. The tablet wanted to add a space after my login name, especially if I used autofill. If I let it, the login failed.
WW, try typing in your name and make certain the blinking curser is flush against the last letter. On mine, when the curser is correctly positioned, the word is underlined.
After you enter your password and BEFORE you press login, click in the password window to make certain it has remained without the space.
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Tah-Dah!!!

lilBuddha you are a STAR!

I'm typing this on the Tablet and it works!

Panic over.

...but I still think that there are a lot of Ship's Peculiars about.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Because I helped gives you no right to bestow niceties upon me. Take it back
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I apologise unreservedly, I never meant to offend; in future I shall try to keep such feelings to myself and to present myself as the true misanthrope I am meant to be.

[Razz]
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
That takes me back about 50 years to a Peanuts cartoon with Linus telling Lucy that he was going to be a great philanthropist and Lucy replying that to do that he has to love humanity. His response is

quote:
I love humanity, it's people I can't stand!
Absolutely.
 
Posted by w_houle (# 9045) on :
 
I did a quick search and found some posts on live chat cafe not working due to java problems. the link provided
http://cafe.shipoffools.com/cafe_faqs.html
got an http 404 error
It seems that java doesn't like windows 10 and refuses to run it,any help?
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Whether or not Java runs also depends on which browser you use. Chrome has disabled Java and you have to jump through hoops to use it, but you can still use Java with Internet Explorer, after jumping through fewer hoops. (I have just reluctantly reinstalled Java on my work laptop for some education software - a fairly essential part of the only package my employer provides to teach most subjects and I need to train others in its use.)

Java had some serious loopholes that allowed the installation of malicious malware and there was a big scare in 2012, which is when most of us uninstalled Java from our machines That scare is over, but Java continues to have security loopholes
 
Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
On a new area, thanks Alan Cresswell for fixing the UBB coding on a post of mine yesterday. For some reason, the quote procedure failed all but completely, with no bolding, and leaving the commands such as [QB] in place. Others seemed also to be having similar problems, especially with the bolding.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
My Tech person was here the other day and has upgraded my IE to 11. This meant that all my log-ins were lost. I can log in easily, but have forgotten how to make it permanent. Could you advise, please.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
It is now 4th October and I have not had to log in again, so either I clicked the right thing without knowing, or someone here has fixed it, in which case, many thanks!
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
Could someone please tell me if I can link back to a post to which I have responded without hunting for it? Thank you.
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
Could someone please tell me if I can link back to a post to which I have responded without hunting for it? Thank you.

If you click where it says "Posts" at the bottom of your post, it will open a list of your last 50 posts. Then you can click on any of them.
 
Posted by Doc Tor (# 9748) on :
 
If it's beyond the last 50 posts, then don't use the search feature because it both sucks and blows.

You're better off using a google search along the lines of
code:
"SusanDoris" site:forum.ship-of-fools.com

If you can remember either the thread name or something distinctive word you used in your post, then better still.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
Could someone please tell me if I can link back to a post to which I have responded without hunting for it? Thank you.

If you click where it says "Posts" at the bottom of your post, it will open a list of your last 50 posts. Then you can click on any of them.
Thank you, but I mean is there any way I can link back to the person's post I'm replying to, the 'Originally posted by....'.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
To the top left of each post (next to the "Posted date/time") there is a little "sheet of paper" icon. That is a link to that particular post, so right click and select "copy link address" (or equivalent, depending on the browser you use) and you'll have a URL you can insert into your post.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
Thank you. Increasing the magnification I can se the little icon, so will experiment with it.
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
To the top left of each post (next to the "Posted date/time") there is a little "sheet of paper" icon. That is a link to that particular post, so right click and select "copy link address" (or equivalent, depending on the browser you use) and you'll have a URL you can insert into your post.

I'm really sorry - I'm obviously not explaining properly. I went back to your post, clicked on 'reply with quote' and arrived at this edit area. When I post this, is there a way I can click on something where it will say 'Originally posted by Alan cresswell' to link me back to your post I am quoting?
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
To the top left of each post (next to the "Posted date/time") there is a little "sheet of paper" icon. That is a link to that particular post, so right click and select "copy link address" (or equivalent, depending on the browser you use) and you'll have a URL you can insert into your post.

I'm really sorry - I'm obviously not explaining properly. I went back to your post, clicked on 'reply with quote' and arrived at this edit area. When I post this, is there a way I can click on something where it will say 'Originally posted by Alan cresswell' to link me back to your post I am quoting?

You'll need to copy the link address before you click on the reply with quotes icon. Then you can insert the URL code into your post wherever you want it (above to enclose the entire quote, which seems very clunky - I can see a use for it if you're inserting quotes from different posts, but probably just putting the link on the name of the person being quoted).
 
Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 
Thank you for your further reply. I can see I'll have to use the practice thread; I do like to understand how things work!
 
Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
It's not a big deal, but does anyone know why Tubbs' avatar is not appearing on my screen with her posts? I had the same with Eutychus for a while, but his seems to have reappeared. I shut down and restarted my laptop, but that doesn't seem to have made any difference.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Some custom avatars are not stored on the Ships server. If that location goes down for a while the avatars may disappear (depending on what your system caches).

Yes. Tubbs is using a private server. Do we need to contact the FBI?
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:

Yes. Tubbs is using a private server. Do we need to contact the FBI?

I'm sure WikiLeaks has already alerted them.
[Paranoid]
 
Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
Thanks all! [Smile]
 
Posted by Nick Tamen (# 15164) on :
 
Picking up on the subject of custom avatars, I put in for a custom avatar and custom title 9 days ago, but neither has shown up yet. I got a receipt, so the payment seems to have gone through. Just wondering when they might be processed.

Thanks.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Nick Tamen:
Picking up on the subject of custom avatars, I put in for a custom avatar and custom title 9 days ago, but neither has shown up yet. I got a receipt, so the payment seems to have gone through. Just wondering when they might be processed.

The official submission form for custom avatars and titles is handled by Captain Simon directly, which tends to be somewhat slow to manifest. We assume that he hands off the request to his personal artisanal software specialist who renders a high-resolution brush-and-ink hand scripting of the title, as well as an arial shot of the avatar image reproduced using 40x40 coloured blocks of marble each the size of a house.

I'll poke him to see how it's going.
 
Posted by Nick Tamen (# 15164) on :
 
Many thanks, and obviously it's not a huge deal. (Well, not to me, at least; I'm sure it's a big deal to whoever has to manage the blocks of marble.) Just wondering, and trying to think about something—anything—other than the events of the last few days.
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by RooK:
We assume that he hands off the request to his personal artisanal software specialist who renders a high-resolution brush-and-ink hand scripting of the title, as well as an arial shot of the avatar image reproduced using 40x40 coloured blocks of marble each the size of a house.

Can't they use Legos?
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
Can't they use Legos?

Well, aside from the copyright issues, it denies them their excuse to use their vintage cold war surplus military aerial surveillance plane.
 
Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Nick Tamen:
Many thanks, and obviously it's not a huge deal. (Well, not to me, at least; I'm sure it's a big deal to whoever has to manage the blocks of marble.) Just wondering, and trying to think about something—anything—other than the events of the last few days.

Your new looks appears to have arrived. Spiffy. I like.

Tubbs
 
Posted by Nick Tamen (# 15164) on :
 
Thanks!
 
Posted by Pangolin Guerre (# 18686) on :
 
Probably a straightforward question.

In my previous incarnation, I was able to pull up my recent posts. I seem not to be able to do it now. I thought that I used to do it through my profile. I've poked around, and find myself chasing my tail.

Thoughts (and not about tail chasing)?
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pangolin Guerre:
Probably a straightforward question.

In my previous incarnation, I was able to pull up my recent posts. I seem not to be able to do it now. I thought that I used to do it through my profile. I've poked around, and find myself chasing my tail.

Thoughts (and not about tail chasing)?

I clicked on your board name, the clicked on View Recent Posts just above the blue bar and voila!
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Another way is to just click on the number of posts under any of your own posts.
 
Posted by Pangolin Guerre (# 18686) on :
 
Ah, thanks much!
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
I was on the "Three Word Story" Circus thread just now, when what to my wondering eyes should appear but an ad for "Hot Russian Women"! It's nice that the Ship cares to keep track of the Russian meme in the news [Biased] , but...

Anyway, mousing over showed that it's from CharmDate dot com. The very long link within the ad is:
[Link removed]

Thought you should know.

[ 10. June 2017, 17:52: Message edited by: Spike ]
 
Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
We have no control over what appears in the ads in the sidebar. They are generated by Google based on keywords in your posts.

I've removed the link from your post as other people clicking it may well find the same ads appearing too.
 
Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Spike:
We have no control over what appears in the ads in the sidebar. They are generated by Google based on keywords in your posts.

Am I alone in thinking that Google has stuck its nose just a little bit too far into my personal habits?
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Almost every search engine and browser will track your meanderings across the internet. If you are not paying for something, you are the commodity
 
Posted by no prophet's flag is set so... (# 15560) on :
 
Several things.

Google does catalogue all your words, including Gmail. Consider not using its services. It plans on identifying your pictures shortly. Turn off location identification, ie GPS.

Startpage.com proxies for Google such that it cannot track your searches. Use email from another provider, gmx.com is an example. You can create and delete email identities at will for different tasks. Select 'delete all cookies' when you close your browser. Self destructing cookies is a Firefox option which deletes all cookies immediately on closing a tab. and don't be completely honest about personal details anywhere. Don't give retailers email addresses you use on the ship, or otherwise post codes, addresses, phone number. Google can identify you on the ship or anywhere else re ads via these. And "like" no brands or businesses anywhere on the web.
 
Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
So what do you see ads for in the sidebar, no prophet?
 
Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Shh - you don't ask the paranoid and private that as the Ship needs the revenue from the adverts. (My bar only shows an advert for Reform and the Ship's mugs, plus a broken link symbol.)

I only turn on the location setting on my phone when I need to use the mapping app, and I turn it off again afterwards (partly because that setting eats the battery charge.)

You don't have to sign up or in to Google or give location information to websites or allow the location settings on Microsoft, which can make for entertaining adverts targeted at where you're looking at rather than where you are located.
 
Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Curiosity killed ...:
the Ship needs the revenue from the adverts

Perhaps. However, ads may generate revenue for the entity displaying the ad, but they generate revenue for the advertiser only if someone purchases the product advertised. Personally, I ignore all ads displayed on websites. They're just part of "humanity's mad inhuman noise" (as Henry Higgins said in My Fair Lady) that we have to put up with all the time.

I do, however, resent the intrusion upon privacy -- the assumption that just because I've browsed to a certain site, or have included certain words and phrases in my searches or posts, I may be interested in buying the following products.
 
Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Golden Key:
I was on the "Three Word Story" Circus thread just now, when what to my wondering eyes should appear but an ad for "Hot Russian Women"!

I'm getting Thai women... My mind boggles at my searching and browsing history that caused that to come up... I'm not planning a holiday to SE Asia and, honestly, I find men more attractive.

Oh - I've got Russian women on this page. Oh well, GK and I obviously frequent the same pages.

Thanks for the privacy tips, no prophet... That is what I actually came here to write.

[ 12. June 2017, 09:40: Message edited by: Ian Climacus ]
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
Belated thanks re the ad. Somehow, I thought that Google allowed site owners to filter out certain kinds of ads.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Google indeed allows a site to filter ads. I am not an expert, but I think there is a wrinkle or two.
Skimming their instructions, it allows blocking by URL, ad description and verbiage. Given that advertisers can see those instructions, it is reasonable to assume they can figure ways around them.
Insuring ads perfectly acceptable to everyone might not be possible, but would surely require constant monitoring.
Given the likely limited time available to whoever here is responsible for tightening the bolts and lashing the sails (pease?), just be thankful it isn't porn. Or worse, given the topics we discuss at times.
I rarely even notice the ads anymore. Not since the Orange Arrow Panic of a few years back.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by lilBuddha:

Given the likely limited time available to whoever here is responsible for tightening the bolts and lashing the sails (pease?), just be thankful it isn't porn. Or worse, given the topics we discuss at times.

The algorithm used by Google doesn't just monitor what we read on the Ship. At least, I assume not. For example, working in Fukushima I made some Ukrainian and Russian friends, who are now Facebook friends. I starting seeing ads here for "hot Ukrainian/Russian women" almost immediately after making them FB friends, which can't be a coincidence (also, totally not getting it right for the sort of thing I might be interested in).
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
The algorithm used by Google doesn't just monitor what we read on the Ship. At least, I assume not.

I think it a safe assumption, and not overly paranoid, to consider they monitor everything they can.
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by lilBuddha:
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
The algorithm used by Google doesn't just monitor what we read on the Ship. At least, I assume not.

I think it a safe assumption, and not overly paranoid, to consider they monitor everything they can.
They even spy on my through my microwave.
[Biased]
 
Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
It's certainly sobering to realize that they've got the earth's entire surface under surveillance. Don't think so? Have you accessed Google Maps lately?
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe:
It's certainly sobering to realize that they've got the earth's entire surface under surveillance. Don't think so? Have you accessed Google Maps lately?

I just did a few minutes ago. I'm out of town, but Google immediately opened to where I am, practically pinpointing my hotel (probably because there's a microwave oven in my hotel room).
 
Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
The microwave's actually there to read your thoughts, then make any changes deemed necessary.
 
Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gee D:
The microwave's actually there to read your thoughts, then make any changes deemed necessary.

[Eek!]

If anyone sees me post anything positive about Trump, please come shoot me!
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
quote:
Originally posted by Gee D:
The microwave's actually there to read your thoughts, then make any changes deemed necessary.

[Eek!]

If anyone sees me post anything positive about Trump, please come shoot me!

People posting positive things about Trump do not have thoughts to read.
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
Pigwidgeon--

quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
quote:
Originally posted by Gee D:
The microwave's actually there to read your thoughts, then make any changes deemed necessary.

[Eek!]

If anyone sees me post anything positive about Trump, please come shoot me!

...or maybe just unplug the microwave? [Biased]
 
Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by lilBuddha:
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
quote:
Originally posted by Gee D:
The microwave's actually there to read your thoughts, then make any changes deemed necessary.

[Eek!]

If anyone sees me post anything positive about Trump, please come shoot me!

People posting positive things about Trump do not have thoughts to read.
Pity Trump doesn't use a microwave. He certainly has enough thoughts that need adjusting.
 
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
We're getting somewhat off the topic here. Seldom a good look for The Styx.
 
Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :
 
I have, oh let me see. A work computer. A home computer. An Ipad. And now, God bless it, a smart phone. I am able to access and log into SoF on the first three. Mysteriously, on the Android, even though I am using the very user name I use here, and my proper password, it doesn't recognize me. Is it something about Androids that is accursed?
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
I've an android tablet that I never had trouble logging in on. It is older, so not running whatever version of the OS is current, though.
 
Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
I can't log into the Ship on my Android either. It tells me the password is incorrect but I'm certain I'm typing it correctly. I don't care, though, as I never use the Android to surf the web except as a last resort.
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
My droid has difficulty connecting with the Ship. But then it does tend to blather on about how it can speak Bocce (I now know better than to ask), and that sort of backhanded self-aggrandizement doesn't play well on the boards.
 
Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
I don't have an android, not even one that speaks Bocce. But, I have noticed on touch screen devices that letting the keyboard auto-complete login details sometimes inserts a space at the end, which is then invalid. Which may have nothing to do with the problems on (newer) Android devices.
 
Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Typing this painfully slow response on my ancient android tablet. Had to log in, though it did autofill my name and password
 
Posted by simontoad (# 18096) on :
 
I'm trying to purchase a custom title "President of the Universe I am so Great there has never been so fantastic and great a President as me and I've been saying that for a long time" but after going past the credit card option screen it tells me to fop off and gives me a 404 file not found error. I tried it a few days ago using the Aussie dollars option, and just now using the default GBP option.
 
Posted by Schroedinger's cat (# 64) on :
 
You have hit the recently installed Trump Filter....
 
Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by simontoad:
I'm trying to purchase a custom title "President of the Universe I am so Great there has never been so fantastic and great a President as me and I've been saying that for a long time" but after going past the credit card option screen it tells me to fop off and gives me a 404 file not found error. I tried it a few days ago using the Aussie dollars option, and just now using the default GBP option.

Apologies. All the financial features are handled personally by the Captain and his pet SysAdmin. Also, I do not have write access to the image database if you were also interested in a custom avatar. However, if you PM me a somewhat more brief Custom Title, I can make that happen for you. As long as you don't mind me intentionally spelling it wrong or accidentally changing your avatar to something similar to a Georgia O'Keeffe.
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
simontoad--

Please do not use an avatar of the guy that your proposed title implies.

If you do, one of three things will happen:

1) We will ship him down to Oz to live with *you*, and put him on security lists so he can't come back here;

2) We will whisk you away to live in that pale building with him, for as long as he's in that job, and he might even put you to work;

3) We will give him your contact info, for all those times when he's lonely and just needs to talk.

[Biased] [Two face] [Cool]

But a serious request. [Angel]

Thanks!
 
Posted by simontoad (# 18096) on :
 
lol at all three responses [Smile] I shall send PM with non-Trump related title.
 
Posted by simontoad (# 18096) on :
 
umm, in making up the funny Trump one I kind of forgot the title I really wanted. I'll send Rook a PM when I remember it.
 
Posted by apostate630 (# 15425) on :
 
Here's an entirely pedestrian but heartfelt post. Thanks to RuthW for helping me log back in after an absence of half a decade, and to Nicolemr, the realspace friend who made it possible.
 
Posted by Nicolemr (# 28) on :
 
[Angel]
 


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