HELP! This is driving me nuts!

ckonarske · Oct 8, 2001

Someone please explain this to me before I go the rest of the way 'round the bend.

When I log on to the forum the first thing I do is take a quick look at what threads have new messages by scanning for the "lit" light bulbs. Then I read the first one with new additions.

Now comes the problem. When I return to the main list of subjects, usually the list shows the new forum entries that are still unread, but about one out of five times or so, when I return after reading a thread, all subsequent threads will be marked as "read".

I thought it may have something to do with the state of the cookies on my machine, but nothing I do has altered the problem. Next, I thought I was just "beating" the page by not giving it enough time to load completely, but waiting longer before I proceed doesn't seem to make any difference. Then I thought it only happened if I followed a link on a page, but no joy there, either.

I'm fresh out of ideas and this is starting to really p*** me off! It's hard enough trying to see the new posts now that there are so many members and so much activity without having either my machine or the forum software losing posts for me. Any ideas? TIA.

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Chuck
Click here for Ody pics, mods and fixes on FotoTime.

Jerry O1 · Oct 8, 2001

I may be "'round the bend" when it comes to computers, but, I have not had the trouble you are having. When I enter the forum, I see all the categories with the little light bulbs. Some of the bulbs are lit, indicating new "poop" is on them. I usually start at the bottom and open the first one with a new entry and, when I have read enough, I hit my "back" arrow and go back to the list of categories. I then open the next one and so on. When I have finished and go back to the list, even though I have read them, the categories which contain new stuff still have lit bulbs.

Maybe your cookies are stale, Hee! Hee!

Jerry O. 2001 GG LX

adam1991 · Oct 8, 2001

This works better if you have a wider screen, but you can do what I do:

I *always* have two browser windows open, full height, and tile them sideways across the screen. They overlap, of course, and each window is about 7/8 of a screen wide--leaving a 1/8 screen gap at the side, behind which you see the other window.

I always use the leftmost window as my main browsing window. When I see an interesting link, I simply drag that link over to the other window. Voila. That link opens in the other window, and the first window remains untouched.

This way, it's easy to follow linked items--and you don't get this behavior that you describe.

I've seen this behavior, too, even using my method. There's a refresh bug in the system somewhere that causes that. I've seen it only once, and it happened even though my mouse went nowhere near a refresh button. The window refreshed anyway, and all threads were marked as current.

Man314 · Oct 8, 2001

I have the same problem. In addition to this, every once and awhile it will come up with all yellow bulbs!! I also notice that the "new" interface does not come up when I clicked on the link in an e-mail notifying of someone adding to a post I have started.

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Future Owner '02 MB EXL NAV
Current Owner '96 R Dodge GC ES

darelldd · Oct 9, 2001

You aren't crazy (at least not about this!) Happens to everybody now and again. Frustrating, isn't it?

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-= Darell =-
2002 Ody EXL-Nav (TW) ordered, but apparently never coming.
2001 Civic EX

nyvram · Oct 9, 2001

Yup, same here, Chuck. I have a hunch...

a) The 'username/pwd' cookie times out waaaay too fast; if I'm distracted and I come back about 30 minutes after I first logged in; it no longer retains my login info and I have to re-enter this. This is likely the 'timeout' period specified for the login cookie which I'll bet is variable as other UBB forums I am on keep my cookie for days (if not weeks). I would ask Jim about this.

b) The 'lightbulb' issue must also be related to client-side cookies. If the above is true, then the lightbulbs are getting whacked because the cookie is expiring way too fast; or possibly something else in the cache is getting refreshed. How big is your cache, btw? How about other browser settings? Do you have it set to refresh once per session?

At any rate, I have not been able to get around the problem either; I've taken to hitting the board at predetermined times (like 3 times a day) and paying more attention to the date/time stamp for threads than the 'red folders' or 'lit yellow bulbs'. I suspect there may be some way to tweak this at the admin level of UBB..and hey; you're a moderator so go fix it!

jvennitti · Oct 9, 2001

I have occasionally seen quirks as well. Though I have only a little experience in web site development, trying to handle all the compatibility issues between browsers and versions can be quite a chore! Also, to really resolve some of these issues, it may required exact detailed user steps, including browser type and version, to find the problem.

With that said, one thing that I believe is generally true is that if you "enter" the site from a cold start, like the first time using a bookmark or typing in the URL, you are "logged" in since the last time you visited. If you "re-enter" the site immediately after, the light bulbs will all be off because there, most likely, not be anything new in the last 30-60 seconds.

Also, I have had the site not remember me and so it won't have my username and password in the "Post Reply" form until after I enter it. Then the information will remain for the next reply.

As far as the cookie timing out, I usually spend 10-15 minutes looking through the topics of interest and then leave the site and don't generally return until the next day.

Even with the quirks and annoyances, this is a very user-friendly site and we should credit Jim and the others responsible for their hard work and free membership!! I have paid good money for a very well-known operating system and office product that have had more than their fair share of quirks and problems.

Just tried an experiment. I entered the site by entering the URL. Then I went to the forums using the Forums link. Then I went to the home page using the Home page and re-entered the forums using the Forums link. The light bulbs that were lit the first time were off. If you are using the links at the top a lot, try using the browser's "back" feature (button or otherwise) and the links in the upper right of the lower window (the folder hierarchy) to see if that helps.

------------------
Jeff

'01 SS EX
Cassette, Rosen Video System, Fog Lights, Splash Guards
Full Nose Mask

See photos at:
http://www.fototime.com/inv/B5EC5C7BC6CFA07

[This message has been edited by jvennitti (edited 10-09-2001).]

nemogira · Oct 9, 2001

Hmmm...I checked out the source code of the page with the little bulbs and here's what I found out:

expireDate = new Date;
if (expireDate.getYear() < 1900) {
expireDate.setYear(expireDate.getYear() + 1900 + 1);
} else {
expireDate.setYear(expireDate.getYear()+1);
}

if (noNewLogin != "true") {

var CookieLogin = escape("2452192.1229");
var CookieLoginDT = escape("10-09-2001 12:29 PM");

Note that my "CookieLoginDT" was the year 2001. Now I don't know exactly how these message boards work but is the "expireDate" supposed to be 1900?!

-Nestor

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2000 CCS EX-NAVI

pummal · Oct 9, 2001

I believe that in JavaScript, years before 2000 are expressed in two digits, and years after 2000 are expressed in four digits.

Apparently someone didn't get enough sleep before trying to tackle the Y2K problem in their new nifty language.

more info--http://www.webreference.com/js/tips/000108.html

In any case, this light-bulb issue is definitely a bug in the UBB software that needs to be corrected. If I had access to the source code, I would have fixed it already because it drives me totally crazy.

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2002 Mesa Beige EX-L-RES - on order
2001 Mesa Beige EX - recently sold

[This message has been edited by pummal (edited 10-09-2001).]

pummal · Oct 9, 2001

Actually, I should mention that I have been toying with the idea of writing a customized web application for sites like OdyClub...

It seems UBB has quite a few shortcomings in trying to meet the needs of OdyClub (and I'm sure other sites like it).

For example, there should be automated support for the image galleries (an upload image form) and the other non-messageboard areas of the site.

Plus, we should be able to thread our discussions in some way... Just a few ideas off the top of my head.

.....and I can't help but mention the search again

Having said all that -- OdyClub.com has become part of my "visit daily" list, bugs and all =)

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2002 Mesa Beige EX-L-RES - on order
2001 Mesa Beige EX - recently sold

Jerry O1 · Oct 9, 2001

I think y'all should check your deodorants and breath mints, Hee! Hee! The computer gods really seem to have it in for you. My system loves this site and almost says so. Go figure......... Maybe it's a concession to an older, retired, computer stupid fella.

Jerry O. 2001 GG LX

ckonarske · Oct 9, 2001

Originally posted by Jerry O:
I think y'all should check your deodorants and breath mints, Hee! Hee! The computer gods really seem to have it in for you. My system loves this site and almost says so. Go figure......... Maybe it's a concession to an older, retired, computer stupid fella.

Jerry O. 2001 GG LX

Oh, yeah? Well I'm older and retired! Shouldn't two out of three count for something? Actually, I'm not all that computer bright, either.

;D

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Chuck
Click here for Ody pics, mods and fixes on FotoTime.

ckonarske · Oct 10, 2001

Okay, here comes another stupid question: can anyone give me a clue about the order of appearance of the items listed in "Today's Active Topics"?

If there's rhyme or reason there, I can't find it. I've looked through that list looking for every parameter for sorting I can think of and can't find one. Any help out there?

------------------
Chuck
Click here for Ody pics, mods and fixes on FotoTime.

adam1991 · Oct 10, 2001

nyvram:

a) The 'username/pwd' cookie times out waaaay too fast; if I'm distracted and I come back about 30 minutes after I first logged in; it no longer retains my login info and I have to re-enter this.

Really?

I've never had to re-enter my login and password information. Ever. It seems to be a permanent cookie here on my system.

Jerry O1 · Oct 10, 2001

No, Chuck, two out of three won't do. In fact, in addition to being stupid, you really need to be lucky, when it comes to computers, Hee! Hee!

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2001 Odyssey GG LX

DutchOdy · Oct 10, 2001

Originally posted by pummal:
Actually, I should mention that I have been toying with the idea of writing a customized web application for sites like OdyClub...

It seems UBB has quite a few shortcomings in trying to meet the needs of OdyClub (and I'm sure other sites like it).

For example, there should be automated support for the image galleries (an upload image form) and the other non-messageboard areas of the site.

Plus, we should be able to thread our discussions in some way... Just a few ideas off the top of my head.

.....and I can't help but mention the search again

Have a look at Zope: http://www.zope.org/. It's an Open Source web application platform, so if you don't like the way the sorting works, just change it. Examples of Zope powered sites with some relevance as to what goals they serve overlapping with the OdyClub:

Disclaimer: I work for Zope Corporation, the company that created Zope, and I am the webmaster for http://www.zope.org/. I rolled into Zope because it is such a damn good platform though, and got hired after I already built several sites with it.

Having said all that -- OdyClub.com has become part of my "visit daily" list, bugs and all =)

Although I haven't got an Ody yet, the site has become part of my daily route around the 'net, too. The collective wisdom of the members of this club is way too valuable to me to pass over.

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Martijn

HELP! This is driving me nuts!

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