Disappearing posts
Marc said:
I just tried that and had no problem. I don't know what you clicked on but if you look in the smilie box that comes up there is no link to any other web site. You click on the smilie you want and then there is a Close button at the bottom for the window that popped up with all the smilies.
About a month ago I did do a test using a 20 minute 'refresh' which caused data loss so I took it out after the first complaint. That was because some people would walk away for more than 20 minutes (it's now set to timeout after 30 minutes) and come back and have to log in again or something.
What is interesting is you say you ended up at another web site. I've looked all over the Reply page and there's no link to another web site anywhere on it.
I know myself, I do usually copy and paste long replies into my text editor every 5 minutes or so because I've done stupid things like closing the tab I'm in instead of a different tab or closed by browser 'by mistake' and lost my reply.
I'm not sure what to tell you. I don't think it's a software issue because there would, I expect, be more complaints.
What were the circumstances? Any details?
---------------------------------------------
Is anyone else experiencing this problem?
I've had some similar experiences, but until reading this thread, I put it down to working at the keyboard with boxing gloves on.
I notice that
- sometimes, when I click on "reply with quote," the dialog box comes up, I start typing, then look up at the screen to see that none of my typing entered and I start over. Perhaps the cursor didn't go into the box when it opened, because I have to click the mouse to find the cursor on these occasions.
- Sometimes, when I click on "Preview," and I am back at the original post which I was replying to and my message has disappeared into the ether.
- sometimes, when I click on "submit," the info box (wait while you are directed . . .) doesn't come up and I am back at the original post which I was replying to and my message has disappeared into the ether.
I vary between two different browsers while accessing the Cove and have no idea if the problem occurs in only one or both browsers.
I will try to keep close track and report if I continue to have the "events" occur. There have also been times in the past when I could have sworn I weighed in on a thread, but can't find my post. The problem may be a function of the database (two hits/posts to the database simultaneously and the database takes one but not the other.) More likely, it is "operator error" on my part. I rarely go back and linger over my post once it is submitted, since I do most of my editing during the creation of the post, so I have no idea if the "lost post" was ever actually received into the database.
In regard to Sidney's "workaround" of using an intermediary word processor, I AM VERY COGNIZANT of the "timeout" feature. If I realize I have been working on a post for a period of time or get distracted in the middle of creation, I will
- right click,
- select all,
- copy to clipboard
prior to submitting, just in case I am beyond the timeout limit.
That may be my intent, but I cannot attest I have a perfect sense of time, and could easily go past timeout spans of 30 minutes if I get a phone call or hear the "bing" of an email I have been expecting. As I say, I'll pay attention for the next week or so.
