Frustrated? Fixing Lost Forum Posts

[Neandethal00]

I'm sick of this.

I Sign in.
I click on reply.
I type a long reply, with lots of thought and formula.
Then I click on 'Review' button.

It asks me to 'Sign in', again. I sign in again, but...

ALL MY TYPINGS ARE LOST FOREVER.

Is this what your Forums are setup to do?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Sorry for the troubles! Time out is set at 15min of inactiveness. Make sure you click "remember me" if you don't want to be logged out.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

And always highlight the post and hit "ctrl-C" before hitting review or submit.

 

[micromass]

I know, this is extremely annoying. But you just need to get used to typing Ctrl-A, Ctrl-C.
Also, when you click "post" instead of "review", then the post does get posted if you log back in...

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Also, make sure cookies are enabled.

 

[JsStewartFan]

Well, I have been having the same problem as Neandethal00. I've wasted 3 hours this weekend trying to clean up a Word 2007 document that I cut and pasted, since I haven't learned LaTex yet. Twice was rejected and got into an endless loop when I wanted to review again before posting (preview). The first time, I think I was not logged in by the time I tried to post. Then the second time I kept an eye on the logged in screen, and it showed I was logged in, but I got into the endless loop again because (maybe) I had already hit preview and then hit it again. It doesn't want to allow me to preview once I already am in preview mode, maybe.

At what point should I hit Ctrl-A and Ctrl-C? Right before hitting the review or submit button? What does that do? Is that just if it kicks me out, or does that prevent the endless loop? Also, what if I have already hit Preview? Can I hit the Preview button again if I hit Ctrl-A and Ctrl-C?

Thanks for clarifying. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one having this problem.
Thanks!

 

[lisab]

Well, I have been having the same problem as Neandethal00. I've wasted 3 hours this weekend trying to clean up a Word 2007 document that I cut and pasted, since I haven't learned LaTex yet. Twice was rejected and got into an endless loop when I wanted to review again before posting (preview). The first time, I think I was not logged in by the time I tried to post. Then the second time I kept an eye on the logged in screen, and it showed I was logged in, but I got into the endless loop again because (maybe) I had already hit preview and then hit it again. It doesn't want to allow me to preview once I already am in preview mode, maybe.

At what point should I hit Ctrl-A and Ctrl-C? Right before hitting the review or submit button? What does that do? Is that just if it kicks me out, or does that prevent the endless loop? Also, what if I have already hit Preview? Can I hit the Preview button again if I hit Ctrl-A and Ctrl-C?

Thanks for clarifying. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one having this problem.
Thanks!

Ivan was suggesting to copy the post before you submit it.

Alternatively, you can use a word processor such as Word to compose a long post.

 

[StevieTNZ]

And always highlight the post and hit "ctrl-C" before hitting review or submit.

That's what I do! ... sometimes.

 

[JsStewartFan]

Can I as a non-paying member send a Word attachment to a mentor (or post an attachment to a message)? My problem was that I had used Equation Editor in Word 2007, but it came out badly (not formatted nicely) when I pasted it into the message box.

If I were to upgrade, could I send or make attachments?

Thanks!

 

[Andre]

Sorry for the troubles! Time out is set at 15min of inactiveness. Make sure you click "remember me" if you don't want to be logged out.

Is it feasible to warn users somehow, who are not remembered?

 

[flyingpig]

I can relate, it isn't just the "inactiveness" problem. Very often I accidentally click on the backspace button and bam, all my writing gone.

 

[Astronuc]

With detailed posts, it's best to select all (Cntrl,A with Windows) and copy (Cntrl,C) before submitting. If there is a problem, then one can submit again and use paste (Cntrl,V).

Alternatively, compose a post in a text editor.

LaTeX is best for equations if they require special symbols.

Equation Editor in Word 2007 does not work for cut and paste into the browser.

 

[Redbelly98]

Can I as a non-paying member send a Word attachment to a mentor (or post an attachment to a message)?

No, needing Mentor intervention for making a post is not really a viable solution, except in unusual circumstances.

My problem was that I had used Equation Editor in Word 2007, but it came out badly (not formatted nicely) when I pasted it into the message box.

Alternatively, you could https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=386951" .

If I were to upgrade, could I send or make attachments?

I'm surprised you can't make attachments now. When you're in Advanced Edit mode, can you see the "Manage Attachments" button? It's should appear somewhere down in the "Additional Options" section, which is below the message box where you type in the post text.

That being said, posting a Word document has the drawback that some members won't bother to open it. Again, the best solution is to https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=386951" for posting equations.

 

[Borek]

Well, I have been having the same problem as Neandethal00.

What browser do you use?

I can't tell about others, but Opera remembers content of the edit fields, so even if I have problems posting I can simply get back to the previous page in history and my freshly post is still there. I don't think I ever lost a content.

 

[rhody]

I'm sick of this.

I Sign in.
I click on reply.
I type a long reply, with lots of thought and formula.
Then I click on 'Review' button.

It asks me to 'Sign in', again. I sign in again, but...

ALL MY TYPINGS ARE LOST FOREVER.

Is this what your Forums are setup to do?

Neandethal,

I have been burned more than once too, I now copy into a new g-mail e-mail (I always have g-mail open), save it (as a draft) and then no matter what happens it is ALWAYS there, copying to the clipboard is sketchy if your computer hangs up, you are screwed. Never have a problem any more. Something to think about.

Rhody...

 

[JsStewartFan]

What browser do you use?

I can't tell about others, but Opera remembers content of the edit fields, so even if I have problems posting I can simply get back to the previous page in history and my freshly post is still there. I don't think I ever lost a content.

I use Mozilla Firefox, and I hadn't thought of its history. Thanks for another idea!

 

[JsStewartFan]

No, needing Mentor intervention for making a post is not really a viable solution, except in unusual circumstances.

Alternatively, you could https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=386951" .

I'm surprised you can't make attachments now. When you're in Advanced Edit mode, can you see the "Manage Attachments" button? It's should appear somewhere down in the "Additional Options" section, which is below the message box where you type in the post text.

That being said, posting a Word document has the drawback that some members won't bother to open it. Again, the best solution is to https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=386951" for posting equations.

Thanks for your thorough reply. I see the Manage Attachments button in additional options below. Duh! But I understand it would be better to learn LaTex. I'm in that process. Again, thanks for your response.

By the way, I'm a birder at heart, too. Love your "photo."

 

[JsStewartFan]

Neandethal,

I have been burned more than once too, I now copy into a new g-mail e-mail (I always have g-mail open), save it (as a draft) and then no matter what happens it is ALWAYS there, copying to the clipboard is sketchy if your computer hangs up, you are screwed. Never have a problem any more. Something to think about.

Rhody...

Thanks. I also usually have Word up, so I could paste into it right before clicking on anything. Good ideas.

 

[Studiot]

I can relate, it isn't just the "inactiveness" problem. Very often I accidentally click on the backspace button and bam, all my writing gone.

ctrl + Z cures this one and several like it.