Notes that empty themselves

[mortaine]

This has happened to a couple of my characters-- one of them was able to edit a note after re-trying it, but then made a mistake and couldn't edit it, no matter how many times she tried after that.

Another one, who is MUTE and relies on these notes for everything, created a new note, put info into it, and the info disappeared.

I haven't tried with the others-- it's too, too frustrating to lose my work.

[Surly]

Okay, the notes outsmarted me.

It happened before, but persistence got me through.

That doesn't seem to work anymore.

[SekoETC]

Just how am I supposed to tell Doryiskom how much they suck if I can't write notes anymore, huh?

[mortaine]

Don't know, Seko, but for the programmers, I also note that the notes have switched from using "smartquote" style apostrophes to using straight-vertical apostrophes. Could this be related-- perhaps notes with no apostrophes can be edited?

[mortaine]

YEP! That's the behavior:

If you create a note that has regular apostrophes in it, the note shows up blank.
If you edit an existing note that has apostrophes, the changes won't save.
If you edit an existing note to add apostrophes, the changes won't save.
If you create a new note without apostrophes, the note text will save.
If you edit a note without apostrophes and don't add any to it, the changes will save.

WORKAROUND: (just until the programmers can fix it)
Use the right-single-quote HTML character entity. This will not work in Note titles, but you can use them in the note text:

Code: Select all

’

The way I did it is to take the note I was writing, copy and paste it into Notepad or any text editor (EXCEPT MS WORD) and then search/replace all the ' with ’ copy and paste it into the note, and voila! A note with fake apostrophes that can be saved.

NOTE: Do not use MS Word for this, as MS Word auto-formats apostrophes and quotes into smartquotes, and will very likely bung it all up for you.

[kinvoya]

Damn those smartquotes they ruin everything! Don't ever invite them to your parties.

[Thomas Pickert]

Nice find, mortaine. That also relates it to the problems with renaming characters.

Bottom line is, the behavior of PHP or MySQL of dealing with apostrophes has changed during the transfer. Now we know what to look for.

Thanks for the pointer.

[mortaine]

*purrs under programmer praise*

Thanks! I can't program worth sh** but if you want someone to systematically break something and report the results, I'm your gal!

Even better is getting a comment that lets me know that the troubleshooting is actually *helping*!

[Missy]

I have now received a note with nothing on it as well as created them. The apostrophe theory doesn't appear to be true. For me at least.

[The Sociologist]

I have now received a note with nothing on it as well as created them. The apostrophe theory doesn't appear to be true. For me at least.

Well, Mortaine's advice certainly helped me. I managed to create a note with apostrophes using his guidance, whereas a previous attempt to write the same note failed.

This is a decidedly serious issue for several of my charries right now. I'm glad to hear they're working on it.

[EDIT: I meant to say of course that I used ’ to enter an apostrophe.]

[Birdsall007]

I keep getting caught out with this too, I edit a note and end up putting an apostrophe in there without realising.

I will learn, I will, I will, I will!

[Missy]

I'll have to try again and see, I guess.

[The Sociologist]

[mispost]

[Appleide]

YEP! That's the behavior:

If you create a note that has regular apostrophes in it, the note shows up blank.
If you edit an existing note that has apostrophes, the changes won't save.
If you edit an existing note to add apostrophes, the changes won't save.
If you create a new note without apostrophes, the note text will save.
If you edit a note without apostrophes and don't add any to it, the changes will save.

WORKAROUND: (just until the programmers can fix it)
Use the right-single-quote HTML character entity. This will not work in Note titles, but you can use them in the note text:

Code: Select all

’

The way I did it is to take the note I was writing, copy and paste it into Notepad or any text editor (EXCEPT MS WORD) and then search/replace all the ' with ’ copy and paste it into the note, and voila! A note with fake apostrophes that can be saved.

NOTE: Do not use MS Word for this, as MS Word auto-formats apostrophes and quotes into smartquotes, and will very likely bung it all up for you.

I have no apostrophes and I still can't write notes, but if I don't soon, one of my chars will die. ITs not fair!

[kinvoya]

As long as you leave out the apostrophes you should be able to write notes.

One thing I noticed was if I wrote a note with apostrophes and stored it and then took out the apostrophes it still wouldn't work. The note itself becomes corrupted, I think.

Try using a brand new note if that happens.