Site Status Update

I first confirmed that this morning (at 10:17am) when I posted something with 2 links in it, they are both unlinked "links". Since they don't turn into active blue links, the 2 links look like they run together, it just all looks like one big web address.

Isn't using the "contact us" kinda just also a way to keep the problems out of sight?

No, not to hide a problem...the contact us choice means that Terry or Melody will get mail, rather than a post that might get missed.

I agree that "Contact Us" is the best way to report a problem. I've reported several that way and received responses on all. That's not to say we can't also discuss the problems in this, or another, forum. Sometimes it helps to know if others are having the same issues, or if it might just be something we're doing wrong. I know that I had a malware problem a few weeks ago and when I fixed it one of the problems on DG disappeared.

"Contact Us" serves an entirely different purpose than a *discussion* forum.

Help! I'm being swarmed by friends!
Yeah, I always thought "contact us" was for like troubleshooting a problem with fees or having a specific user problem with the id name or login issues. I don't think I've ever been on a site where you report big problems in "contact us" (not being able to link is a big problem). Call me crazy (or a jerk..lol) but that's all I remember of "contact us" here in my 10 years of membership. I always thought (and in the past here) that
site-wide problems (such as these) were discussed in an open forum in a "conference call" of thousands of members, (not just a few "techs" or "friends"). There has apparently been a decision made by somebody, somewhere, to try to do it differently and less effective now.
I've only ever seen the views being over ten times as high as the replies, in site-help forums. It's because other members are watching and they want results.

I second coleup's request.

Shortleaf, I agree with you. "Contact Us" does not and should not serve the same purpose as a site-wide discussion. They're different tools for different purposes.

First, let me say that I agree with the above comments. However, I do think "Contact Us" should be used to submit bug reports. It's much easier to forward a DMail to the specific person responsible for that section of the site programming.

Personally, I'd like to see a separate forum for discussing issues with separate threads for each issue. I think that would make it easier for the users to see what problems others are having and to compare notes. This year I had a lot of problems with my journal. I found the "DG Journals and Diaries" forum and assumed that would be the place to submit bug reports. I received no responses to my posts, not even from other users in the forum. That was how I originally found this forum. Most of the problems are now fixed, and I'm sending DMails for others as I notice them. It would be nice, though, to be able to go to a "DG Site Issues" forum and be able to see (from just scanning the thread titles) whether anyone else has the same problems.

Hyperlinks not working again.

Thanks, I disabled that Viglink as soon as I could. Good catch, coleup, that could very well be why html stuff don't work. For example, when you edit or add html code like Viglink they could've inadvertently wiped out other html code (perhaps they didn't have the original html code backed up, or know where it is, first before they did it). Those 700k DG non-paying subscribers got them some Viglink, the paying members are paying for it.
Cookies anyone? - http://www.viglink.com/legal/privacy/

Terry, do you mean that the links to VigLink will be removed from Daves Garden site or that we just will no longer be able to see them (disappear)??

I for one would appreciate being 'noticed' whether or not VigLink is being employed on Daves Garden site as it is on other Internet Brands sites according to VigLink.

On yesterday's call we were told the VigLink coding would be removed and (as far as I know) that was done almost immediately following the call. The VigLinks were not supposed to be inserted into our forums. And for all practical purposes, they are not effective on our site: we couldn't monetize our own internal links to other areas of DG - and I think the only way those links trigger a payment is when they link to a company that has already agreed to pay VigLink for the clicks. I'm honestly not sure how the coding came to be added, but it seems to have been a simple mixup.

And, if you could comment on if VigLink code being inserted had or has anything to do with links not working or HTML code being broken?

I really don't know if they are related. I don't think so, but I'm not a programmer, and I couldn't analyze the code even if I could see it. I do know the techs were going through some old files that needed to be updated to more modern standards for security. As far as I know, that is when the HTML was broken.

I do feel for the techs - they are working on architecture that is antiquated by today's standards, and since they didn't write the code, it's hard to know what a seemingly simple change will affect.

Again, I'm hopeful DGers will give this process the "old college try" - we are attempting to make it easier to report problems to us, let us take a look with you before we make any site-wide declarations of a widespread problem, and the pass the pertinent info to the techs in the format they need it so they can retrace the steps, recreate the problem and solve it.

Case in point - if the VigLink issue had been sent to us via the Contact Us link, or even through the already open thread in this forum, we could have discovered it faster. Melody and I do not hover over the forum posts, and the fastest way to get our attention is to send us a note at the help desk.

Terry, my point still stands:

We didn't know that Viglink was an anomaly that needed to be reported.

I can only point out that when you brought it to our attention on Tuesday night, I emailed the techs immediately, and it was removed by noon on Wednesday. If it had been reported to the help desk when it was first spotted - I think you said a couple weeks ago? - we would have acted on it immediately back then, too.

I repeat:

I didn't know that a new ad software was actually an anomaly.

It's not unusual for websites to add/delete ad affiliates.

How do you expect us to use "Contact Us" for something like this?
"Oh, it looks like you have a you ad affiliate. Let me report it to the tech." Huh? That makes no sense.

HOWEVER, it does make sense to discuss it here.

If you do not see it that way, then you're disagreeing with the majority of the users. I know it's not a democracy, but we're the ones who pay. Shouldn't our voice be taken into account?

Coleup, as a general rule, if you see anything that seems odd or not functioning properly, it's best to report it and we can let the techs take a look.

As far as I know, the VigLink code was removed; you may want to clear your cookies.

Thanks for quick reply Terry!

Was just off clearing cookies and restarting computer, etc. Have just loaded DG site and clicked on this thread. I noted viglink both api and cdn appear while loading and viglink.com has placed a new cookie.

Can you clarify whether viglink in all its forms has been removed from the entire DG site or only the forums?
Thanks.

As soon as I get clarification, I will let you know.

Coleup, I'm sorry - I meant to loop back to this the other day, but here's the answer to your question, from my main contact at IB back on 10/10:

"We just removed it on our end as well (so it's turned off in Viglink settings and the code is removed from the forum section) so they will definitely not be getting new cookies added from Viglink. Affiliate cookies generally last for 30-60 days so they would still see the old cookie if they haven't cleared it since yesterday."

Hi Terry -- I'd like to remove a thread from my Thread Watcher. I posted to a thread one time and now it shows up constantly. Clicking "Unwatch this thread' does not remove it. It's a fairly busy thread and I'd like to get it off my list. How do I do that?

Good question Cvill and Thanks Terry.

I just clicked "unwatch" on this thread...it toggled appropriately to the notification that I am no longer watching it and it now says "watch" thread at the top. Does the thread in question do that for you?

Yes, but it still appears in my Thread Watcher.

Okay, I was able to replicate the problem and I've reported it. Thanks!

Great. Thanks, Terry.

Quote feature is not working your post, Evelyn.

I think that was a joke.

Evelyn said it looks great "in the preview screen." It just doesn't work in the actual forums.

I gotta say, it's taking an inordinate amount of time to fix this problem, and it's making certain conversations difficult to follow.

It's a feature I miss. I tried it and it didn't even work in the preview screen.

I agree - I'm not sure why this is proving to be such a bugaboo, but I will do my best to keep it on the forefront and hopefully get an ETA for us soon (if not an outright fix :-).

Several people and now myself are unable to upload pics onin the Mid Atlantic forum today. Site wide issue?

Tried several times to upload a pic here but message came back as failed.

We had one (only one :-) report at the help desk, which I've been working on directly with that member.

If it's a site-wide issue, I will start a new thread, but I need to hear (via the contact us link) from anyone who is personally experiencing the problem - preferably with details, such as a link to the forum thread(s) that are problematic, and what browser you're using, and if you know the size of your image(s) that aren't uploading. From what I can see, it looks like the images are trying to upload (there's a space for them), so I need to try to get a good idea of what the common denominators are, as well as an idea of how widespread the problem is, or isn't. Thanks!

I posted five great images of Winterberry Holly selections on the MAF just now...

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1380666/

Coleup -- it was me that could not post any images... Terry suggested I 'dump my cache' ... did 2 different things plus a reboot and that did it for me.

But yes, first I came in here to keep, didnt see any others posting about it, so I contacted "admin" and Terry responded.

I also asked on the thread i was posting to see if others could post images and they could... so I did figure it was on my end, though I could post on other sites.... it was an issue with my PC and DG. ~~ Good cleaning took care of it.


Terese

Thanks Terry, VV, and Terese

Late last night I could upload photos again although initially it says 'upload failed' the pic finally appears unlike earlier in the day! Haven't done any emptying or cleanup, just the passage of time. Remember, I only posted here after two others on and active forum had trouble. They dismissed it as 'cyber Monday' overload!
And, Terry, your post above confirms that the other two I know of with pic posting difficulties yesterday did not report it to the Help Desk via 'contact us" button. Nor did I.
Does that mean I am too uninformed about the process or too lasy to take the time or unwilling to admit I need help or find Admin unhelpful? Certainly not! I believe that I (and possibly many others) have become indifferent and 'nose blind' to the continuing saga of foibles and eccentricities of our DG site.

Terry, with your permission I would like to post some of what you said above, ie
"I need to hear (via the contact us link) from anyone who is personally experiencing a problem - preferably with details, such as a link to the forum thread(s) that are problematic, and what browser you're using, and if you know the size of your image(s) that aren't uploading. From what I can see, it looks like the images are trying to upload (there's a space for them), so I need to try to get a good idea of what the common denominators are, as well as an idea of how widespread the problem is, or isn't. Thanks!"
in forums when someone encounters a problem and posts about it on the threads.

Pic is for VV

Sure thing, Coleup - it does help to spread the news, so people know what to do. We've tried to make the process clear (and easy/simple), and if you can help encourage people, that would be great.

A couple of us couldn't post pics on the birthday thread yesterday, but now it's working. Thanks!

Glad to hear it - and the door is open at the help desk for any/all reports of oddities, requests, suggestions, etc.

We will do our level best to get back to you promptly, work with you to retrace your steps and if/when we determine it's site-related, we'll get the word out here.

So, Terry, if allof us non reporters of pic loading probs had contacted you would that have triggered a 'thread' from you?


Why did a number of us with different, browsers, systems, image sizes, etc have problems? Was it site related. internet traffic related, user related, a combination?

How does heavy internet traffic effect DG I have noticed a number of times that when several posters are actively posting (again in the Mid Atlantic Forum where I'm generally found) that I and my old outdated browser and system on dial up, am more likely to encounter 'problems' in addition to general slowness in uploading or posting to site. I guess I'm wondering about DG capacity to 'handle' traffic once it gets there.

No rush for a response. Off to post the "Use the contact" button reminder. Thanks Judy

FWIW -- i'm using FoxFire [ver 33.1], and windows 7

But interesting question Judy.