TPM Issues.
Hey folks. Hoping to create a master thread where everyone can air their collective issues with the new software, so as to provide a place where Andrew and Al et al. can see what we're having problems with. It seems everyone uses this site a little differently, so we're all experiencing different things.
Comments sections in individual user pages - still not updating timely.
People with spaces in their names seem to be having issues accessing their blog pages, yes?
The archives not working.
My dashboard only seems to have space to follow one line of people, the others have fallen off that list, although their recent activity does sometimes show up in my dashboard anyway. But I'd still like to be able to click on all their profiles to see what they're up to.
Movable Type errors when I click on the profiles of some users.
I'd really, really like the list of rec'd and recent reader posts on the side bar of all pages. Andrew told me that the idea behind changing this was to give us all control over what was on our pages, but this is something I'd like back. Your thoughts?
I know there's other stuff going on. (What, you guys have an election to cover or something??) I was liking how you were keeping us in the loop when the software switched over. This is meant more as a place for which people can record the various problems they're experiencing, rather than a complaint in which I make demands...
or else...
Comments sections in individual user pages - still not updating timely.
People with spaces in their names seem to be having issues accessing their blog pages, yes?
The archives not working.
My dashboard only seems to have space to follow one line of people, the others have fallen off that list, although their recent activity does sometimes show up in my dashboard anyway. But I'd still like to be able to click on all their profiles to see what they're up to.
Movable Type errors when I click on the profiles of some users.
I'd really, really like the list of rec'd and recent reader posts on the side bar of all pages. Andrew told me that the idea behind changing this was to give us all control over what was on our pages, but this is something I'd like back. Your thoughts?
I know there's other stuff going on. (What, you guys have an election to cover or something??) I was liking how you were keeping us in the loop when the software switched over. This is meant more as a place for which people can record the various problems they're experiencing, rather than a complaint in which I make demands...
or else...
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Good idea. My first question is why are there so many people posting with the same avatar--the English gent with the pipe? Is it one person with many names or a glitch?
October 23, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's the placeholder image, unless you post something else in your profile.
October 23, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, duh. Now I feel dumb as a bag of hammers. So it replaces the blank box. I prefer the blank box.
October 23, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's a vast right-wing conspiracy.
October 23, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
about recent and recommended reader posts on every page: to save space, maybe just roll your mouse over "recent" or "recommended" and a scrollable pop up appears. (There's probably a more savvy name for that.)
Here's another thought: (posted this separately, sorry Hillary)
I've been using this site for a long time and I always forget to click recommend if there's a post I like. I go right to the comments, because it's a natural extension of the post. Maybe offer an option that makes it simpler to do both.
recommend (3) recommend and comment (7)
October 23, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Management has responded about two main problems
Posted by Andrew Golis in reply to a comment
on artappraiser's blog
TPM Management: any chance of getting a link to Oct. 19-25 Reader Blog archives
October 21, 2008 5:17 PM
By "profiles updating," he means getting comments and recommends posting promptly to user pages.
But if these two things are important to you: a link to continue to read all Reader Blogs and not just the ones from the past few hours, and prompt updating of user's comments and recommends lists, please consider taking the time to mention it. Squeaky wheels get the grease, one would think staff priorities are decided as to what most readers seem to want more, i.e., ceate more content or fix the software.
Other recent threads on software:
Testing for a MovableType Blogger Function by Pseudocyants, October 21, 2008, 9:22PM
which is about, among other many other things discussed, the spam filter that allows only two links in a comment--a comment will not post if it has more than two links in it which is why I must post the rest of my list in a reply to my comment and cannot put it here!
October 23, 2008 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
continuation of other recent threads on software, which I could not include above because of the spam filter:
JOSH - The New MT Blog needs a button that says "POST IT"
by O¿O in the crowd, October 23, 2008, 8:07AM
TPM Glitch??
by Synchronicity, October 23, 2008, 1:50AM
October 23, 2008 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
More:
Getting ready to pull the plug on TPM
by Frank Mullen III, October 23, 2008, 10:11AM
TPM--how to make it easier for readers to recommend a post.
by tpmgary - October 23, 2008, 11:37AM
But you know, Hilary, your post already scrolled off the Reader Blog page without getting enough recommends! And there's no current weekly archive available for anyone else to see it! (I had a devil of a time getting back to it to post this, because my comments haven't registered yet.) Therefore, if it's not further recommended by people "following" you, I just wasted my frigging time doing this roundup. In a nutshell, that's what sucks about not having those two problems fixed.
October 23, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is there no way to have a TPM site suggestions page? To better track site problems, glitches, improvements, etc.. It should be cumulative, and interactive--readers suggestions and status of what TPM is currently working on, or has fixed.
October 23, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
AA. You're awesome.
October 23, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dump the "Most Followed" list... it serves no purpose. Often the "Most Followed" is equal to the "Most Posting" so it will be easy for newbies to see who is around on this site.
Replace it with a list of people that *I* follow. That way I will be able to access my list without extra clicks.
I, too, am annoyed with the number of clicks it takes to get to the most recommended list, and the recent reader posts list.
Comments/Recs that I make should show up as fast on their tabs as the blogs that I make.
When you preview a blog, it's very confusing. You have to go backwards in your browser to find your way home again.
One thing I do like: filled text boxes now don't empty if you leave the page. So the odds of "losing a post" have just dropped dramatically. That was an excellent additional feature.
October 23, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
PS: Thanks for performing this public service, Hilary!
October 23, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Click on one of the avatars in the following list above the most followed list. I've stopped using the recommended list.
October 23, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah me too Donal, but the thing is, I'm following 30 people, but I can only get to the last 8 I added from my dashboard. I can get to the list of them if I go to "Your Blog," but I thought I saw Andrew or Al say that the avatars of everyone we were following would show in the dashboard, up to something like 50 people, and then we could click on something underneath to see the rest. I don't have that.
And, some of the profiles, I get a movable type error. And without their comments being updated anyway, going to their profile isn't much use. I know they're working on that, so I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here.
October 23, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bingo. And what's worse is that TPM claims you should get 24 avatars there (e.g. 3 lines)
Either way, suppose someone doesn't have an avatar? Or suppose I can't tell someone's avatar when it is reduced to 4 pixels? ;-)
October 23, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right. 24, okay that's the number. Whatever it is, I consistently only have 8. I'm also not entirely sure that my dashboard is accurately following all the people I'm supposed to be following. Hard to tell with the delayed comments though, as I have nothing really to compare it to. I know at least one person on my list is never showing up in the dashboard.
October 23, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Basically, you're all whiners. Mine works great!
Kidding. I'd like the archives, although right now I just click on the Followed person's avatar and that takes me there. The Posts & Recommended lists update fast, but not the Comments so much.
For me, first time blogging these past months, some place I could go to learn how to use html or whatever in my posts would be helpful. I can barely get spacing down.
That, plus an editor would be good.
October 23, 2008 10:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
You should see 49 icons in your dashboard of people you're following. If you follow more than that, there will be a "see all" link. I know in Camino it only shows 7, a problem I'm aware of. In Firefox, it should display properly. You can always see everyone you follow if you click the Following count number next to your avatar on your profile.
October 24, 2008 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Al. Using Firefox, still can only see 8, and no "See All" link. I've just been getting there through my profile.
October 24, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Huh. I'm testing with Firefox 3 on Mac and Windows and can't replicate. Are you on FF3?
October 24, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
(Sheepish.) I thought I had updated. Apparently not. I've got my full grid of avatars now. Fancy! (Sorry!)
October 24, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have a similar problem. The avatars are all spun diagonally down the page like a candy stripe, and clicking on them doesn't seem to lead anywhere.
October 23, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
You must be using IE6. Try using Firefox, and the grid should display properly. We're still working to ensure backward compatibility.
October 24, 2008 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah - that is a big plus. I had taken to neurotically copying whatever I was writing every few seconds in case of that. ;)
October 23, 2008 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you about the "most popular" stuff, the "most recommended" and "most followed" lists. I think it's bad juju, just causes all kinds of silly sturm and drang, people competing over NOTHING. They get nothing for it except the proverbial Warholian 15 minutes of fame.
You can look at the whole Reader Blog page (if the could manage to keep one that wasn't arbitrarily cut off, that is) and easily see for yourself which posts have more recommends and comments than others, the recommends are one thing, being on a list as a reward is another (like in grade school?) And on the Reader Blog page, you don't have to go through the inconvenience of clicking on each one individually, nor trust that the titles refer to the topics that you think they do.
The only reason I am currently concerned with the "Most Recommended" list is that without a current weekly archive link, the posts that don't get recommended don't just scroll to another page, they are totally totally gone to anyone's site, no way to see them. I used to go straight to the weekly archive and pass by the "All Reader Posts" link, because "All Reader Posts" is a lie, it's not "all reader posts" at all.
October 23, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Still experiencing session issues. Earlier today I wanted to reply to somebody, and the page stated that i was logged in, but when I tried to submit or preview my response, I kept getting a javascript popup that my session had expired. But I couldn't log out and log back in. The log out link didn't function. I had to:
1) quit my browser (firefox 2)
2) restart the browser and go to my dashboard.
3) log out
4) log back in
5) return to the page, click the reply link, and finally was able to successfully reply.
October 23, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
DITTO!!!
I'm having the same problems. Whew. I thought I was the only one.
October 23, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would be nice to have an edit button beneath our posts. The WP posting form lets you edit after submission. To get back there, I've relied on Firefox's awesomebar to get me back, or keep the tab open a while.
Would be nice to get back there with just a click, in case I catch a misspelling or grammar error or if I needed to add an update or something.
October 23, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Al Shaw finally put up an Oct. 19-25 Reader Blog aggregate archive link!
Saw him start it on the Dashboard, 2:15PM.
Thank you, Al!
October 23, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
BUG: HTML is showing in my dashboard:
http://i36.tinypic.com/hvw105.jpg
October 23, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
BTW I think all that is probably needed there is strip_tags() instead of htmlentities().
October 23, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm feeling like a guy who has walked into his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and finally finds out he is not alone in his struggle.
I am the reader formerly known as Frank Mullen III, who has been thinking bad thoughts about Josh and everyone else connected with this site for months. I have had every problem listed above, and more. In a fit of red-faced fury, I created a new account and, lo, I seem to exist now as "Bro," validating the theories espoused here and there that the software has problems with spaces between names.
We could all sign in as Thor, Ug and Oomph, of course, but, really, there's only One Thing I need:
One Stinking Place at TPM, that contains operating instructions that are
-- accurate,
-- up-to-date,
-- comprehensible and
-- located somewhere the average person of moderate intelligence and goodwill can find without being driven to the edge of madness.
That's all I want. No bells, no whistles. Just the facts, somewhere I can find them.
I spend so much time and energy trying to get this weapon to work that I have no energy left to hoist it to my shoulder and shoot it at the enemy.
Thank you.
October 23, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whoa, easy there Bro!
Sorry, I couldn't resist it :-P
October 23, 2008 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I woulda gone with, "Don't taser me Bro!"
But that's just me. Other than that, Frank, this is the edge of madness. ;)
And you should be able to upload your pic by clicking on "Edit Profile" on the upper-ish right hand side of the page.
October 23, 2008 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, and why am I stuck with the picture of the old-fashioned guy in the tri-corner hat with a yardstick in his mouth.
When I was Frank Mullen III I somehow managed to get a highly-unflattering picture of myself to accompany my posts.
Now that I am "Bro," I can't find instructions on how to upload a photo.
Is it just me, or is it the ongoing Powers of Darkness exercised by the Lord of Confusion?
October 23, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hilarym99, I recd.
I'm so glad you started this thread. I was just on my way to start one. I have not been able to update my profiles page since the start. I get kicked out and have to log back in again. Everytime, with a sessions error. Like movabletype put me on some time limit to update my page or something. I've emailed and not heard back anything. I cannot load my avatar, I cannot find and click on a FOLLOW button for the people I want to follow. I rec posts and it does not show up. I comment and nothing shows up on my comment section. What's going on? It's as if my blog is going into some even horizon never to emerge again. I just want someone to write me back and tell me how to fix the damn problem. Please.
October 23, 2008 6:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I keep finding them today...
Clicking on an avatar thumbnail in a comment leads to:
"This user has not started their blog yet!"
Even when there is blog content and the user name at the bottom links to the correct spot.
October 23, 2008 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
What do I have to do to load my avatar onto my blog. That is my first question.
October 23, 2008 7:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hm. That is weird. It is here and yet not in your profile.
October 23, 2008 7:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know. Also, I keep running out of something called "Sessions Time." Huh? We on some sort of time limit?
October 23, 2008 7:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's a maximum number of cat avatars that that system will accept. You must have just missed the cut-off.
Obscure symbols (like me and TheraP) are still up for grabs.
October 23, 2008 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I rec'd this blog, Hilary, but no one (including me) will find out for several days. ;-)
October 23, 2008 9:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
No no no silly! (Software problems at TPM are never that simple!)
All of us "following" you can see you recommend something on our Dashboard immediately! We know what you are recommending! We're hanging on your every recommend. Of course, that's if we happen to be looking at our Dashboard before that listing scrolls away, but you just can't be sure if we're always here watching you. (So don't lie about it.)
It's you that can't get to see it for a day or two or more.
Seems to me that they have it that way so we can't use our own recommendations list to navigate back to the threads we liked until everyone else has tired of them and left. They wouldn't want us doing that; same reason for delaying posting of comments. Post one comment and move on! :-)
October 23, 2008 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
If that's true, then they're control freaks.
October 24, 2008 12:54 AM | Reply | Permalink