xmarks forums problem?

[ardchoille]

I've reported similar problems in the past. I run Windows XP Pro on 3 different machines with IE6 and IE7. All 3 machines will display XMarks with errors involving images quite often. The symptom I see is the wrong image being displayed. Smilies are replaced by some random person's avatar, avatars are replaced by a random vendor's ad, forum buttons are replaced by avatars, and so on.The best I can do is refresh the browser - sometimes 4 or 5 times - before the images display properly.

When I've reported the problem, the reply has been that the investigator can't reproduce the problem, so I gave up reporting. There is obviously a problem with either the server side or the computer displaying. I wonder about what's being served (perhaps in response to a malformed request?), because in an error condition, my browser displays the wrong image with the file name of what's supposed to be displayed there.

Example: my avatar is replaced by the Freedom Kilts ad. If I try to save the misplaced Freedom Kilts ad picture, I right click, Select Save Picture As, and it tells me the Freedom Kilts ad is called "xmarks_avatar.jpg." That's the name of my avatar file. The Freedom Kilts ad is a file called "freedom.gif." If I go ahead and save the misplaced file, the resulting file really is named and displayed just like the misplaced image was in the browser.

But like I said, I quit reporting this error because it can't be reporduced by the investigator. I have seen similar problems, although less frequently, on another forum using the same software.

Abax

I'm seeing the exact same problems. Oh well, if it can be fixed, great. If not, no problem because it really doesn't keep me from viewing the forums.

[Mike1]

Ardchoille, the next time it happens, copy the properties on the image for me, and post them along with a screen shot, if you would be so kind.

The rank badge image you were seeing is in an /images/clip/ folder, whereas the Quick Reply icon is in an /images/buttons/ folder.

Please place the post in the Tech Questions forum, where I'm not having to sift through an entire thread to try to sort what might be happening.

Abax, if you will please post a screen shot of an incorrect image and its properties in that same forum, perhaps we can sort this out.

(And I am assuming you both take the time to clear your cache every couple of days. Right?)

I've managed to narrow an image display issue on one of my own forums to a difference in ISP's, so I'm going to need some proof this issue is server-side.

Just for the record, I am in and out of 75+ forums in a week's time and I have never seen this issue on any of them, at any time.

If everyone will take a moment to hear me out on something. When a member has a problem, we take it very seriously. If we have a server-side issue, we want to get it corrected as soon as humanly possible. The only way additional posts are any help is if others are posting evidence and details of the same problem. If you are having the problem, then by all means, provide us with the details so we can get it handled. If you're not having the problem, you are already relaying that information to me by not posting.

I use Firefox at home and IE at work and haven't encountered any issuse other than the draconic filter policies at work.

The "draconic [sic] filter policies"?? I don't know if that was a typo or intentional, but our spam filter now has a new title - Ladies and gentlemen, I present Puff, the draconic spam filter.

[ardchoille]

Ardchoille, the next time it happens, copy the properties on the image for me, and post them along with a screen shot, if you would be so kind.

The rank badge image you were seeing is in an /images/clip/ folder, whereas the Quick Reply icon is in an /images/buttons/ folder.

Please place the post in the Tech Questions forum, where I'm not having to sift through an entire thread to try to sort what might be happening.

Abax, if you will please post a screen shot of an incorrect image and its properties in that same forum, perhaps we can sort this out.

(And I am assuming you both take the time to clear your cache every couple of days. Right?)

I've managed to narrow an image display issue on one of my own forums to a difference in ISP's, so I'm going to need some proof this issue is server-side.

Just for the record, I am in and out of 75+ forums in a week's time and I have never seen this issue on any of them, at any time.

If everyone will take a moment to hear me out on something. When a member has a problem, we take it very seriously. If we have a server-side issue, we want to get it corrected as soon as humanly possible. The only way additional posts are any help is if others are posting evidence and details of the same problem. If you are having the problem, then by all means, provide us with the details so we can get it handled. If you're not having the problem, you are already relaying that information to me by not posting.


The "draconic [sic] filter policies"?? I don't know if that was a typo or intentional, but our spam filter now has a new title - Ladies and gentlemen, I present Puff, the draconic spam filter.

I'll do that next time I see a problem.. thanks

[emolas]

The "draconic [sic] filter policies"?? I don't know if that was a typo or intentional, but our spam filter now has a new title - Ladies and gentlemen, I present Puff, the draconic spam filter.

Oops, I meant draconian.

XMTS is one of the few non-work sites I am able to access without seeing the dreaded "WARNING, THIS SITE IS IN VIOLATION OF THE COMPANY INFORMATION USE AND SECURITY POLICIES" page. Even then, I can't see half the pictures on the forum because they are hosted at "unacceptable" websites (like facebook and myspace). But, such is life. That which cannot be changed, must be endured. I just make a note to check those threads out from home.

[Abax]

Abax, if you will please post a screen shot of an incorrect image and its properties in that same forum, perhaps we can sort this out.

Wilco.

And I am assuming you both take the time to clear your cache every couple of days. Right?

I have my browser configured to empty temp files on close under IE7 | Internet Options | Advanced | Security. A [CTRL] [F5] refresh should also replace any mis-named images in the cache, but it often just results in different incorrect images being displayed (and a regular [F5] gleans this result too).

I have no illusions that IE6 and IE7 are bug-free, but I wonder how they could be messing up something so simple as displaying the right image with the right file name in the right location. Hearing reports of other browsers not experiencing these problems makes me think it's the interaction of the browser and the server that produces the bad result.

Abax

[ardchoille]

I have my browser configured to delete everything when I exit it.. I keep nothing between sessions.

[ardchoille]

Well, it happened again today and I took screenshots. Someone's avatar is mixed in with the emoticons. It seems that people's avatars get mixed in with various other images. Aren't the avatar's in a separate directory?

Screenshot of problem:


Screenshot of image properties:


I also sent this info to Mike1

[Mike1]

I'll do some checking and see what I can learn. Thanks for providing the screen shots.

[Abax]

Abax, if you will please post a screen shot of an incorrect image and its properties in that same forum, perhaps we can sort this out.

99% of the errors I've been getting are on 2 out of 3 machines, and the number of errors I'm getting in the last few days is crazy (each page takes 5 or 6 refreshes to display properly).

The third machine - the good one - is running a different version of Java (Sun Java 2 v1.4.2_03). I notice the error-prone machines always report a Java error on the page when the wrong images are displayed. I'll have to look tomorrow and see what version of Java the error-prone machines run.

The error-prone machines don't have any graphics software on them, so if you really want screenshots, I'll have to move them to another machine, process them, then post them. I suggest chasing down the Java issue first, since all a screenshot is going to show is a bunch of pictures in the wrong place (but with the right name).

Abax

[Mike1]

...so if you really want screenshots, I'll have to move them to another machine, process them, then post them.

It won't be necessary, as we have already managed to identify this as a local issue.