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Database Glitches

by Marauder by Midnight @ 02/05/08 23:14  
Dear Authors,

You all must know by now that we've been having some serious problems with the archive due to both the hacker situation and the sheer size of the archive. Our priority these past few days have been limiting the glitches, but they are beginning to mount to the point where we may need to initiate a temporary queue shutdown. Over the course of the next few days, we will be trying to do a site upgrade, which will hopefully fix the problems we're having. The number and frequency of glitches may escalate over this period, but we ask you to bear with us.

There are several ways you members can help us:

+ Do not submit any new chapters or stories to the queue starting from now. Doing so will add unnecessary strain to our already wobbly system and may threaten the existence of every single story and author stored on the database.
+ Back up your stories and/or reviews just in case the worst happens. We will try not to cause an MNFF apocalypse, but no promises can be made.
+ If you have a fic you've wanted to get rid of or an abandoned fic you aren't going to continue, now is the time: just go in and delete it from the archive yourself.
+ Queue wait time is much, much longer at the moment due to, again, our focus on stabilizing the database. We will try to mod stories as often as we can, but complaining about your wait time will only serve to deter us from our main goal which is to make sure this site continues to exist.

Here are a few glitches that have already been noted and that we will try to correct over the next few weeks.

+ Edit bio information - Reported error is "Method Not Implemented: POST to /user.php not supported."
+ Switch categories and Add stories/chapters - Reported error is "That category is locked. Please select a sub-category."

Several people had reported errors when contacting users via the "Contact" button on user profiles; that error has now been fixed.

Finally, as we are updating behind-the-scenes codes, we will, as humans, make mistakes. Therefore you will see some pages/functions glitching. Please do not report it until 24 hours after first experiencing the particular glitch. That way, you do not waste your time reporting a glitch we know about and will have already fixed; if it is not fixed within 24 hours, most likely we don't know about it and would like you to contact us.

We will keep you updated on glitches and fixes. We will also notify you when you can begin submitting stories in a (nearly) error-free environment.

If you have any questions about this don't hesitate to post them here, but please don't waste our time with off-topic ones that should go elsewhere. As you can see, we have more than enough to do at the moment.

Thank you ever so much for your patience and cooperation.

EDIT: If your story suddenly disappeared from the queue, please don't be afraid. It is not a glitch. Your email provider merely weeds MuggleNet Fan Fiction emails out and refuses to send your rejection letter. Instead of posting in the comments, please post here at the Beta Forums.

UPDATE: We do NOT have an estimated time for when the queue will be "reopened" or when the update will be done because we're running into some difficulties with a third party. Now that that has been answered, please stop asking the same questions in the comments section. Please take the time to at least skim the already existing comments.

Comments
Marauder by Midnight written on 02/09/08 9:52

babekitty_92 - That has something to do with our server which we can't immediately do anything about at the moment. If you can, email me the exact error message (is it a HTTP problem?), and I'll add it to a list of server problems I've been compiling.

CloewithLOVE - I haven't noticed that. That probably has something to do with our large database but will hopefully resolve itself after the update.


Wendelin the Weirder written on 02/09/08 10:48

Sorry to bug you loverly mods, but this is a problem I've noticed since first using the site.... When you search for a story, not knowing exactly what story you are looking for, usually there are more than one pages of stories under whatever you searched for... Well, most of the time, when I click 'next', I am transported back to the origanal search page... Now, I'm not sure if this is what CloewithLOVE was talking about or not, but if it is, please, don't feel obligated to answer... Thanks for all of your great help!

Wendelin the Weirder


Marauder by Midnight written on 02/09/08 14:01

Wendelin the Weirder - I haven't heard of that problem before, and it doesn't happen to me. Are you saying that by pressing "Next," you're transported to the search page? What terms are you searching and what are you searching in?


Pick Up A Potter written on 02/09/08 15:49

I hope don't sound stupid but what are these hacking problems everyone talks about?

Thanks


Wendelin the Weirder written on 02/09/08 16:08

Yes, if I search, say 'Draco' or something very general like this, I will get the first page of results, but if I click 'next' I am put back to the original search page. Usually this happens when I search in the summary section, but it has happened other times too... Thanks for helping!


Marauder by Midnight written on 02/09/08 17:16

Pick Up a Potter - Please see the past news posts for info.

Wendelin the Weirder - I looked for "Draco" under Summary and reverted to the Founder of Hufflepuff skin, but I'm still able to see the next page and each page after that. Play around with the skins to see if that's the issue? Does it take a long time to load the original search page after you click next? Have you tried clicking the numbers instead of next?


CloewithLOVE written on 02/09/08 17:21

Thank you Wendelin the Weirder for noticing this too. It proves I'm not completely insane. To clarify, lets say you are searching under summary for instance Sirius Black. You will get search results however, they would either skip some authors and stories or as Wendelin the Weider stated you get sent back to the original search page. For anyone who this has happen to try logging out waiting approximately 15-20 minutes log back in a try again. Difficult yes but, we all need to give the mods a chance to fix this problem. Thank you mods! Again I love you all dearly.


Wendelin the Weirder written on 02/09/08 17:23

Hmmm- this is weird... When I switch to the 'Simplicity' skin it works, as well as the 'Dreamer' 'Founder of Slytherin' and 'Dragon' but it only worked for those... All others I get the same thing as I get with the 'Founder of Hufflepuff' skin. (I can't get to page 2) It does not take a long time to load, it just simply goes back to the original search page... Why would it do it with some skins but not others?


Wendelin the Weirder written on 02/09/08 17:27

CloewithLOVE- this doesn't work for me.. I mostly peruse the sight not logged in, but I still have the problem with the search page...


Marauder by Midnight written on 02/09/08 18:25

Wendelin the Weirder and CloewithLOVE - Well, I understand what's happening, but I can't even begin to fix it since I don't experience it myself. It works for all the skins for me. It's not a big deal, is it? Maybe it'll get fixed with the update.


CloewithLOVE written on 02/09/08 18:28

I'm sorry I was only trying to help! It is the same with me it only works with some skins. Marauder by Midnight thank you so much for the advise but still I am still having problems with the search. Thanks for your paitence! good luck all mods! -Chole*


Dara written on 02/09/08 20:37

A suggestion to people having problems with the search page:search via the main Mugglenet site, it works a bit better.
Good luck mods, your hard work is greatly appreciated!


Wendelin the Weirder written on 02/09/08 21:38

Thanks a bunch Marauder by Midnight! You have been a great help, and I really appreciate all of the effort you mods pu into making this site as great as it is! Thanks for all of your patience! This has got to be really hard... Eat lots of ketchup and good luck!


poisonapple written on 02/09/08 21:56

Until further notice, is the queue locked? And stories/chapters will not be accepted or validated, besides the ones already in the queue before, right? Sorry if this was already answered; I just need to clarify it. And thank you so much mods for all your hard work. You are all amazing!


Marauder by Midnight written on 02/10/08 9:11

poisonapple - The queue is "locked." That means we encourage you to keep from submitting to help us out with the upgrade and fixes, but we're not completely going to lock down the queue.


bubblegumpinkhair written on 02/10/08 10:11

Good thing you posted this, because I was just about to send a email to a mod asking why my story had been in the queue for so long (I didn't, but it has since been vailidated). Keep up the good work mods, and if you need any help, I'd be happy to!


Pottergirl written on 02/10/08 13:03

Bonne Chance (Good Luck) Mods!! I'm rooting for you! *puts on cheerleader outfit* 2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate: Mods! Mods! GOOOOOOO MODS!!! *waves pom-poms* YEAHHHHH!!!


CloewithLOVE written on 02/12/08 9:57

Is there any other way we can help you mods. I know you gave us some ways but there seems to be alot more we can do. Open for helping in any way.....


Misdemeanor1331 written on 02/12/08 11:34

Hey, so I'm sorry to be a bother, but I have a chapter in queue right now (Ch 21 of "An Aversion to Change") and it's been in there for a while. Is it close to being moderated or should I just delete this chapter and post it again when the site is up and running again? I'm fine with either - it's whatever will make life easier on you all. :-)
Thanks for your patience!


harrypotterfangirl21 written on 02/12/08 14:59

First off, thanks to all the mods. You guys rock. *passes out cappuccinos*

Now to the serious stuff. I have a story that I'm planning on deleting to help you guys out a bit. Will I be able to re-submit it at a later date with a few choice edits, or is that not allowed? (Either way, I'm still deleting it. ;) )

Also, I have the first chapter of a new fic in queue. If I were to delete this to cut down on strain, would that help or hindrance you guys? (I saw that submitting new things could potentially be extremely harmful, and I was wondering if deleting them would have the same effect.)

Thanks, and keep up the fantastic work!

- Katie