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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
mooncalf written on 02/12/08 16:01

Misdemeanor1331 - Your chapter is still in queue. However, any deletions help to relieve the stress on the site.

harrypotterfangirl21 - Deleting your story and chapter would both help, thank you. And we have no problem with you re-submitting after everything is sorted out.


Euphrates written on 02/12/08 16:46

Hmm, probably a stupid question, but I was wondering: how exactly do we back up reviews? Simply save them in a word document? Thanks.

--Kate


Marauder by Midnight written on 02/12/08 18:14

Euphrates - Yep, fgweasley had asked that second comment in, and myownmuggle had replied:

I don't know if there is a way to download them into a file, but you can copy and paste them into a word document and save it on your computer.


LaneTechFreshie written on 02/12/08 20:41

Oh you poor things- MUUUCCCHHH love to you! Keep up the good work. PLEASE!!!!
*hugs to all*


LaneTechFreshie written on 02/12/08 20:41

Is there anyway a penname change could be worked in with all these glitches?
*laugh* Just kidding- sorta. :-D


Raeinflight written on 02/12/08 22:21

I received an e-mail that one of my favorites has been updated two days ago and I keep checking but the next chapter isn't there.

It's "When Darkness Did Surround Us" by MagED

Is this a glitch?


Marauder by Midnight written on 02/13/08 1:09

Raeinflight - The story has been approved by a moderator, but the story cannot be validated until the system is updated.


Raeinflight written on 02/14/08 0:38

Ok, thank you so much! It's been driving me crazy!

Good luck with the system, you guys are the best!


CloewithLOVE written on 02/14/08 9:49

Hey, If some of us delete our accounts since we have no stories will it help you mods. I'm willing to delete mine since I have no stories but can I submit a new username after you fix the system? I'm willing to help!


I_Love_Cabbage written on 02/14/08 11:28

you probablly already know this but in recent submisions
You Are Mine by SeaIsleWitch is up there twice :)


songbook99 written on 02/14/08 16:05

CloewithLOVE, thanks for the offer. Having fewer accounts would alleviate some of the strain on our system. However, we are planning a purge of inactive users, so you don't have to delete your account unless you want to.


dumbledorefluertwins written on 02/16/08 12:35

When you say, please do not submit stories from now, does this include our Gauntlets? Also, how to I move my winter Tales story to another cat, because I keep getting that "this category is locked" sign.

~Evie


Angel of Dreams written on 02/16/08 22:58

A quick question... are the submissions still locked? I've been waiting for nearly two weeks for the third chapter of my story 'The Broken River' to be validated, and I would submit my completed Gauntlet story if I could. However, I've been monitoring the cue, and multiple stories from the same people are popping up! What's going on? Did I miss the message that the cue was reopened?


Nevilles Girl written on 02/17/08 8:30

If we were to edit our already validated story for a typo, would that slow down the system? If it does, I'll just wait. ~Luna


Raeinflight written on 02/17/08 15:34

Not to be a bother, but is there any kind of estimate as to when we can submit stories again?


Marauder by Midnight written on 02/17/08 17:40

dumbledorefluertwins - Please read the news post carefully. We've already stated that you can't switch categories.

Angel of Dreams - As stated, the queue is not officially locked. We just ask that you hold onto your submissions.

Raeinflight - There's no time estimate at the moment.


Grimmrook written on 02/18/08 8:57

Um...

Jeez, I hate doing this, I always feel like I'm nagging. But apparently my latest chapter got stuck in the queue, and I was told a while ago that it would have to be pushed through to get posted and it should take a couple of days. It's been over a week, so I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help things along?

I know I've read a few times something about having to wait until the site gets updated for other stories and was wondering if that's what I had to do as well, or if maybe I shouldn't delete the chapter and repost it or something?

I'm really sorry if I seem like I'm nagging.

Thanks.


Vindictus Viridian written on 02/18/08 9:03

That "stuck" thing has been a bigger problem than before, just lately, happening especially to popular stories. It might be solved before the rest of the queue and site problems, but there's no guarantee, and resubmitting before everything's fixed won't help. If you're in no rush to have the chapter posted, then deleting and waiting will lighten the server's load a bit. Otherwise, just sit tight, and it'll go through sometime. And congratulations on having a story popular enough to have the problem -- to look on the bright side for a second!


Grimmrook written on 02/18/08 9:47

hehehehehe... Thank you muchly. I'll keep the story in for a couple of days just to see if it does make it through, but if not I'll pull it. It'll give me an excuse to put off starting work on the next chapter... Thanks so much.


Sedragore written on 02/18/08 11:50

Good luck mods! *runs around to mods bringing cookies* This must be really hard for you all to cope with! :(

Can't wait till everything is back up!