Wasssup with the blank posts?

Hal · January 11, 2012, 01:26 PM

Wasssup with the blank posts?
It just seems to have started the last day or so.
I'll type out somethng and hit submit and the post is empty.

@ first I thought it was just me, but, I see there's a number of other blank posts.

Is it some kind of a time out issue or something?

**Mal H** · January 11, 2012, 02:13 PM

We noticed them starting yesterday morning, and are looking into it. No resolution yet. I think it has to do with the abnormally high traffic we are starting to get on the site.

**Mike Irwin** · January 11, 2012, 03:51 PM

"I'll type out somethng and hit submit and the post is empty."

Yep. What you can do, though, is when you see that your post is empty, use the back button on your browser to go back to the message entry screen. What you typed in may still be there. Hit the submit button again, and hopefully it will take.

Buzzcook · January 11, 2012, 08:01 PM

I was able to fix it by editing the blank post.

Sparks1957 · January 12, 2012, 05:19 AM

Having the same problem here.

**Mike Irwin** · January 12, 2012, 06:45 AM

Everyone is having the same problem. We're looking into it.

Hal · January 12, 2012, 10:11 AM

Notepad is your friend....

Select all - copy - paste & spell check then submit..

Anyhow - thanks - I thought it was just my Dell and Win7/IE9 acting goofy.

**tyme** · January 12, 2012, 07:23 PM

Here's what's known so far:

It's not database corruption.
It's not any local code mods to vbulletin.
It appears to be a problem on the php side; debug output placed right before vbulletin saves post data to the database shows a lack of post content some of the time.

The bug usually disappears post content, but sometimes it leaves behind part of a url tag and the url, if there is one in the post.

Unfortunately, there are no readily apparent causes; the vbulletin php code hadn't been changed for a while before this started happening on Tuesday. All prior changes from standard vbulletin code are minor and shouldn't affect posting. It seems unlikely that code that was working before would suddenly start breaking, so there must be some external but as yet undiagnosed cause.

Until this is resolved, if you see a blank post, press the browser's back button, copy your post to the clipboard, then click the browser's forward button, edit the empty post, and paste the post content in. Then save changes.

kinggabby · January 12, 2012, 10:26 PM

Maybe it is a troll program that just hates you and loves to delete your posts?

.... Wait that means he hates me too .. I am sad now

nate45 · January 12, 2012, 10:32 PM

..

Shadi Khalil · January 12, 2012, 10:59 PM

It happens to me when I try to post pics. I also usually access the site from tapa talk. Don't know if that helps..

Don P · January 13, 2012, 08:13 AM

For once I checked before posting. Same problem here. All I ask of the staff is when it is corrected please let the members know. Thanks to all the computer wiz kids.

Hawg · January 13, 2012, 12:32 PM

I've got to where every time I make a post I copy it first. Then hit edit and paste and submit.

**Mike Irwin** · January 13, 2012, 12:34 PM

Everyone please read the announcement that is at the top of each forum.

It makes suggestions for a work around until our tech guys can get a handle on this one.

Buzzcook · January 13, 2012, 02:47 PM

Just did the edit and repost thing. got another blank post. repeating the edit repost worked the second time.

In the first re-edit I added a reason for the edit. Possibly the new line caused the second blank post.

**Mal H** · January 13, 2012, 04:07 PM

That's the first I've heard of a retry failing, but I'm not surprised. It was bound to happen sooner or later, and the odds were getting better with every failed post.

**tyme** · January 13, 2012, 05:44 PM

Mal found the cause, which had been reported as a problem reported for vbulletin 4.x. We've downgraded pcre because apparently 8.21 has a bug. (Pcre was upgraded weeks ago but php hadn't been restarted until Tuesday, so that's when it started using the new version of the library.) We'll see if the problem's fixed now.

I'm certain it's fixed at this point (+4 hrs)

boostedtt91 · January 13, 2012, 06:55 PM

same issue for me as well. I just have to go back into the post and edit it and repost and then it will work

**Mal H** · January 13, 2012, 07:48 PM

boosted - did you get your blank post after or before tyme's post above yours?

Everyone - please post a quick note here if you get any blank posts from this point on so we'll know if it's fixed.

**Mal H** · January 15, 2012, 01:24 AM

It appears the crisis is over. There hasn't been a single blank post since the instant tyme reverted PCRE back to V 8.20 on Friday.

I'll close this one down as fixed.

January 11, 2012, 01:26 PM	#1
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	Wasssup with the blank posts? Wasssup with the blank posts? It just seems to have started the last day or so. I'll type out somethng and hit submit and the post is empty. @ first I thought it was just me, but, I see there's a number of other blank posts. Is it some kind of a time out issue or something?

January 11, 2012, 03:51 PM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	"I'll type out somethng and hit submit and the post is empty." Yep. What you can do, though, is when you see that your post is empty, use the back button on your browser to go back to the message entry screen. What you typed in may still be there. Hit the submit button again, and hopefully it will take. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 12, 2012, 06:45 AM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	Everyone is having the same problem. We're looking into it. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 12, 2012, 07:23 PM	#8
tyme Staff Join Date: October 13, 2001 Posts: 3,355	Here's what's known so far: It's not database corruption. It's not any local code mods to vbulletin. It appears to be a problem on the php side; debug output placed right before vbulletin saves post data to the database shows a lack of post content some of the time. The bug usually disappears post content, but sometimes it leaves behind part of a url tag and the url, if there is one in the post. Unfortunately, there are no readily apparent causes; the vbulletin php code hadn't been changed for a while before this started happening on Tuesday. All prior changes from standard vbulletin code are minor and shouldn't affect posting. It seems unlikely that code that was working before would suddenly start breaking, so there must be some external but as yet undiagnosed cause. Until this is resolved, if you see a blank post, press the browser's back button, copy your post to the clipboard, then click the browser's forward button, edit the empty post, and paste the post content in. Then save changes. __________________ “The egg hatched...” “...the egg hatched... and a hundred baby spiders came out...” (blade runner) “Who are you?” “A friend. I'm here to prevent you from making a mistake.” “You have no idea what I'm doing here, friend.” “In specific terms, no, but I swore an oath to protect the world...” (continuum) “It's a goal you won't understand until later. Your job is to make sure he doesn't achieve the goal.” (bsg) Last edited by tyme; January 13, 2012 at 08:24 AM.

January 12, 2012, 10:32 PM	#10
nate45 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,746	.. __________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (>_<)

January 11, 2012, 02:13 PM	#2
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,955	We noticed them starting yesterday morning, and are looking into it. No resolution yet. I think it has to do with the abnormally high traffic we are starting to get on the site.

January 11, 2012, 08:01 PM	#4
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	I was able to fix it by editing the blank post.

January 12, 2012, 05:19 AM	#5
Sparks1957 Senior Member Join Date: September 4, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,552	Having the same problem here.

January 12, 2012, 10:11 AM	#7
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	Notepad is your friend.... Select all - copy - paste & spell check then submit.. Anyhow - thanks - I thought it was just my Dell and Win7/IE9 acting goofy.

January 12, 2012, 10:26 PM	#9
kinggabby Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2011 Location: OKC Posts: 502	Maybe it is a troll program that just hates you and loves to delete your posts? .... Wait that means he hates me too .. I am sad now

January 12, 2012, 10:59 PM	#11
Shadi Khalil Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2006 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 5,210	It happens to me when I try to post pics. I also usually access the site from tapa talk. Don't know if that helps..

January 13, 2012, 08:13 AM	#12
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	For once I checked before posting. Same problem here. All I ask of the staff is when it is corrected please let the members know. Thanks to all the computer wiz kids. __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

January 13, 2012, 12:32 PM	#13
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	I've got to where every time I make a post I copy it first. Then hit edit and paste and submit.

January 13, 2012, 12:34 PM	#14
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	Everyone please read the announcement that is at the top of each forum. It makes suggestions for a work around until our tech guys can get a handle on this one. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 13, 2012, 02:47 PM	#15
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	Just did the edit and repost thing. got another blank post. repeating the edit repost worked the second time. In the first re-edit I added a reason for the edit. Possibly the new line caused the second blank post.

January 13, 2012, 04:07 PM	#16
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,955	That's the first I've heard of a retry failing, but I'm not surprised. It was bound to happen sooner or later, and the odds were getting better with every failed post.

January 13, 2012, 05:44 PM	#17
tyme Staff Join Date: October 13, 2001 Posts: 3,355	Mal found the cause, which had been reported as a problem reported for vbulletin 4.x. We've downgraded pcre because apparently 8.21 has a bug. (Pcre was upgraded weeks ago but php hadn't been restarted until Tuesday, so that's when it started using the new version of the library.) We'll see if the problem's fixed now. I'm certain it's fixed at this point (+4 hrs) __________________ “The egg hatched...” “...the egg hatched... and a hundred baby spiders came out...” (blade runner) “Who are you?” “A friend. I'm here to prevent you from making a mistake.” “You have no idea what I'm doing here, friend.” “In specific terms, no, but I swore an oath to protect the world...” (continuum) “It's a goal you won't understand until later. Your job is to make sure he doesn't achieve the goal.” (bsg) Last edited by tyme; January 13, 2012 at 10:10 PM.

January 13, 2012, 06:55 PM	#18
boostedtt91 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Location: Danville, Pa Posts: 520	same issue for me as well. I just have to go back into the post and edit it and repost and then it will work

January 13, 2012, 07:48 PM	#19
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,955	boosted - did you get your blank post after or before tyme's post above yours? Everyone - please post a quick note here if you get any blank posts from this point on so we'll know if it's fixed.

January 15, 2012, 01:24 AM	#20
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,955	It appears the crisis is over. There hasn't been a single blank post since the instant tyme reverted PCRE back to V 8.20 on Friday. I'll close this one down as fixed.