Help!!!

[Tabber]

I am still unable to reply to posts and would appreciate any help.I only have 5 posts in new member forums and would like to reply to several threads.This is all new to me so all help is greatly appreciated!


Thank's,Tabber

 

[retired1]

Patience is required, grasshopper. Even when you hit the required 5 post number, the magic still has to happen on the server when profiles are upgraded to reflect your milestone. Generally, things update within an hour when the required cron jobs are run.

 

[retired1]

Moved from New Members to Site Feedback and Help

 

[classwife]

this will help :
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...263-new-members-how-many-posts-do-i-need.html

 

[NancyB]

I need some help and/or information - please

re getting timed out/logged off replying to a PM - and loosing my original typed reply to the neverland!!

I repeatedly have tried to reply to PMs and have gotten timed out/logged off - I try and remember to click 'remember me' but don't always - still only 6mos new to ECF -

How long is the limit we have to compose a reply and post it before it's lost forever?

Or - is it lost forever? I can't "back-up" and find it, if it's not lost - any clues on where that graveyard is of lost posts when we're timed out?

I'm a retired legal secretary, and it's habit of mine to re-read what I've typed to do any editing needed before I decide to post what I've typed - and this little habit is becoming a real problem when I'm on ECF - there is not enough time to reply 'in my own fashion'.

I haven't yet found a program (tried Outlook email, Word Perfect WP program, Word WP program) I can type my reply into (off ECF), take the time to edit the post, and then copy and paste SUCCESSFULLY into ECF either - (keep getting an automated response that my 'paste job' is not formatted correctly, I believe - I've tried 'text', and a couple forms of formatted text - all of my choices I've tried do not work - perhaps ascii ???? haha

yup - old timer on this end that used to completely understand all the simple stuff when this whole revolution of computers began, way back when (grin) - - - and SO OFTEN completely baffled now-a-days!!

So, perhaps some explanation/information from your ECF side will/could help me presently. I've been the route several times in 6 mos time, deleting all the cookies stuff - but find that very frustrating when I'm online a LOT and visiting many different other sites and them not logging me on automatically - so, I'm looking for other things to try. Please help me! haha NancyB

 

[tmcase]

NancyB....For one thing you MUST remember to click that "remember me" button.

I just sent you a PM that I composed in Outlook and copied/pasted into a PM to you. It worked fine but you shouldn't have to do this. I used Arial size 10 font which is supported here.

I've never been timed out or logged out for taking too much time in a PM although you didn't say how much time it takes to get logged out.

Edit: I believe a PM is lost for good but a reply to a post is backed up so you can restore it if you get logged off.

 

[NancyB]

NancyB....For one thing you MUST remember to click that "remember me" button.

I just sent you a PM that I composed in Outlook and copied/pasted into a PM to you. It worked fine but you shouldn't have to do this. I used Arial size 10 font which is supported here.

I've never been timed out or logged out for taking too much time in a PM although you didn't say how much time it takes to get logged out.

Edit: I believe a PM is lost for good but a reply to a post is backed up so you can restore it if you get logged off.

Well, I replied back to you with a portion of copied/pasted text from Outlook and it worked (this time) for me too... hmmm
we'll see if it continues to work, cuz I'm really quite done with loosing long carefully thought out and typed up, then re-read and edited posts...and getting timed out before I get to post my reply - in all that time I'm taking... - ? 15-30 mins ? I'm not keeping track of the time but know they are lengthy replies for one reason or another. Not 1 hour as is the limit on a discussion thread reply/edit though - wish it were 1 hour on the PM replies! haha (side note: I'm a retired legal secretary and type over 100wpm ie, fast, but often need to explain things in length because of our fulltime RVing lifestyle - regarding shipping when/where to timing - cuz we're on the road often and moving on down the road. This lifestyle (in our retirement) is new to many folks thus the long explanations added to educate others. Oft times there are many returning questions too or drooling stated, jealousy (grin) and what follows is more discussion about how fun it is.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate the time it has taken you to try a couple things and reply back to me on this problem I'm having.

If you learn anything further on whether those replies to PMs are 'gone for good' or not, I'd sure be interested in that - and how to retrieve them, if possible. (to finish and post them) I've got lots of time on my hands these days to reply fully, but also don't like having to re-do the replies in 'less time' - that is a challenge ! ie, overcome the complete frustration, then try and remember what I wrote and why, re-type it and hurry!!! cuz I want to post it as a PM reply quickly this time, before it's lost again. some big hurdles in that process for this older brain!! haha 'time' I have, but 'quick' ?? well, it ain't what it used to be!

NancyB

 

[classwife]

Sometimes you can get it back with the restore auto save too.

But yes, gotta remember to check off Remember Me so you can stay on !

 

[tmcase]

Sometimes you can get it back with the restore auto save too.

But yes, gotta remember to check off Remember Me so you can stay on !

I don't think the auto save is available for PMs. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Katya]

I don't think the auto save is available for PMs. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Auto save is available for PMs also.

Nancy, the trick is to always check the remember me box when you're online. That ensures that everything you type gets saved and can be retrieved and that you never get timed out. Not every single keystroke is saved, though--the program saves chunks of text. Next time you type something, look for the yellow "Auto Save" message that briefly appears at the bottom of your reply box. Once the message flashes, that portion of text is saved.

 

[tmcase]

Auto save is available for PMs also.

Thanks Kat, that's good to know. I had tested it but I guess I didn't wait long enough because I never saw the yellow auto save come up. I just tested it again with a little more patience and it came up.

 

[classwife]

it has saved me many times with PMs

 

[Katya]

it has saved me many times with PMs

Hehehe...

Hi Classy!

 

[NancyB]

it has saved me many times with PMs

Well, I'm still struggling, even tho I have clicked 'remember me' - so thought I'd come on here and time how long it is before I get logged off. I've never seen any yellow thing at the bottom (other than smiley faces) - ?? will watch this time.. ok 2.5 mins in, saw 'auto save' come up in this window (bottom right corner). further thinking, I've checked remember me this time, so most likely won't get logged off....so timer is not needed - but I'm curious how often it does save things too...
Nancy B
again "auto save" about 4mins something, and again at 6 mins 45 secs, again at 8 mins 45 secs, so, every 2 mins it saves what I've typed.
****
Ok, how would I retrieve what it's saved then - any suggestions on that part? are they saved as drafts or some such on my profile page? ****

 

[Katya]

Nancy, it's not the time--I think its how many characters you've typed. Once the Auto save message flashes at the bottom of your reply box, the text is saved. You can exit the page. When you want to continue, just click on Reply and then the Auto saved button at the bottom left corner of the reply box.

Again, auto save saves chunks of text--I don't know how many characters exactly, so watch for the confirmation.

 

[rolygate]

Or, do what PC users generally do when playing safe: working on a PC with no UPS (uninterruptible power supply) or on a laptop where you might hit the wrong button and lose stuff. In these cases you do this:

- Click anywhere in the text area, although if you are typing there you probably won't have to do that.

- Hit Cntrl+A (the control key at bottom left and the A key at the same time). All the text should now blue out (be selected).

- Hit Cntrl+C

- Now all the text is copied (saved in the Clipboard - temporary memory). You can paste it anywhere with the mouse right-click menu, or better with the keyboard using Cntrl+V

- Paste it back into the forum editor if you lose the text. Or, into Notepad to save it while working - but make sure to save the page otherwise it will be lost if there is a blackout. Some people have a permanent Notepad page saved on the Desktop for this purpose, then you just have to hit Cntrl+S and any text in it is safe.

If you use a laptop then current work is safer as the power supply cannot be turned off (it runs on a battery, which is being constantly charged). Current work on a PC is always in danger of being lost if there is a power blackout or brownout (a brownout is a momentary loss of power or dip in voltage). This is why it's a good idea to get a UPS as this converts it into 'laptop mode': running off a battery. Cheap UPS's are useless as they don't work properly (they only switch to battery if they detect a voltage drop, and are notorious for being too slow to switch, so you lose your work, making the whole thing pointless). The type called 'online' (aka double-conversion) are a good choice as they work properly, because you run on battery power all the time (but they cost more).

 

[tmcase]

When I have a long PM (which isn't very often) that I'm afraid won't post due to forum problems, I start the PM in Outlook and then save it as a draft. Then I can go back to it later if I want and change or add to it. Outlook is ECF friendly. You can do the same thing with notepad.

And YES, all UPS's are not equal. I've learned this the hard way.

 

[Robino1]

Another thing to mention, if you clear out cookies frequently, you Will have to remember to click that remember me box. Every time you clear cookies.