AOL Journals: Magic Smoke

Wednesday, November 23, 2005
3:14:00 PM EST Hi folks...unfortunately, it doesn't look like I have a lot to be thankful about, at least when it comes to our Journals problems:

* "No Joy" on the Install of the Disclaimer and Save Fix Patch:
As previously mentioned, the tech folks installed a patch early this morning to try to close out the "Can't Save Entries" problem and add the disclaimer under the ad banner.

The install, despite working perfectly in the development and beta environments, worked quite improperly on production, so it was pulled back.

Earlier today, the tech folks thought they had a lead on the problem, though that did not pan out.

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday and moratorium, we won't be able to try the patch again until Monday at the earliest.

If you are still having problems saving entries, and our previously-recommended fixes of clearing your browser & TopSpeed caches still don't work, your options are kind of limited: 1. Use a standalone (or external) browser.  2. Post to your blog by sending IMs to the AOLJournals bot (I apologize for not mentioning this workaround before -- just send an IM to screen name AOLJournals and follow its instructions.)

If you're thinking of installing (or reinstalling) the latest version of the AOL 9.0 software to try to fix the problem: Some folks have said it helped, others that it didn't. If you do try this, be sure to install the new version into its own, separate folder -- I've had reports from people who've had problems, such as debug errors, from installing multiple copies of AOL into the same location.

The holiday & moratorium also means it's highly unlikely we'll see any fixes on our other open problems:

* Charset Issue: Again, this is the problem where extended characters, like those with accents, currency symbols, trademark and copyright symbols, and even things like curly quotes, display improperly, showing funny characters & boxes, etc.:

(If you think it's bad here, the International Journalers are really annoyed, because they use a lot more accented characters than we do.)

The only workarounds to this are: 1. Not use those characters -- for example, make sure you use regular quotes, not "smart quotes" (that's what Microsoft Word calls them, the curly kind), or 2. Post to your blog via IMs to the AOLJournals bot, which will also work. (Using the bot bypasses the Web interface, so it will get around the Save Entry and the Charset problems)

* Archive Count and Date Mismatches:
Again, no update to the inaccurate monthly counts in the archive navigation, and the problem of the wrong month's entries showing up in the sidebar.

I'm sorry I don't have better news for you, either on the technical issues or the whole other problem about the ad banners.

I'm going to try to check in a few times over the long holiday weekend, but in the meantime, please have a Happy Thanksgiving, and safe journeys to everyone traveling over the holiday. Thanks -- Joe

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This entry has 24 comments: (Add your own)

• #24 Comment from brandyp0509 
  11/27/05 8:41 PM | Permalink

  Doesn't matter if there is a disclaimer added or not, the ads are still intrusive and suck! Just my not so humble opinion.  Yep, still pissed here.  Brandy
• #23 Comment from kauffmanprt 
  11/27/05 7:19 PM | Permalink

  HIfolks does that mean he is or was  let me reiterate all i want is too get what i deverse whats comming too me monatairly i suppose but hopefully without any      big legal hasslessfrom aol     blogging was the only job i could get and here i sit not apenny too my name an over drawn checking and an upcomming bankuprisy but alo contiues too use my   stuff help mike ask FEIDELITY INVESTING MIKE K.
• #22 Comment from judithheartsong 
  11/26/05 11:06 AM | Permalink

  http://sztahanov.blog.hu/index.php/2005/11/25/aol_journals_hirdetacsbotrainy_ka#trackbacks
  
  judi
• #21 Comment from nellemclaughlin 
  11/25/05 11:12 AM | Permalink

  I did uninstall and resinstall AOL 9.0 into it's own folder after deleting all previous versions and I am still getting the debug error. Am hoping once the new upgrade is installed that will go away. Whatever the problem is, it affects how things work now even going through my Verizon browser. I am now able to save occassional entries. I hope you had a nice THanksigiving.
• #20 Comment from courtenaymphelan 
  11/24/05 3:11 AM | Permalink

  Joe, I wanted to stop by and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. I am sorry for all the troubles the ads seem to have spawned but I want you to know I appreciate your voicing our concerns to Aol. I wish you and your family a blessed thanksgiving...Sincerely, Courtenay Phelan

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