Trying to compile a list of common things that have been known to go wrong, how to fix them, and where to report them. This post should be all you need to read unless you find another one and want it added.
General fixes.
- Check downforeveryoneorjustme.com, to see if the server is down. If it is, it's entirely on the wiki's end.
- Clear your cache: be aware, this will delete any files you have stored on your computer from flash and browser games and whatnot. On Firefox and Chrome (and perhaps some other browsers), pressing Shift-Control-R will reload the page while clearing the cache just for that page and the things embedded in the page. Much easier, and it doesn't disturb any of the other pages.
- Clear your cookies: be aware, this will log you out of all sites if you select a "delete all" order. Search for the TV Tropes cookie if your problem is only on TV Tropes.
- Try a different browser: Firefox, Opera, Chrome all of which are free. If the problem only occurs in one, there's something wrong with the browser, not the wiki or your internet.
- Restart your browser, then the computer if that doesn't work.
What's gone wrong?
Folders are screwed up.
There are several reasons for a screwed up folder system on the page.
- Coding screw up: somebody might have forgotten to close a folder somewhere, search for a [[folder:]] without a matching [[/folder]], add whichever is missing.
- Folders are too large: there's a hard limit to how much text can be in each folder, split them into smaller folders.
- JavaScript isn't enabled: If you have a script blocker like NoScript, it needs to allow tvtropes.org for folders to open and close.
Whole page is screwed up (no font, etc)
- Coding screw up: Failing to close a note eats everything afterward; a [[note]] or [[labelnote:]] without a matching [[/note]] or [[/labelnote]] (or with the wrong end tag) and fix it.
Search isn't working for me.
- If no results are displaying, make sure JavaScript is enabled for google.com, googleapis.com, and tvtropes.org.
- If all the results are blank wiki pages, you'll just have to scroll past since they're indexed by Google.
Images are messed up.
First question: is it just one page image, all the page images, or every graphic on the site?
- If it's just the one image, it's likely somebody messed up the coding. Find an image that works and use the working one as a guide on how to fix the broken one. Alternatively, check Text-Formatting Rules.
- If the image is "floating" off the edge or sticks out past the edge of the screen, somebody likely screwed up the pixel width in the coding note , if the text code says the image is larger than the code says, the image will float, which can be fixed by editing the numbers between the colons on the image coding to match.
- If the image is not loading on the page, the image may have been deleted or, if the name is really long, run afoul of the auto-hyphenator. This can generally be solved by reuploading the image with a shortened name (twenty characters is more than enough).
- If it's all the images, the static image hosting server may be down. Check Query Bugs to see if there's an active thread (if not, you can make one).
- If all the graphics are messed up on the site, you should clear your cache. If this doesn't work, it might be the static image hosting server getting drunk again.
Page won't save/edit.
- The page may be locked. The symbol for this is a gold padlock. Clicking it should take you to the Locked Pages page. If something that used to be there was cut, it will be automagically locked. See the Locked Pages for information on editing them. If you attempt to use the edit URL directly to modify a redirect, and get redirected instead, that's also caused by a lock.
- The page may be checked out by another troper. Checkouts last until (a) an edit is saved; (b) a different page is opened for editing; (c) 20 minutes have elapsed. If a page is checked out repeatedly by the same handle, report it on Ask The Tropers.
- You might be suspendednote or have stumbled onto an IP address associated with a known Troll or spammer. Check this thread if you think this might be the case.
- The page may be too large. Hard split the examples off of the page.
- Servers may be down. Check Query Bugs.
The subpage icons aren't showing up.
- If the subpage icons aren't showing up, it's probably because the page doesn't exist. Go the appropriate Namespace and make the page. Note: YMMV pages have to be fully capitalized to work properly.
- If the subpage icons still aren't showing up, check the page type, and make sure it is set to the correct one.
The page isn't indexing right.
- See How Indexing Works.
- If indexes show up multiple times at the bottom of a page: Do a null edit (edit with no changes) on the index page in question.
Can't log on.
- Delete your TV Tropes cookies and log back in. Here's how.
- You may have been suspendednote .
The custom title is messed up.
- Is it spitting out random gibberish? That's somebody submitting the custom title with a text screwup. Try to resubmit it.
- A custom title is propagating to the wrong page? Ask for an Wiki Word title.
The PM notification won't go away.
- Deleting the pm will take care of it. Copy and paste it and keep it somewhere else like your hard drive, or copy the PM and send it to yourself.
My link isn't working properly.
- External links: If your account is new, you can't post links to external sites. This is something put in place to fight spammers.
- External images: TV Tropes does not allow hotlinking of other sites images, you have to upload the image to the TV Tropes server using the "upload image" option under the "tools" menu.
- Wiki Word/blue links: If the Pot Hole isn't working, check on Text-Formatting Rules to see if you mis-typed the commands. Apostrophes and other non alphanumeric symbols do not work for links, use the plain text version of the title and ensure that you add a custom title.
- Single-word links: single word pages need a pair of curly bracketsnote to work properly.
- Page won't link (begins with numeric): due to coding restrictions, wiki words cannot begin with a numeric or other non-letter-based character. If it is part of the official title, use the written version of the numeric or symbol and custom title the numeric or symbol in.
Reporting bugs.
Do so on Query Bugs. Be sure to include the following information: IP address with issue, Browser w/ version number, OS (operating system), as well as any addons or other software you think might be causing a problem. Screen shots are also a plus.
Edited by wingedcatgirl on Mar 26th 2024 at 11:21:48 AM
Does anyone think this might work duplicated in Tech Wishlist as well?
Fight smart, not fair.I remember having a conversation with ccoa on this topic.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard FeynmanUm, hey peeps. I'm trying to post a new thread over at Writer's Block but it just won't save. Am I doing something wrong? Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance.
EDIT: Nevermind, worked it out.
edited 24th Nov '12 4:51:17 PM by Basterd
About clearing the browser's cache: on Firefox and Chrome (and perhaps some other browsers), pressing Shift-Control-R will reload the page while clearing the cache just for that page and the things embedded in the page. Much easier, and it doesn't disturb any of the other pages.
Should the IP/sock issues with crowners, hats, etc. be put up until the DDOS attacks end?
Oppression anywhere is a threat to democracy everywhere.I started a Troper page for myself under Tropers/Pigcatapult because underscores break everything, but now it won't let me edit it because my name is Pig_catapult and not Pigcatapult. Do I have to make a new account without the underscore or something?
Seems like it. Maybe make a thread in Tech Wishlist?
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard FeynmanAlready done: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13699982140A30212200&page=1
Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.YMMV tabs don't display from Characters/ tabs. That is undesirable but a feature.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynmanoh ok thanks for clearing that up
Sep: I don't think he's talking about an icon to YMMV/. I think he's talking about one going to the WebVideo/ page. Which doesn't have an icon implemented until this finishes, to give the answer.
oh that makes a lot more sense.
Speaking of which, that thread needs a bump.
Tried to edit a post, and got a message saying ACCESS DENIED in big letters at the top of the screen, and that I didn't have permission to access http://cdn.creative.medialytics.com/raw_assets/servo_prod/campaigns/CA-HTNS83A/creatives/CR-JKQPNDC/versions/1/editpost.php on my server.
Also this: Reference #18.c4036d0.1408717249.85b3269. In case that means something.
edited 22nd Aug '14 12:18:47 PM by GameSpazzer
MY SOUL IS DARK BUT MY HAIR IS COLORFUL — Brahian Pokémon AlchemistThat sounds like an ad issue; report it here.
That was the amazing part. Things just keep going.I have a really weird problem here. On Google Chrome, images will show just fine, but image links will not show at all. On Internet Explorer, the image links were fine, but I'm just so used to Chrome. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling Chrome when I had this bug before, and that worked for awhile, but the problem has resurfaced on this day. Do I continuously uninstall and reinstall Chrome each time this bug arises? Please help.
Don't know if it's the right thread for it, but...
You know that Night Vision button that turns TV Tropes Green and Black instead of White and Blue right? Well, after a slight error on my part that reset my browser I can't seem to keep it turned on. Every time I switch on the button it does go into night vision mode, although after i visit another page or refresh the page it turns back to the default.
Are you blocking the site's cookies?
I am not.
Edit: I don't know how, but the issue seems to have resolved itself. It was probably just a temporary problem, so move along as there's nothing to see anymore.
edited 9th Oct '15 11:46:23 PM by Nickpws
I'm trying to add a new picture into my avatar gallery, but every time I click 'save' the page just resets. Same with the edits I make to the picture caption.
Currently writing something. Currently procrastinating.So this is a weird one:
I like to read TV Tropes on my phone, but lately something strange happens whenever I load a page. After a few seconds, an ad pops up, then the screen immediately goes white. I keep trying to reload the page, but the same thing keeps happening. I was wondering if anyone else had the same problem, and maybe there's a solution to this?
"Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid."-John WayneAdvert issues go here.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Couple things to add relating to Javascript.
Under "Folders are screwed up":
New section, "Search isn't working":
- If no results are displaying, make sure Javascript is enabled for google.com, googleapis.com, and tvtropes.org.
- If all the results are blank wiki pages, you'll just have to scroll past since they're indexed by Google.
That was the amazing part. Things just keep going.