related thread

So, you believe you've found a bug in the Rec_Engine?

Please describe the problem as detailed as you can and try to include error messages if there are any.

In every case include the following Information:

Hello I'm a template please copy and paste me!

Hi, I fixed two smaller bugs today.

Nr. 1
• Symptoms: After editing your recommendation it was suddenly part of a series.
• Problem: A piece of the engine code was at a place where it should not have been.
  copy and paste can be dangerous!
• Fix: Unwanted piece of code was removed.
  
  Nr. 2
  
• Symptoms: It was impossible to edit the "based upon book" field. It would always
  display "1-5".
• Problem: The HTML-code did only include one option: "1-5"
  copy and paste can be dangerous
• Fix: Added all 7 options

Don't hesitate to post bugs!

FEATURE RELEASE:

I added the ability to add a status to the recommendations

The possible Stati(is this correct?) are:

• In Progress
• Completed
• Abandoned
• Unknown

Since I can't possibly edit the stati of all 700 and more recommendatios, they all show up as Unknown per default.

You could help us a great deal if you could update the recommendations(except the one-shots) you have made yourself. Use the Rec-Engine to do this. (You can't update recommendations which have been made by other members!)
Forum posts will be automatically adjusted, IF they were posted AFTER the initial start of the Rec-Engine a few days ago. All Forum posts that were created prior the start of the Rec-Engine will have to be adjusted manually. This is necessary because we want to save our original forum posts at all costs.

*checks dictionary.com* Afraid there's no such word as "status". Or "statuses", for that matter.

Btw, is it possible to add a Setting field: Pre-, Post-, in Hogwarts? with reference to the Trio, of course.


FYI for Engine Users:
Pre-, Post-, In Hogwarts Setting:
Please indicate this in the Summary field.


Word Count
We'd also appreciate help in entering the story's word count. If it's not given (like in the case of Fiction Alley stories), then we check if it's in Portkey or fanfiction.net to get the word count from the author's profile page.

If the story is neither in Portkey or fanfiction.net, then we copy and paste the fic in a word processing program to do a word count there.

So if you're terribly bored, you can kill time by posting here some stories' titles, word counts, and the Settings relative to the Trio's Hogwarts' years.

First of all, the new rec-engine is really awesome! With time it will probably turn into the place to go in the H/H fandom when looking for new fics. Very impressive.

These are not really bugs, merely a couple of minor things that could be done in a slightly better way (nitpicking in other words).

Firstly, when filtering based on word count or chapters, you have to decide between ranges; there's no way to specify "anything with over 15,000 words" since specifying 15,000-50,000 words will eliminate fics with, say, 100,000 words. So instead of a select you could have two inputs with "minimum" and "maximum length", allowing more flexibility for the user. This would also allow the user to enter a very large figure in maximum and thus get all recs with more than x words. The same could be done with the "chapters" criterion.

Secondly, when creating a rec, "NC-17" is selected by default as the rating. Maybe it should be G by default instead? (Taking into acount the average gutter level of most PK users, this issue is probably debatable; but we do have to maintain some kind of public soberness, right? )

That's about it... As already said, you did a superb job on this. I never really thought we'd get anything like this when I first made a suggestion...

As for "status" -- if you're thinking of the Latin inflection, it's a fourth declension noun, meaning it'll simply be "status" in the nominative plural.

I'm back again, this time with a "real" bug!

When I do a filter on Word Count, and I set it to 50,000 - 100,000, it seems there's no lower limit; many recs with considerably less than 50,000 words are returned. The easiest way to replicate this bug is to leave everything else at their defaults, but the lower limit is also ignored when filtering on other criteria simultaneously. I'm using Mozilla Firefox 0.8 on an XP sp1 system (most probably irrelevant, but you never know).

Assuming that your OS is exactly the one I used for my example, the rec_engine should work fine. Maybe you installed some additional Software that prevents Java Script from being executed?

Do you see the big red Your need to enable JavaScript in your browser in order to view this page! above the page?

You can try and use a different Browser like Mozilla Firefox.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
You only have to dowload 4,7MB.
It's more secure and faster than Internet Explorer 6 anyway.

Just to be sure, here is a link on how to enable Java Script in IE and other Browsers:
http://library.curtin.edu.au/faq/enable_js_cookies.html

OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows XP Professional
BROWSER(Version): Internet Explore 6
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Well, if I put the status as "Complete", check the "One-Shot" box and then adds the words count, it doesn't work when I submit/preview because it keep saying that a one-shot doesn't have chapters. Now I know that, and I did only fill out the words field and not the chapters field. The only way to add the words count was to not check the one-shot box though the fic is a one-shot.
ERROR MESSAGE: none

Just had to add it here too; I recent found out about the new feature/system for the recommendations and I it!

I made this on purpose. If you click on one-shot the chapter count always has to be one. I think I will change it so that the chapter field automatically becomes "1" once you click on one-shot.

i'd recently made a recommendation for Fallen which is a prequel for a previously recommended fic, Walking in Memphis. Because of the relation of both fics, i saw it fit to put the series id number (which i've only tried using now). However, since it is part of a series, the Fallen rec was buried with Walking in Memphis.

i'm thinking that sort of defeats the purpose since people wouldn't see it on top even though it is a recent recommendation. plus, it's also a new fic which should benefit more if it was on top.

er, does anyone get what i mean? i just think the fic should be among the recent posts before getting buried with its predecessors. i was thinking of removing the series id with the edit function and then adding it again later on but i think you can't do that.

sorry, i know that was pretty long, somebody tell me this sounds at least slightly rational.

Sinta, I take it you're referring to that series' Rec Thread? It would be nice to have it go back to the forum's page 1? One easy way to make that happen is to reply to the existing Rec thread. Say, "You can read Memphis' prequel. Story details are in the first post."

Then manually edit the first post to include the template for the prequel's data.

Magpie can probably automate these steps, but I'm not sure they're worth the trouble. He'll decide if it is, though. *has been nagging Magpie about major and minor revisions*

Well I think I know what Sinta means.
Problem 1.

Since you can't make a new topic for a sequel, prequel, or ficlet you never see it on top of the recommendation "forum". The Rec-Engine however, shows it on top because it sorts the recommendations by rec-date as default. But we had exactly the same problem before we launched the rec-engine?
Most of the people are still using the forums to look out for recommendations since the rec-engine is hardly linked anywhere on the site. I think the whole concept of the rec-engine was to first look or search for a fic with the engine and then open the recommendation topic from within the engine to get more details.
Currently the people are just using the engine when they want to make a new recommendation because otherwise they don't even realize it exists.

Problem 2.
Bringing a newly edited series topic on top of the forum's view.

Now that is really difficult. Not because it's technically impossible but because we don't automatically edit forum threads that existed before the launch of the rec-engine.

I will give you an example:
We add a new sequel to Lori's POU Series. We would have to edit the POU's topic first post next and add the details of the new sequel manually. Now, we would need to push a button that puts the the Lori topic back on top of the the forum's topic view.
Now, even if we had such a button we would not see the name of the newly added prequel in forum's view, since we don't add a new post, but edit an already existing one. It would look like we just added a new post to the POU topic.
The forum software we use, is simply not designed to do this. After all, it's a forum not a rec-engine.

But there's actually no problem if people would use the rec-engine first, before they start looking through the forum threads.

OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 98

BROWSER(Version): IE 6 SP1

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: I just finished filling in the appropriate blanks for a rec ("Family Matters"), previewed it (went fine), and then hit the "Submit" button ... and nothing happens.

I still see the same page with the 'Done' thingy at the lower left hand portion of my screen.

ERROR MESSAGE:

Tech-challenged that I am , I'm wondering if I missed out on something in this new thingamajig ... like the rec being screened by a mod before posting?

I hope so ... I don't think I can remember what I posted in the 'Optional User Comments.' On the other hand ... I may as well have posted a longish review for this fic.

Off to bed ... off road in the a.m.

gil

Err, since you're the only one who seems to have such a problem I don't have a single cue about what kind of error this should be.
Can you reproduce this error? Close all browser windows and start from the scratch.
Did you try to use another browser?

Gil (r.l.) - if what Magpie suggested doesn't work for you, you and I can set a time when I can walk you through this. I.e., you talk to me by YM while using the Rec Engine. That way, you can tell me any error messages or other displays you see.

Here are what I'll need you to tell me by PM:
-- date and time you're online in PK (2 am?) Kidding! Lunchtime or nighttime or weekend would do.
-- URL of this story -- it it Family Matters by Kinsfire? The one hosted here in PK?

At any rate, there's a temporary solution for this. Your recs are much appreciated, as are everyone's.


~Pen

I'm just dropping by to give kudos to whoever dedicated their time(Magpie &Pen who I know of) to make things even easier for us lazy bums() that rec.

It looks nifty and now I won't have to go searching and copy& pasting the template for a rec.

Thanks!

Thanks, Pen and Thieving Magpie.

Maybe something wrong with my laptop (as I PM'd pen), since I tried reloading the rec and this time it worked. (I'm currently using a Windows XP-based laptop which the office purchased and which I'm subjecting to a major road test ).

Anyway, also wanted to extend heartfelt congratulations and kudos to everyone who worked on the engine ... it is one AWESOME thing to have.

Thanks, again.

gil

FEATURE RELEASE:

It is now possible to mark FanFiction Recommendations as read or scheduled.

In order to do this, one has to open a recommendation in detailed view and click on the approciate links on the left of the details window.

The red check marks in the main window indicate that a fic has already been read, whereas the green ones indicate that a fic has been scheduled to be read in the future.

The ability to list all scheduled recommendations will be added soon.

The ugly page links were replaced by a nicer solution too.

First I'd just like to say that I am kicking myself for not checking out the engine until just now, because you guys did a great job with it! It makes sorting through the possible read-worthy stuff so much easier. Thanks to whoever thought up those specific sorting category-thingies!

I was just wondering if it was possible to put a link to the engine at the top of the page alongside HOME, FANFICTION, FORUMS, etc.? Please?

MOD-NOTE: merged this with the Rec-Engine bugs thread, because they're related topics. Also: *slaps self* I knew I wanted to do something modly with this, but forgot what exactly when posting my reply; ~Szaranea 07/17/04

*nods* I actually had the same idea some time ago too, but forgot about if for some reason.

I have to go to the recs forum and follow approximately 3 links in some or other Pen/Thieving Magpie post until I get there. The recs engine is really a great feature, and lots of work has gone into it. It would be a shame if people wouldn't use it very often because it is so complicated to get there.

Ri

Edited because I one feature should not be referred to in plural

Well, I do agree that we should add a link to the main site's navigation, but you have to keep in mind that changing these things is not as easy as it always seems to be.
NAPPA always puts a lot of work into designing the site's header and footer.
The rec-engine was finished shortly after NAPPA launched the new layout of the site, so there wasn't really time to include the rec-engine there. BTW there is no place left anyway until NAPPA redisignes the whole Banner. So I think we have to be patient, until Nappa makes the next change to the site's layout.

Oh. Right. Well, I was more thinking about including the link in the navigation bar to the right of this page anyway, or is that totally impossible too?

Other idea that would be easier to do: include a link in the recs forum summary. How about that?

Ri

FEATURE RELEASE:

It is now possible to search for read or scheduled FanFiction recommendations.

However, there is still a small bug in this function which occurs when you try to list all read AND scheduled fics combined with another search option. In this case the results show all fics read regardles if another option has been selected or not.

Right now, I am unable to fix this, because my brain decided to power off all logical functions

Hi Magpie,

OPERATING SYSTEM:Windows XP
BROWSER(Version):Firefox 0.8
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:I saw this error message 2x while editing the Engine records today (around Jul 19 0310h GMT):
ERROR MESSAGE:Column: 'rec_id' in where clause is ambiguous

Nothint else appears onscreen.


But it's not much of a problem, since all I need to do is to reenter the recs.portkey.org URL in my browser.


A little note for Engine users~~~~~~

we've managed to insert word counts for all but 17 of the almost 900 fics entered there. Of these 17, only 4 stories show signs of not having been abandoned.


As Magpie said before, everyone can help us update the Story Completion Status field by editing those records listed under your respective names as endorsers.

SYSTEM: WinXP
Browser: IE 6
QUESTION re prefix added to fic URL

I was adding an alternate fic URL to the Rec Engine today. Took me a few minutes to notice the new frame (with the Portkey.org sign, Bookmark this! Add Comment buttons and all) that gets shown when one clicks on the Engine-Record's fic URL.

Question: this URL http://www.toujourspur.com/modules.php?nam...tory&storyid=95

won't lead directly to the fic's chapter 1 when clicked from the Engine record. The fic in question is Kirixchi's "Pleasure of your company".

I suppose the non-linking is due to the prefix added to the URL? This prefix:

Oh, they must have started their server move shortly after I went to their old site. Thanks for that info, I'll edit the record next time I get online. The new URL ought to be working by then.

Is there any chance you can provide a way to turn off the frames and just go straight to the link? An option or somthing? I personally find the frames irritating because on FFN the adBlocker cookies don't work, also, the frame takes up far too much screen realestate for me.

Don't get me wrong, I like the rec-engine. I just don't like this feature.

Also, could you make the recommendation window resizable? If you don't have to scroll, you shouldn't have to.

FEATURE RELEASE:

It is now possible to add recommendations to your own little favorites list.
The favorites list also includes your personal ranking system.


To add a recommendation to your favorites list click on "Add to Favorites" in detailed view.

To see the favorites of another user click on the recommender's name next to the recommendation title on the main page.

To view your own favorites list click on "My Favorites" in the main navigation bar.

However, you need to be logged in to do that!

To delete a recommendation from you favorites list click on the little dustbin.

To change the rank of your favorite recommendations click on the little text icon.

The personal ranking system of the favorites list is NOT used to indicate the popularity of a certain recommendation.

Have Fun!

TM

Way to go, Magpie! That's actually something I could use hehehe Now I'm off to check the rest of my mail, reply to reviews, etc....

And do homework that I've been putting off for two weeks.... *sigh*

BUGFIX!
Keyword search works now as expected!

We had some trouble with the keyword search of the rec-engine lately. Searching for a specific keyword did not list ALL the entries it was supposed to list. This had the effect that many people posted recommendations twice, since the search function did not list all fanfictions already recommended.

OPERATING SYSTEM:Windows XP SP1
BROWSER(Version): FireFox 1.0PR1
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: When sorting by Ship by using the 'filter' section at the bottom of the page, the 'filter' section does not show in the resulting view. IE: I select Harry/Hermione, hit the button and when I want to change to Ron/Luna I can't because the SELECT controls and form are not visible at the bottom of the screen anymore.
ERROR MESSAGE: No error message is displayed.

Well, I did this on purpose so people won't get the impression they can search within the search results if they performed a search with the search engine.
For example:
If you search for one-shots with the search engine and you'd select H/Hr at the bottom of the the results page the search would show ALL H/Hr fics and not all one-shots that happen to be H/Hr.
And since I use the same function() for the search engine and the quick filter at the bottom of the page, the select controls won't show in both cases.
I will change it when I find the time to do it.

Just wanted to suggest something (not a real bug). When recommending a one-shot, you shouldn't have to put in a chapter count. Assume at least one chapter Unless you really want people to fill the stuff out, then you should get rid of the AND/OR portion and replace it with an * to show it's required.

I will fix it!

Yeah, I see that's been fixed.


I'm here to report the return of another bug. This happens again recently:

The data entered in the Engine was correct: "based upon books 1-4". But the forum thread showed ""based upon books 1-5".

I use the following:

OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows XP Home
BROWSER: Firefox

Magpie, you'd know better than I what the cause is. At any rate, it's not a critical error to me. Here's further info just in case you need it. I saw that Books 1-4/Books 1-5 error in the following recs. I.e., their rec-engine records say "books 1-4", but their forum threads say "books 1-5".

Nov 12 - http://recs.portkey.org/myrec.php?rec_id=1...ew=&submit=sort]

Nov 11 - http://recs.portkey.org/myrec.php?rec_id=1...ew=&submit=sort

Nov 9 - http://recs.portkey.org/myrec.php?rec_id=1...ew=&submit=sort

Nov 8 - http://recs.portkey.org/myrec.php?rec_id=1...ew=&submit=sort

SYSTEM: Win XP Home
BROWSER: Firefox
ERROR;

Hi Magpie, dunno if this is critical or not. Not widespread, I guess. I get an error message when I view the details of some engine records;


The first part of the error message would be:

FIXED!
Just a small problem with the feature that lets you see who is watching for what entry in the forum's online list.

hey guys,

i should seriously stop bugging you whenever this happens

ok, i recommended "unyielding love" by darkness's angel today and when i submitted the rec, no link to the discussion forum appeared on it. at first i thought it had to do with database errors (when i accessed the rec engine at first all that appeared where a long series of mysql DB error messages, but when i refreshed the page everything went back to normal, so i went ahead w/ the rec) but it's like the third time it's happened to me so now i'm doubting that's the reason. before, it had something to do with a backslash (fortunately someone else recommended it so there was no loss), but now i have no backslashes in the rec and i'm wondering if it's just that the thing doesn't like me or what i'm in win 2k pro and IE6 if you need to now.

carla.

FIXED

I can't say why it happened because the log file wasn't written

thanks a lot, TM! i'll just chalk it up to the engine not liking me, then. hopefully it won't happen the next time. and anyway, it's not going to stop me from recommending great fics!

carla.