Forum Program Update of 11/21/2011

CHARLIE · November 21, 2011, 10:38:42 AM

Apparently, last night there was an update to the Forestry Forum's programs. Being just a user, I don't have a clue what was updated or the extent of the update. I spent 33½ years at IBM Corp and 23 of those years as a Systems Analyst. I've been involved in a lot of design, testing, and installations of both new program systems and updating existing program systems. So, I really appreciate all of the work that goes into a program update, especially one that was as seamless as the one that occured last night. I appreciate the time in preparation and the time during installation from those involved. I don't care if it was a simple update or a complex update, it was a job well done.

Jeff · November 21, 2011, 10:57:31 AM

Oh CHARLIE, Thank you, but it was not seamless. You are currently looking at square one again. Things did go well last night, until they didn't. :D The upgrade only took about an hour, it only took me 2 minutes to break it to the point of not being able to fix it due to my ineptitude. I made the major blunder of an edit to the new software without creating a backup of the new upgrade. The change that made to the database broke it beyond repair. At least at my skill level My only recourse was to revert back to my backup I made before I started. That took over 4 hours.

So, As much as I appreciate your thanks, I feel a bit sheepish to tell you I have to try again, but this time I need to do it during the day when I have my full faculties. I said last night I would wait to try again, but that was in the throws of exhaustion. I got a few hours sleep, and I am ready to try again. This time it will be within an hour, I'll be bright eyed and bushy tailed, and you will be able to see what I have done or I am doing. The down side is, the forum will be down about an hour, and when it comes up, many features you all have become accustomed to will be changed or temporarily changed or temporarily missing.

Wish me luck. I'll start at 11:30 A.M. eastern.

CHARLIE · November 21, 2011, 11:04:14 AM

Jeff, I understand all to well. However, even with all of your problems and having to backout and stop, it was still seamless to me and I didn't lose a bit of sleep. The amount of work on that end didn't lessen. I still appreciate all the effort. I wish you better luck with the next try. Me, being an old dog, just hopes I'm up to learning the new stuff being installed.

Jeff · November 21, 2011, 11:13:08 AM

It won't be all that different that it should be a problem. There were a couple posts last night saying how people were liking it, but those few posts after the upgrade were lost.

Jeff · November 21, 2011, 01:05:22 PM

As you can see, we made it this far. Things will evolve as the day proceeds. Hopefully in a stable manor. :D I may lock the forum down one more time for just a short time to make another backup of current process, but that will only take 10 minutes when I do.

Warbird · November 21, 2011, 01:13:43 PM

Good show, Jeff. Don't beat yourself up about having to do part of it over. Happens to all of us. ;) Call me if I can be of any assistance.

smwwoody · November 21, 2011, 01:47:08 PM

Jeff,

I am seeing a moderate button in every thread in the mobil version. At first I was honored that you made me supreme moderator. Then I came back down to earth and figured it might just be a glitch with the upgrade that you did not know about. Thanks for all that you do

Woody

pineywoods · November 21, 2011, 01:48:40 PM

Charlie got it right, don't go beatin up on Jeff. Been there, done that. 40 years as a mainframe support guy...

Jeff · November 21, 2011, 02:09:20 PM

Quote from: smwwoody on November 21, 2011, 01:47:08 PM
Jeff,

I am seeing a moderate button in every thread in the mobil version. At first I was honored that you made me supreme moderator. Then I came back down to earth and figured it might just be a glitch with the upgrade that you did not know about. Thanks for all that you do

Woody

What does that moderate button do? I can go in and do stuff like this to. Other peoples posts

Al_Smith · November 21, 2011, 04:05:47 PM

I thought something was up but I don't get too excited about these things .A little snag hither and yon is par for the course and will get fixed given enough time . ;)

SwampDonkey · November 21, 2011, 04:43:18 PM

Seems your coming along nicely. I figure there is a fair amount of work behind this and I'll just take it as it comes. ;D

smwwoody · November 22, 2011, 08:16:40 AM

Hi jeff
The moderate button will let me go in and edit anyone's post. I will try it on your post in this thread.
Woody

John Mc · November 22, 2011, 09:30:31 AM

You're not the only one, Woody.

I'm not on the mobile version (accessing from my Mac at home). Every post in this thread has a "modify" button on it. That used to show up for me only on my own posts.

John Mc

Jeff · November 22, 2011, 11:30:16 AM

That was a bit of a nasty security bug that became glaring after porting over the data to the more compliant software. It didn't show up in the old software, but it did here.

This is the main reason for this upgrade. To become compliant with changing web standards so the forum is a better tool on other devices. Now that the data is in its new more compliant viewer so to speak, the old coding short comings, original and mine, are easier to spot and fix, and there are a lot of them.

Two things fixed this morning. That security hole, and the non-compliant text coding on different boards.

I don't mind at all when you guys point out things to be helpful, as extra eyes are very very useful. Like this issue that smwoody pointed out. I had no idea about that yet, and if the wrong person saw that first, it could have been disastrous.

(***** If this shows up, I can still edit others posts, even though I have no "admin powers" -- John Mc 12:10 PM EST, 11/22/11 *****)

Warbird · November 22, 2011, 11:32:25 AM

*wince* Glad you got it patched up, Jeff. Good job noticing it and saying something guys.

John Mc · November 22, 2011, 12:13:48 PM

Jeff -

As you'll see from how I modified your post above, I still have the ability to edit things not posted by me. The "Modify" button shows up right next to the "Quote" button in everyone's posts.

John Mc

Warbird · November 22, 2011, 12:21:20 PM

John, did you log out and back in on your phone? I just checked form my iPhone (full web version, I think) and the moderate buttons don't appear.

Jeff · November 22, 2011, 01:40:29 PM

I had to get this topic off the board quick. The upgrade process opened up some gaping holes in board permissions. Announcing that to everyone was not something I wanted to see. I've went through each group checking for holes and have them patched.

Please, Please, in the future, if anyone finds something they feel is a security issue, send me a private message rather than posting it on the forum for all to see. As much as we wish to believe that everyone on the forum is as honest as those that brought this up, the truth of the matter is, we just don't know that. Again, please do not hesitate to send me a note if you see something that you can do, that you know you should not be able to do. Also, on the other hand, if you lose permission to do something you know you should be able to do, let me know that as well.

This problem should have never been allowed to be a possibility by the software creators. >:(

SwampDonkey · November 22, 2011, 03:53:14 PM

Is the gallery upload disabled for a bit? Doesn't come up with the upload file button. When I try to get to my personal galleries there is an critical error, nothing specific.

John Mc · November 22, 2011, 04:14:22 PM

Quote from: Warbird on November 22, 2011, 12:21:20 PM
John, did you log out and back in on your phone? I just checked form my iPhone (full web version, I think) and the moderate buttons don't appear.

As mentioned, I was on my computer, not my phone. Also, it was not a "moderate" button, it was a "Modify" button. Things seem to be back to normal now.

Jeff -

Sorry... that was a dumb post on my part. I drove away and thought about it, but could not get back to my computer until now.

John Mc

Magicman · November 22, 2011, 06:06:12 PM

SD, Jeff is probably tweaking because I went to My Gallery and JUpload yesterday and uploaded two pictures as normal.

SwampDonkey · November 22, 2011, 06:19:35 PM

Could be, but I've seen 3 or 4 new photo uploads in posts (1 just a short time ago) and I have never seen where I could upload a photo. ;)

Jeff · November 22, 2011, 06:27:25 PM

You do not have to have a link on the post. use the link above the sponsors for now.

SwampDonkey · November 22, 2011, 06:44:10 PM

I know, but in the gallery there is no upload photo link for me. ;) Also gives me an error when I click on my gallery username where it lists all the galleries by user. Just says critical error.