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Last post by ChrisW 9 Dec 2015 13:01
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 10 Dec 2014 15:20
I can't find the previous thread, but is anyone else getting an error that you don't have access to be ale to post to your fanfics over at Gatchfanfic?
I haven't tried to post a fic in a while ... the last problems I had was it not letting me log in properly and clearing my cookies fixed it. I'd wait to see if anyone else has problems with posting their fics, though ...
ElectricWhite
Gatchamaniac
posted 10 Dec 2014 16:54
It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted, but I had that problem. I just kept trying now and then until the site decided to cooperate.
Becky, I have been having the same problem. I tried to contact Julieanne, but don't think she has seen my email. I haven't tried recently, but I will try again to post my little blurb...
Julieanne is going through a lot of RL stuff, hopefully she'll see it soon ...
Daniella T
GatchaFreak
posted 11 Dec 2014 11:38
When I was trying to upload a new fic over the weekend, I had the same problem when trying to do it from the laptop, but it worked from the ipad. No idea why.
So yes, new fic up...
(shameless self-promo again).
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 11 Dec 2014 15:22
I had sent Julieanne a note also. I'll just keep trying.
Actually, I have a 2 in 1 now, so I guess that means I was trying to post from a tablet.
Has anyone heard from Julieann? I guess I should migrate more of my fic over to ff.net, but it won't be the same. 
Daniella T
GatchaFreak
posted 17 Dec 2014 14:35
Julie, just the new fics 
The old ones are still very much accessible on Gatchfanfic...
We just need to get a bit organised over at ff.net until Gatchfanfic is up and running for publishing again...Still, it may be possible to post from an ipad, it worked for me both times when I couldn't do it from the laptop. Yeah, science fails me when I try to explain it, but it happened...
Also, TJ posted a new fic there recently, no?
The old ones are still very much accessible on Gatchfanfic...
We just need to get a bit organised over at ff.net until Gatchfanfic is up and running for publishing again...Still, it may be possible to post from an ipad, it worked for me both times when I couldn't do it from the laptop. Yeah, science fails me when I try to explain it, but it happened...
Also, TJ posted a new fic there recently, no?
Transmute Jun
Queen of the Bird Missiles
posted 17 Dec 2014 19:03
Yes, I had some issues, but I was eventually able to post there. It was PITA though. Took me hours of trying and retrying. One chapter just didn't want to take and I had to post line by line... turned out it was one word causing the trouble, and I couldn't even figure out why, after all of that.
I don't know how people are posting, but I do know tha gff is running on a modified efiction script. Older efiction scripts are buggy, cut and paste are more reliable than direct uploads.
Hmm, I thought I had said this, but Archiveofourown is another option for uploading ... would hate to lose Gatchfanfic though. Getting a little worried about Julieann, hope everything's okay.
ElectricWhite
Gatchamaniac
posted 18 Dec 2014 05:25
Ame -- I've only posted using cut & paste, and I've had fits as well. Only after repeated attempts did I get anything accepted.
But Julieann's situation is a bigger concern -- the only way we'll know anything is if she either responds to each email or posts on gatchfanfic. And I'm afraid it's something serious, since she's been off the radar for so long now.
Are folks still meeting at Gatchfanfic for the weekly chat / viewing sessions? Does anyone know when was the last time Julieann attended one of those? I hope she is okay.
There does seem to be a group there every Sat afternoon/evening, but I'm not sure how often she attends. Hopefully someone who does will peek in ...
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 18 Dec 2014 16:02
I want to add my concern for Julianne. Maybe she needs some help with the site.
I haven't been in the chat in while. I find it hard to talk to more than 1 person at a time.
I have been trying cutting and pasting. Guess I'll just keep trying.
UW (unpublished writer) and I are there most Saturday evenings around 7pm ET. Julieann is checking in most weeks - sometimes Dei...
Mother Hen is still coping with the aftereffects and treatments - which leave her needing fairly constant and close attention. Father Rooster is also helping out, but his participation is more limited.
We're occasionally watching the "Gatchaman Crowds" episodes, although between the end of term/end of contract/holiday zaniness from me, and Mother Hen's needs, we more miss than "hit" on them...
We'd love to see more participants! Would there be interest in subtitled Gatch II viewing? I imagine we can set up the requisite episode sharing potential... Several places have episodes for download...
Thought for the New Year?
Boeke: I didn't realize Julieann was going through so much. Anything we can do to help?
Well, I got part of Crashed up there before the site went wonky and refused to accept another chapter.
EW, TJ -- Do I just keep trying to post at different times or do I need to retype the material? Any suggestions?
I tried many times to post my little ficlet and finally just gave up. I'm so sorry to hear that Julieann is going through some RL challenges. Hope she is ok...
Originally posted by jublke Well, I got part of Crashed up there before the site went wonky and refused to accept another chapter. EW, TJ -- Do I just keep trying to post at different times or do I need to retype the material? Any suggestions?I haven't had it give me problems after part of the fic was up. But, then again, I usually don't post multi-chapter work,...I'd go on and try posting the rest from time to time -- I haven't had the site say that something was posted & then not post it.
Originally posted by Transmute Jun Yes, I had some issues, but I was eventually able to post there. It was PITA though. Took me hours of trying and retrying. One chapter just didn't want to take and I had to post line by line... turned out it was one word causing the trouble, and I couldn't even figure out why, after all of that.I tried TJ's brute force method and got it to accept the rest of Crashed, but it was exactly like she describes here - one word seemed to be derailing the entire chapter from posting. The rest of the chapters were fine. It made me think of Gatchfanfic as a very surly beta reader. No, you can't post until you fix that, and I'm not going to tell you what that is. Bwah-ha-ha-ha!
That sounds like something in the script went buggy and it is wrongly picking up story text as script.
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 2 Jan 2015 17:34
Technology is only good when it works the way we want it to work.
This is the message I get every time I try to post there...and I am logged in, so I'm sure that's not the problem...
I got the same error, Springie, but only when I tried to post chapter 3. I think Ame's assessment above is likely correct. There's some word or phrase in there that's causing the problem, but you can't find it without posting the story a chunk at a time, hitting preview, and seeing if it takes it. I think I finally changed one word in mine and it went through. No idea why that one word caused it to choke.
OK, so I need to find the offending word, huh? I'll try that sometime. Thanks!
Heyla...
Which word was removed? Were there any odd characters embedded?
Seems you may have accidentally invoked a system command, and it hiccuped...
Sometime in my future is a review of the site with Julieann and see what can be tweaked without losing the content.... Sometime after I finish teaching four courses and working a full time job and... Gotta fit in some fanart sometime too...
Gotta fit in some fanart sometime too...
Originally posted by Reboekah Heyla... Which word was removed? Were there any odd characters embedded? Seems you may have accidentally invoked a system command, and it hiccuped... Sometime in my future is a review of the site with Julieann and see what can be tweaked without losing the content.... Sometime after I finish teaching four courses and working a full time job and...Hi Boeke: I don't think it should have had any odd characters embedded - I tried moving it from Pages to Notes. The whole section had lots of ellipses, but I don't think that was the problem either. This was the section that caused the error for me: The vague description brought everything back to Jason: his teammates having the flu, Anderson dispatching Mark and him on this ridiculous excuse for a mission, the firefight with the Spectrans, a spectacular crash, immense pain, a reluctant admission to Mark that he didn't feel so good ... The word was "having", which I changed to "catching." For reasons unknown to me, that seemed to help. Thanks for looking into it, Boeke! I know you are busy. But check out the new Gatch fan art challenge that Springie started! I may have to attempt that one - very intimidating with so many great artists here.
this is me poking both of you to join! Please don't feel intimidated, Jublke...this challenge is just for us to appreciate every artist and to enjoy their contributions every month! You are both great artists and I hope you'll try to so as many contributions as you are able to! 
msannomalley
Forum God
posted 3 Jan 2015 09:39
FWIW, a few weeks ago, I discovered a typo in one of my pieces on GFF, and I got the same error when I tried to fix it. I'm not sure if this helps anyone, but I just thought I would put it out there.
Originally posted by msannomalley FWIW, a few weeks ago, I discovered a typo in one of my pieces on GFF, and I got the same error when I tried to fix it. I'm not sure if this helps anyone, but I just thought I would put it out there.Further supporting my theory that Gatchfanfic is a heartless, nit-picky beta reader.
It has to be a Galactor plot ...
Originally posted by Springie This is the message I get every time I try to post there...and I am logged in, so I'm sure that's not the problem...That's the one keep getting. I've tried posting the last chapter of The Hour Glass, parts of it, one sentence of it. I tried posting it as a new fic. Doesn't seems matter. I wonder if the list of authors has become corrupted. Julie - How the heck did you figure out it was the word having?
Transmute Jun
Queen of the Bird Missiles
posted 3 Jan 2015 16:59
Julie, I'm glad you were able to post. I think the word that was causing me problems was 'enjoying', IIRC. It was just the one chapter. All of the other chapters were able to post. I copied and pasted the text into the box, rather than uploading the file.
Originally posted by Becky RockBecky - I narrowed it down to one paragraph and then I just tried substituting words. I have no idea where the "real" problem was, but it worked after I made that change.Originally posted by Springie This is the message I get every time I try to post there...and I am logged in, so I'm sure that's not the problem...That's the one keep getting. I've tried posting the last chapter of The Hour Glass, parts of it, one sentence of it. I tried posting it as a new fic. Doesn't seems matter. I wonder if the list of authors has become corrupted. Julie - How the heck did you figure out it was the word having?
There's times when being OCD - or CDO, as EW pointed out - has its merits!
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 3 Jan 2015 18:44
I don't have that kind of patience.
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 6 Jan 2015 17:17
I see some of you have been able to post, so I tried again. With 3 different chapters from 3 different stories and Nessie. I still get the Forbidden error. 
Yeah, I'm having major difficulties posting the Bradbury's jar fic. I'm at a point where it's not even accepting punctuation following a particular word!
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 18 Apr 2015 18:05
Originally posted by Springie This is the message I get every time I try to post there...and I am logged in, so I'm sure that's not the problem...I haven't tried to post at Gatchfanfic in a while, so I tried again and I'm still getting that error. I got the bright idea to create a new membership as Becky Rock 2, but it gave me that error when I tried that too. I'm still basically locked out, so I'm going to start posting everything over at fanfiction.net.
There's also http://archiveofourown.org/ ... if anyone wants an invite, let me know.
msannomalley
Forum God
posted 19 Apr 2015 05:37
I've had the same problems and I've noticed that I've had to post a sentence at a time and hit "preview" in order to find whatever word or character was causing the issue. It's putzy, but it works.
Transmute Jun
Queen of the Bird Missiles
posted 19 Apr 2015 08:40
Originally posted by msannomalley I've had the same problems and I've noticed that I've had to post a sentence at a time and hit "preview" in order to find whatever word or character was causing the issue. It's putzy, but it works.Yes, I've done the same thing, but it was a real pain. I'm not going to be posting fic (well, I might struggle with another holiday one, but that's it) until it's fixed. I've got quite a backlog already. Pretty much my new fics have only been going into Birdscramble. I could post at fanfic,net, but I use the uploaded files there to copy the stories over to gatchfanfic, so it seems like a waste to have things there and then not use the files before they expire.
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 19 Apr 2015 09:17
I was messing with fanfiction last night and being technologically challenged, I didn't get very far.
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 19 Apr 2015 09:26
I tried using the preview function, but it was giving me the error every other sentence. I don't have the patience for that kind of thing.
Maybe I'll just post it all here in the fanfic section.
msannomalley
Forum God
posted 19 Apr 2015 12:18
The one sentence at a time thing isn't so bad when it's a short piece, but I can see how it would be a pain in the rear on a longer one. The one thing about FF.net that I would be leery of is that they censor stuff over there.
msannomalley
Forum God
posted 22 Apr 2015 04:50
Thanks to ChrisW, I got an invite to Archive of Our Own, and I like what I see over there, especially the interface and the ease of posting. I also posted up my "Too Hot for Zark" fic over there.
http://archiveofourown.org/works/3796981
E.D. Darling
Boardie
posted 22 Apr 2015 13:31
I checked it out also, I really liked what I saw!
Woohoo. I have more invites available if anyone wants one.
I have more invites available if anyone wants one.
E.D. Darling
Boardie
posted 22 Apr 2015 13:33
I would like one! Thank you Chris!
Hey folks, could you send Julieann a detailed description of what's happening when you're trying to post? Am talking to her in chat and she doesn't seem clear on the issue. For tech stuff like this it's good to give a total step by step breakdown.
From a techie in the group...
The gatchfanfic website is likely only working in "Compatibility Mode" - it works fine under IE9 mode - and most browsers have a setting which will let you interact more efficiently with websites using the older technology.
For current IE and Chrome, there is a "Compataibility Mode" or "Compatability View" control in the settings / options area.
Try adding *.gatchfanfic.com to the list, and it should resolve some of the problems.
msannomalley
Forum God
posted 13 Jun 2015 08:52
It's not a browser issue. It's a permission issue with the server that the site runs on.
This is what happens (and this is as detailed as I can get):
When I try to post a story to gatchfanfic.com, I get a 403 (Forbidden) error. This happens regardless of whether I hit submit or preview.
In order to work around this and post, I have to post my work one sentence at a time and hit "preview". If the preview shows up, then I post the next sentence. If I get another 403 error, then I have to post that sentence one word at a time until I find what word in my text triggered the 403 error.
One word that I've noticed consistently triggers a 403 error is the word "having". There are other words that do this, but having is the only one that I've consistently seen trigger this error. It's not always words. It can be punctuation.
I did some googling on this and I found that the error could be caused by one of two things--the executable's permission is not set to 644 or there are security settings on the hosting end that are not set correctly.
Ah - well that does clarify it a bit
Yes - the 644 is likely because the version of server code running gatchfanfic is out of support, and the whole site likely needs to be hauled into a current platform. Not a trivial task to be sure!
Let me set my techie brain into search and solve mode, and see what I can find.
Boeke, I know Julieann has her hands full, but if the script needs to be updated, I have a few friends who ran another archive with the efiction-based script. If this is the direction that Jules wants to go, I can get ideas and suggestions on the best way to proceed with the upgrade.
I do know a few issues with the newest platform with the older versions are this: transfers of stats and reviews, transfer of registrations (mostly with high volume of non-author members), and worst case is manual transfer of stories and reviews or loss of reviews.
The biggest issue with manual transfer is registration, especially of non-active members. Other than losing numbers and reviews, manual transfers can be done quickly with a few volunteers, and asking active members to transfer their own stories.
Another option, is creating a new archive, keeping the current read only, and allow active members to move stories in their own time. This is the easiest for the webmistress and admin, but it does depend upon server space and available bandwidth.
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 14 Jun 2015 12:39
I tried to add a membership under a different name months ago when the problem first started for me and I got the Forbidden error with that, too.
Becky, did you ever hear anything back from Julieann?
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 22 Jun 2015 16:12
No, but I understand she's been ill.
Oh, that's not good. I'm sorry to hear that.
Her mother is ill. Last time I talked to her about it she didn't have a good grasp of what was happening. People need to write her and give her a kind of step by step of what you're doing and what's happening when you do it, which will make it easier to diagnose.
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 26 Jun 2015 17:33
I'll send her another note.
Daniella T
GatchaFreak
posted 19 Nov 2015 15:08
Just tried to get on Gatchfanfic now, from the shortcut on my desktop, and it leads to a totally different site Maybe the domain name has been taken?
Maybe the domain name has been taken?
No, it'll work later. Not sure what is going on but I'll let Julieann know.
ElectricWhite
Gatchamaniac
posted 19 Nov 2015 17:49
I've just tried and got the site with no problem (for whatever that's worth...)
It's a very random thing - like there is a name server out there that isn't resolving the domain name to the correct IP address. As long as you don't get routed through that server, you don't have an issue. The other day, I was waiting for my son and I could get to the site if I used my cell connection, but not if I used the local wifi. While I was in the room chatting, the server I was routing through must have changed because I got errors/dumped as soon as I posted my next comment. I then got back on the local wifi and could get back to the chat. A little while after that and both networks must have been routing through the same server because I couldn't get there using either. Other days, I can connect and stay on all day without an issue.
However, this has nothing to do with the story posting issues. That's a completely unrelated issue that has something to do with the story submission code.
No but it could be outdated server code. I think Julieann is one of those with her own dedicated servers, but I could be wrong.
I also noticed that the problem comes and goes -- now the site functions fine when I access it from the laptop.
I have most of my BotP stories over at Gatchfanfic (like 33 of them!) and I don't really have them backed up properly anywhere else. Any advice on how to download them or save them that won't take forever and a day? I'd like to migrate things over to fanfiction.net, but I hate the way things are (aren't) organized over there. Help!
Daniella T
GatchaFreak
posted 6 Dec 2015 04:42
Julie fanfiction net isn't that bad... plus it gives you an audience which maybe doesn't go on Gatchfanfic. Okay, it's not as "cosy" (that's the best way I can describe it) as Gatchfanfic, but it will ensure your stories will be available! So, please go there!!!
msannomalley
Forum God
posted 6 Dec 2015 05:41
Originally posted by jublke I have most of my BotP stories over at Gatchfanfic (like 33 of them!) and I don't really have them backed up properly anywhere else. Any advice on how to download them or save them that won't take forever and a day? I'd like to migrate things over to fanfiction.net, but I hate the way things are (aren't) organized over there. Help!Not sure if you're on a PC or a Mac, but if you're on a PC, if you right click on the web page your story is on, you could save the web page itself. Then at least you'd have the text. Then if you wanted to copy the text over into MS Word (or whatever you use) on your own time, you can do that.
Becky Rock
Gatchamaniac
posted 7 Dec 2015 16:47
I did that with all of the fics I had posted that I didn't have on my computer anymore. It took a few days but it was worth it just incase.
I think I may have found a workaround to post at gatchfanfic.
I tested posting an episode review I wrote last spring. When I pasted the text into the editor, I got the 403 error. BUT, when I uploaded the story as a text file (*.txt), I did not get the error and I was able to preview and post.
I did find that if you upload and hit preview, the text from your file will fill in the editor. If you just hit submit, you will get the error. But, if you delete the text from the editor, re-upload the text file, and hit submit, I was able to post.
As I type this, I have to leave for class, but if someone else wants to try this let me know how it works. I'm not a total code/tech person, but I have a suspicion that the issues have to do with the TinyMCE text editor.
If you write in MS Word, you can save the file as a .txt file. I saved it as both .docx and .txt.
Edit: I uploaded a second ep review I'd posted earlier this year and I was able to upload and post it with no problems. I had a little more time when I did the second one (as it was after class), and there is one downside to uploading it this way: if you've formatted your text with italics, bold, etc., the formatting will be lost. This might be something you may want to consider before you post there.
That's promising! If a few folks want to try that out I'll pass along the results to Julieann. (Unless you want to do so yourselves.)
(Unless you want to do so yourselves.)
msannomalley
Forum God
posted 9 Dec 2015 06:29
I am kicking myself for not getting screenshots. Oh well. Maybe I can try to write out what I did step by step?
When uploading, I did notice that the only two file formats accepted were *.txt or *.html. I did not try uploading html files.
msannomalley
Forum God
posted 9 Dec 2015 09:10
Originally posted by msannomalley I am kicking myself for not getting screenshots. Oh well. Maybe I can try to write out what I did step by step? When uploading, I did notice that the only two file formats accepted were *.txt or *.html. I did not try uploading html files.Chris, I wrote out what I found when I tried to post and how she can try to recreate the error herself. I posted it in Google Docs. Send her the link. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t_LoAJfYfHH0AbcbBcxo6sE5_37kMcM8SZNjVmH9wEs/edit?usp=sharing
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