Problems with editing postings

I've experienced same.
I have found no solutions for #1.
For #2 it has now become an "article of faith" that I first select and copy text area. Should it disappear upon loading an attachment I just paste back into the text area and submit. That has not failed me yet.

Originally Posted by StuCram

Hi - I hope someone can help me avoid these problems when editing some posts.

1. After porting a reply to a question, I sometimes notice that there is a typo or something else needs fixing. Unfortunately, when I click the 'EDIT' button the new edit area frequently is blank and does not show my previous text for editing. It's very frustrating.

I find that the problem is caused by using certain characters that this forum's GUI does not allow (at least for my region).

For example, I had this problem when I quoted your text above. I avoided the problem by deleting the ellipses (3 periods) after the phrase "some posts".

In my GUI, the ellipses was represented by a single character code 133, which is beyond the usual (US) range of printable character codes, 32 to 126.

[EDIT] This particular substitution might be a function of the browser that you or I use.

In my region, the UK pound currency symbol (in someone else's posting) also causes a similar problem. But presumably, that is not a problem for UK users.

Bottom line: some amount of editing might be needed to avoid the problem.

. Hi Stu,

Originally Posted by StuCram

….

1. After porting a reply to a question, I sometimes notice that there is a typo or something else needs fixing. Unfortunately, when I click the 'EDIT' button the new edit area frequently is blank and does not show my previous text for editing. It's very frustrating.
….

. I was warned of this problem when I joined the Board. Apparently it has been around a while. Unless I have a very short post, I always write my Post in WORD and then copy across. ( In this Forum it only comes across in Black and White. In other Forums with similar software I can copy across from WORD and keep some color formats etc. which I do in WORD before copying across. ( This is browser dependant and also there is a trick to get it to work… ) )
. I also mostly post my Posts first in the test Forum
http://www.excelforum.com/development-testing-forum/
( You have to be logged in to see that Sub Forum shown in the Main Forum Window ). So then I have another Back-Up – but again the “Post vanishing after selecting Edit” problem comes in sometimes there as well )

Alan.

P.s. Not too important: but….

Originally Posted by StuCram

…….

To the moderators - would it not be easier for us if all the edit options were available all the time.
The way it now appears is cumbersome.
Here's my vote for cleaning this up.

- Stu

.. …. I think such Thread as this is usually posted here:
http://www.excelforum.com/suggestions-for-improvement/

As Doc said, this has been around for a while, not sure our tech team know how to fix it.
As FT said, I too, copy my posts before I post - not necessarily because of this problem, I cant remember that ever happening to me, but more because sometimes the server goes awol, and then I dont need to re-type

@ Doc.AElstein

I too will work out posts in Word especially if it's taking me time to properly phrase something I find complex to say. It's too easy to lose the screen. I've even used autocorrect for some of the code bracketing.

@ Ford
. Other forums with similar software have similar problems when editing posts. I have not seen the “vanishing” problem yet anywhere else, but often format changes or tables get screwed up after editing. It seems a vBulletin Software problem, so maybe out of tech team ‘s hands

@ Stu

Originally Posted by StuCram

… A similar disappearing act occurs too often when I need to include an attachment. The text area becomes blank on clicking the 'advanced' button in order to add the attachment.
…..

. That happens by me sometimes, but on posting the “vanished text” comes back – all a bit of trial and error and dependant on browsers and how you do things etc. etc. Just have to experiment a bit, hence most forums have a Test Area you can experiment in

@ FlameRetired

Originally Posted by FlameRetired

……

I too will work out posts in Word especially if it's taking me time … It's too easy to lose the screen. …..

Hi Dave..
. Yep. And generally easier I find to work in WORD – spelling correction etc. is very good/ quick. The Google Chrome Browser has a spelling corrector but that works very slowly by me compared to word.
. Shame that color and formatting from WORD does not copy across in the Excel Forum Editor. ( It just comes across in black and white ) - I expect this may be something to do with the
--General Settings -- Miscellaneous Options -- Message Editor Interface
which has only has the second two of the following options:

. Enhanced Interface - Full WYSIWYG Editing
. Basic Editor - A simple text box
. Standard Editor - Extra formatting controls

. The first option which is available in other Forums with similar software has a nice quirk I found by chance that allows me to copy from WORD into the Forum Editor and maintain color and formatting, for example:
http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/test-he...st-editor.html
http://www.excelfox.com/forum/f17/ed...ing-test-2041/
http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/excel-q...-column-c.html .. ( Post #6 )

. But this only works for me in Internet Explorer ( Does not seem to work in Google Chrome ) and you must paste it in using right mouse click Insert rather than Ctrl V. - Some weird quirk of what version of the clipboard held copy is pasted in maybe – but that is way above me!

Originally Posted by FlameRetired

……..
….I've even used autocorrect for some of the code bracketing.

.. Sorry I did not quite follow what you meant there?
Alan

Quote Originally Posted by FlameRetired View Post

……..
….I've even used autocorrect for some of the code bracketing.

.. Sorry I did not quite follow what you meant there?
Alan

I meant formula and code brackets such as the [ ] and [/ ] brackets around formulas and code. Sorry. I couldn't get the post to display the literal tags.
I have AutoCorrect entries that type those tags. I then insert my formulas inside of them.

I've not used AutoCorrect with color / font size, but I have copied and pasted the tags into Word and then inserted my text into them.

@ Dave (FlameRetired )

Originally Posted by FlameRetired

I meant…….

.. Thanks for the reply, I think I understand: You have things you often type added to your spelling correcer Dictionary suggestion thing, or something similar.
……………………………………………………………………

Originally Posted by FlameRetired

.. Sorry. I couldn't get the post to display the literal tags.…..

.. Not sure if this helps for this ( In case you want to do it in the future ) :
. 1 ) There are “NoParse” BB Code tags which you put around BB Code and this works that the BB Code is displayed in the Thread as you see it in the editor
.. 2) Also sometimes posting a BB Code in a PHP or HTML window is an option. But occasionally I have seen that that does not always work completely.


. For example, your first quote bit above , with and without “Noparse” BB code tags, in PHP and HTML Window:

HTML Code: 

PHP Code: 

[QUOTE=FlameRetired;4137479]I meant…….[/QUOTE]

[NoParse][QUOTE=FlameRetired;4137479]I meant…….[/QUOTE][/NoParse] 


… as you see it sort of works, sometimes , or a bit.
……………….

. Now I paste your quote bit, with and without “Noparse” BB code tags direct in the editor

Originally Posted by FlameRetired

I meant…….

[QUOTE=FlameRetired;4137479]I meant…….[/QUOTE]


..................................................................
….Edit : It worked, ! – With the NoParse BB Code Tags the BB Code is preserved in the post as you saw it in the editor ( Minus the NoParse BB Code Tags of course! )

Alan

@ Doc.AElstein
Thanks that could be helpful in the future.

Hi

I just did a quick follow up to an unsolved Thread
that is a bit relevant to this Thread. It is in the Suggestions for Improvement Sub Forum ( where I guess this thread should be anyway.. )
http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...t=#post4376444

Alan