I think we're back up and running...

[Pat]

Howdy, folks!

Well after a few days of fussing and fighting with the SMF program, databases, data backups and a new hosting service, I think I've finally got it functioning.

Some features had to be reset and some settings will have to be changed to get it exactly like before, but the important part is all the members and all the previous posts seem to be here.

I should be able to fix whatever problems may exist. If you notice something that needs fixed please post about it in this thread.

Thanks everyone for your patience!

[Kathryn NicDhàna]

Let's see if this works...

The preview isn't showing if the fonts are working in the sidebar, but up top it's garbling the a with a grave accent: à 

ETA: Yeah, it's garbled in the sidebar and main page, too. I would assume other non-English characters might be similarly missing.

[Pat]

Kathryn, I'm very sorry to say that I have no clue what you're talking about. Can you maybe provide some screen shots?

[Cetan]

every post is showing up as new!!!

[Pat]

Yeah, that setting was in a database table that couldn't be imported. Believe me I tried - several times - to get everything imported, but that table kept making this forum "break". It's kind of a long story. I mean, I could have kept on fussing with it for another 3-4 days if I had the time which I don't, and made it all 100% like it was. But it was too long for the site to be down and I made a trade-off. Sorry  :'(

The failures were due to lack of understanding, not just mine but the people I tried to consult, who have been doing this kind of thing much longer than I have. None of them had an answer for me. It was trial-and-error guesswork that finally did the trick.

Part of the problem (which is actually a blessing in many ways) is that the server we're on now is somewhat "overhardened" in regard to security. That's coz it gets attacked alot, coz it's hosting sites that some folks would really like to see disappear - like this one. So a lot of the usual fixes I attempted were "seen" by the server as hacking attempts, and it shut me out.

[Kathryn NicDhàna]

Yeah, it's garbled in the sidebar and main page, too. I would assume other non-English characters might be similarly missing.

OK, let me try this one more time with text, and if that doesn't work I'll send you some screen caps.

à (which is supposed to be a lowercase letter a, with a grave accent ( \ ) over it) is coming out as à - a capital A with a tilde over it.

Similarly, the letter í (lowercase i with an acute accent ( / ) over it), is also coming out as  Ã - a capital A with a tilde over it.

This is a common problem with fonts and email programs that are English-only. I assume the cap A with tilde is being swapped in for any character the software does not recognize. This substitution is exactly what happens with some of the more popular email services.  It's not urgent, though if we can't fix it it will effect any of use who use languages besides English. 

When I type in the code for these letters, they come out ok in the message text, but in anything stored in the sidebars, footers, headers or signatures, it's making the swap.

[Pat]

Now I get it. I'll see what I can do to fix this. It will take some time though, coz I got behind in other work due to the time I had to spend on this. Give me a week or two. Possibly less.

[Kathryn NicDhàna]

No prob, Pat. I really appreciate the time you're putting into this.

[Adept]

Now I get it. I'll see what I can do to fix this. It will take some time though, coz I got behind in other work due to the time I had to spend on this. Give me a week or two. Possibly less.

I had a similar problem with my web page after my provider change his host. 
After a while I found a way to fix this error with this umlauts. I changed just the "filename" with the entries and rewritten thus entries (Ä=AE to ä).

Another posibility, ask your provider  - normaly they must be able to fix this problem with mutated vowel...? 

Otherwise, there ae certain key combinations by which non americans writers can get these various letters. But depending on whether there using a Mac or a PC, those combinatoins tend to differ.

I see you have many work on this important fraud page. You give many people a reality check and therefore readers should make a donation for your team - instead of throw his money down the drain by fraud and crook... 

Thanks so much you and your team 

[Pat]

Actually I think it's probably something I need to adjust in either the database or the forum software. I'll try to figure it out soon. As a last resort I can ask the hosting provider also.

[Pat]

Looks like either some attachments are missing or they aren't where they're supposed to be. I got this from the forum error log. If you've tried to open any attachments here lately you probably got a page that said "404 - Attachment Not Found". I'll try to fix this right away.


ETA: All the attachments are back, there will be no more of "404 - Attachment Not Found".
Avatars are back too!

[Cetan]

In the past few days I will sometimes get a screen saying account has been suspended, from first amendment.org, when I try to come here - what is happening?

[wolfhawaii]

Yes, I got that 1st Amendment.org screen last night each time I tried to log in here....did we get hacked?

[Pat]

We were not hacked. The hosting company received a false claim of copyright infringement and shut us down without due process. We are fighting this. It may happen again. Some of the folks we expose here are doing their best to find a way to shut us down.

[earthw7]

I am so happy we are back