Editorial Team

8 May 2021 

Hi everyone, 

Our webhost (server service provider) is planning a scheduled maintenance of their equipment.  

During their maintenance work, it will cause periods of downtime (inaccessibility to the site) for all of the members of PoetBay because the server will be turned off and turned back on multiple times.  

Maintenance work will begin on :

Monday, 10 May 2021 

17H00 EST - 22H00 GMT - 23H00 CET

Maintenance work will end on :

Tuesday, 11 May 2021

03H00 EST - 08H00 GMT - 09H00 CET

We recommend that you do not post anything during this window of time (max. 10hrs), to make absolutely sure that nothing gets lost.

Our webhost assures us this is necessary, and says that their team will do their best to make it as short as possible.  They apologize to us and our members for any inconvenience.  We do as well.  

Isabelle

Hi everyone, 

This is to inform you that our webhost (server service provider) is planning a scheduled maintenance of their equipment.  

During their maintenance work, it will cause periods of downtime (inaccessibility to the site) for all of the members of PoetBay because the server will be turned off and turned back on multiple times.  

Maintenance work will begin on :

Tuesday, 06 October 2020 

16H00 EST - 21H00 GMT - 22H00 CET

Maintenance work will end on :

Wednesday, 07 October 2020

03H00 EST - 08H00 GMT - 09H00 CET

We recommend that you do not post anything during this window of time (max. 11hrs), to make absolutely sure that nothing gets lost.

Our webhost assures us this is necessary, and says that their team will do their best to make it as short as possible.  They apologize to us and our members for any inconvenience.  We do as well.  

Isabelle

Hi everyone,

You probably noticed that PoetBay was inaccessible for a while today.  We're not aware of the full details of this technical issue (it didn't happen on our end), but it had something to do with DNS records not getting resolved (ie our website address wasn't being recognized on the www as though it didn't exist anymore, so it could not be loaded).

Our webhost's own website could not be accessed, and all of their clients' websites.  We're waiting on them to respond to explain what happened exactly, but we're not holding our breath on it, must admit.  It's most rare for service providers to share their internal tech issues with their clients.

Sorry for that, it was totally out of our hands.

Isabelle

28 Jun

Concluding mini update in the comment section below.

Isabelle

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21 Jun

Hi everyone,

The code files uploads went well, and all appears to be working as it should. We'll obviously be keeping an eye on it to be sure.  We made extensive tests as we always do, but if you encounter any issues, please let me know. 

So, here concludes the important bulk of repairs and updates of the state of our code which we started last September.  Remember I'd told you then that the job was absolutely monumental for just 2 programmers because of the grandiose mess we inherited the site in after 3 or 4 other owners before Anna?  I wasn't kidding 😊  It was extremely complicated to fix, but we did it!  For a while, we really weren't sure we'd be able to pull it off, in all honesty.  So, to simply say we're pleased is an understatement.

Now that the code is out of the way as a possible issue, we move on to the other important part: the server.  So, it's the next item on the list in the process of making PoetBay's technical health stronger and better.  Once all of the server adjustments are sorted out (it'll take a bit of time), we'll be able to move on to more interesting and fun things like, for example, what you'd like to have or improve on PoetBay. 

Thank you all for sticking through this!  It's almost done.

Isabelle

_________________________________________________ 

This is the last community tech update I'll be giving you for a while. From this point, for those interested, you can continue to check out the kept up-to-date What's up? page which details the work we're doing.  I also give weekly mini updates in the comment section of posts titled 'What's up?' (Update #) like this one (links to the latest ones are listed on the What's up? page with dates in the title).  So, for updates or progress on the work we'll continue to carry on in the background, this is where I'll be talking about it.  If any of the work we do could affect the usual use of the site, I'll give a general site notice to the whole community, as I usually do. 

_________________________________________________ 

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15 Jun

Mini update in the comment section below.

Isabelle

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07 Jun

Mini update in the comment section below.

Isabelle

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02 Jun

Mini update in the comment section below.

Isabelle

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31 May

Mini update in the comment section below.

Isabelle

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25 May

Mini update in the comment section below.

Isabelle

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16 May

Mini update in the comment section below.

Isabelle

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07 May 

Hi everyone,

We hope you are all doing well.  We're ok over here.

This is just to inform you that in the last couple days we've resumed our work on the code, and we've been making updates on the site in the background. 

You won't see the changes we're making because they pertain to website maintenance (updating code to their latest versions, etc).  

We're letting you know about these background updates on the site in case you come up against any sudden issues in the next few weeks.  If you do, please contact us to let us know!

Thanks

Isabelle

19 Jun 

Hi everyone,

The updating of the code we've been working on in the last few weeks is completed and ready to be uploaded.  So, this is to inform you of an upcoming scheduled maintenance planned for this weekend, on Sunday.

Although we were hoping we wouldn't have to do it this way, it's unfortunately the best approach, 'cause there are hundreds of files to transfer over.  

This means PoetBay will incur a period of downtime (inaccessibility to the site) for all the members, while we upload the new code files to replace each of the current ones.

Maintenance work will begin on :

Sunday, 21 June 2020

18H00 EST - 22H00 GMT - 23H00 CET

Maintenance work will end on :

Sunday, 21 June / Monday, 22 June 2020

20H00 EST / 00H00 GMT - 01H00 CET

We're giving it at most 2 hrs to complete these uploads, but we will obviously try to keep it as short as possible.  

To reiterate, these updates will make PoetBay's code more robust for general online security, as well as ensure easier ways for its upkeep to the latest versions, so we never get caught offguard like we were in September. 

Apologies for any inconvenience.  Thanks for your patience in this process of making PoetBay's technical health stronger.  We're nearing the end of the list of things to cover. 

Isabelle

Hi everyone, 

Many thanks to you all who have left their thoughts on this Poll's question, they're greatly appreciated.  

Seeing as there weren't any objections expressed by the rest of the community, I'm thinking it's reasonable on my part to interpret that to mean everyone is on the same page about not minding the removal of the Forum from PoetBay. 

As it's been noted, it's true it's a section of the site that hasn't really been used in a very long time.  Still, I just wanted to give you a head's up of my intention, and in case your feelings were different, you'd be able to say. 

So, the result of the poll is :  the Forum has been removed.  When our uploads are completed, the change will be officially set then, and the Forum will no longer exist on the site. 

Isabelle

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15 Jun

Hi everyone,

In the last 6 weeks or so (see 'What's up? (Update 6)), I've been working in the background to continue the updating of our code to the new ways of doing things in code. 

These updates will make PoetBay's code more robust for general online security, as well as ensure easier ways for its upkeep to the latest versions, so we never get caught offguard like we were in September.  

It's going very well, and I'll be able to proceed with the uploading of the new code on the site here soon, most probably at the end of this week.  I will let you know before I make the uploads of the code updates to the site.

But, as I'm finishing up my work, I'd like to run something by you before I go ahead with a change I have in mind :

Would you mind if the Forum was removed from PoetBay?

Thanks for letting me know your thoughts/preferences!

Isabelle

Hi everyone,

Just to let you know we've noticed that our site hasn't been performing all too well this week.  So you may have experienced trouble connecting to PoetBay.  We're in the process of investigating it.  

Apologies for any inconvenience!

Isabelle

Hi everyone,

This is to inform you that our webhost (server service provider) is planning a scheduled maintenance of their equipment. 

During their maintenance work, it will undoubtedly incur periods of downtime (inaccessibility to the site) for all the members of PoetBay because the server will be turned off and rebooted multiple times.  

Maintenance work will begin on :

Tuesday, 24 March 2020

18H00 EST - 22H00 GMT - 23H00 CET

Maintenance work will end on :

Wednesday, 25 March 2020

04H00 EST - 08H00 GMT - 09H00 CET

We recommend that you do not post anything during that window of time, to make absolutely sure that nothing gets lost.

Our webhost assures us that this is necessary and they apologize to us and our members for any inconvenience.  We do as well.

Isabelle

18 Apr

Mini update in the comment section below.

Isabelle

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08 Mar

Mini update in the comment section below.

Isabelle

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07 Feb

Mini update in the comment section below.

Isabelle

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04 Feb

Mini update in the comment section below.

Isabelle

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03 Feb

Hi everyone,

Since last update we've been working on replacing the gibberish and the question marks (punctuation, accents) remaining on the site. 

Hundreds of thousands of records are involved, so this is a long one.

What we managed this week :

-  All texts'  Title & Body are cleared of gibberish and question marks (2005-2020).

NB:  If you have many texts in your archive in another language than English, we would need your help in finding out which characters the gibberish currently displayed needs to be replaced with before we can correct them.  We're unfortunately unable to do it on our own 'cause we don't know your language.  Sorry about that :-/ 

What we're currently working on :

-  Comments on texts & exhibitions

-  Author name on profile page

-  Profile page presentations & fortune cookie

We'll be back with more soon...

Isabelle

================================================

25 Jan

Hi everyone,

Last night we think we managed to fix the character display issue which showed question marks (instead of apostrophes, quotes, and accents) in Texts and Comments, for some members of the site, and in all Private Messages. 

So, you'll notice that your new posts will display correctly now.

As for the question marks & gibberish (instead of the correct characters) on the site, we are sorting out a way to find and replace all instances of them in our database.  So, this part will take a little while longer.

We also fixed the NOT SECURE warning about connecting on PoetBay (http:// to https://).

We'll be back with more soon...

Isabelle

================================================

19 Jan

Hi everyone,

We’ve put up new changes on the site today.  We hope that they will enable you to organize and share your works in an easier way. 

We’ve added:

  →  a new menu link on My Page titled Tags.  From here, only when logged

        into your account, you can view lists of your texts, by tag that you’ve set

        on your texts.  You can also edit your tagged texts from that list with

        the Edit link.

*NB:  Although this view is private to the account holder, be aware that ALL tags saved to a text are always PUBLIC.  It’s the listing and editing that is private.

  →  a new menu tab on Poet Home page (clicking on a writer’s name link

        will get you there) titled Tags.  From here, visitors can view the author’s

        lists of texts that have tags set to them.

We think this will add to the sharing experience as well as enhance the possibility to organize and better manage your PoetBay archive of texts.

We’ve also added:

  →  a basic text Title search option of your own account’s archive of texts. 

        On My Page, click on Texts, and the search box is at the top.

We thought this may be useful for members who have hundreds of texts in their account.

This work can be considered as major changes on the site, so although we’ve done all of the extensive testing possible, it’s possible we may have skipped an order of action or an IF consideration to test.  Hopefully not, but should a problem pop up, please let us know and we’ll fix it.

We have a few more changes we plan to bring to the site, but for now, we think we’re ready to tackle the character display issue.  It’s one of two remaining issues from the move to the new server.  We couldn’t continue fixing those before completing more of the tidying/normalizing of the code, which is what we moved along these past couple weeks.  Finally ready to start :-)

This is a big one too, involving a lot of thinking and figuring out for the best solution.  So, thinking caps on, we’re off ;-)

That’s it for now.  But do let us know about any of the changes… we’re very much interested to know if everything is ok and that we’re not disrupting your usual experience of the site.

We’ll be back with more soon…

Isabelle

================================================

11 Jan

Hi everyone,

We've moved on with the fixes/changes this week (we're still keeping the issues list up-to-date here: www.poetbay.com/whatsup.php).  Here's what we've done, and a bit of an explanation on some of it :

  →  Added a new section (Featured Photos) for the home page selections by

        the Editors where exhibition pictures from members can be featured,

        above the Books selections.

  →   Finished the tweaks for the Editors' Dashboard.

  →   Fixed the access to comments in the Diary section.

  →   Included the display of former Supporters' published Books and

          Exhibitions in the Galleries.

  →   Added the display of the publishing date on books in the Books gallery.

  →   Made a final adjustment in the profile page Archive's layout (width) to

          accommodate skipping years in the calendar.

  →  Fixed the Category link (in My Bookmarks) displaying a blank page when

        there was no more than one category (default).  Now it displays correctly

        and it's possible to place your bookmarks in your own made categories.

  →   Fixed challenge Themes created by creators who have deleted their

         account:

           •  In order to keep the challenge going and not affect the challenge text

               submissions, those themes are reverted to the Editorial Team to

               manage. 

  →   Challenge themes make more user-friendly (first stage complete, we're

         still in the tweaking process):

           •  We think we've so far managed to simplify this feature a little bit

               more for you.  It is no longer necessary to submit a text before

               publishing a challenge theme for others to participate.
 

           •  The creator of the challenge theme can submit a text or not, it is

               optional.  The first text submitted to the challenge will be displayed

               as the example of the challenge theme, under the Description. 

           •  We think doing it like that will open up the way to ideas without

               obliging the one who comes up with an idea to have to write an

               example text before others can participate.  Let us know what you

               think about it.

  →   Display on Today's Texts page the latest challenge Theme posted.  If

         the latest challenge theme posted is older than 5 days, then no NEW

         CHALLENGE will show on Today's Texts.

We're working on finishing up the challenge Themes, as well as the My Tags tab/section on profile page that we'd started.  Things are moving along very well.

We'll be back with more soon...

Isabelle

_____________________________________________________________

For more information on challenge Themes (How to create a challenge theme and How to participate in them), we've prepared this basic How-To:  PoetBay Challenge Themes Guide.

_____________________________________________________________

Hi everyone,

We've done a lot of work on the site lately and have sorted out more items on the issues list (What's up?). 

We would love your feedback, whether you like or dislike any of our changes, and the reasons for your impressions.   That information helps us to determine whether we're going in the right direction in our website design decisions for the community.  

Your opinions and your experiences on the site are very important and that's what we keep in mind when we make changes.  So, let us know:  Yay or Nay, any time.

A couple recent changes are :  Tags and Search.  Additional information about them can be found in the comment section below.  Any and all thoughts most welcome.

We'll be back with more in a bit...

Isabelle

=============================================== 

19 Nov

Hi everyone,

As you've noticed, we've scaled back our presence as far as updates are concerned (to avoid intruding with our tech babble ;-)) since we prepared for you a list of the current known issues, as well as the issues you've reported, on the What's up? page.  We've been keeping it up to date as and when we fix an issue on the list.

However, we thought a bit of an explanation on some of the issues and the work / changes we did in the last few weeks would be useful information for you to know as users of the website. 

Right now, there are still a few issues that we're working on and it's progressing well.  We are also taking the time to correct some of the functions on PoetBay that haven't really worked or haven't been really useful in a long time when we come across them during our work, so a bit of needed revamping is happening at the same time.  

One of the changes is to the My Page | 'friends' latest texts' list  :

The list at the bottom-left of the page on My Page displays 5 writing friends' latest text that they posted in the last 6 months.  If none of the writers in your friends' list have posted any new texts in 7 months, no list will appear there as a result.

If you have more than 5 friends on your friends' list, they will be selected randomly so all of your friends' texts all have a chance to be displayed there. 

Another change is to the My friends' texts section :

My friends' texts now displays all of your writing friends' names in alphabetical order and displays the last 5 posted texts from them. 

We find it looks neater and is more useful this way than what it used to be like (long disorderly list of repeated friends' names and pictures, etc).  

We hope you like these small changes.  We're also rethinking and reorganizing the Tags at the moment because as they are now we think they're not very accessible or useful which defeats their purpose.   We'll of course present you with what we've changed about them when we're done.

About the PayPal / Supporter 'membership' fix.  We did not have to fix anything 'cause we did receive renewals recently.  However, if you experience any difficulty, please let us know.

Concerning the character display issue.  We are still working on determining the best course of action in the solutions we have to fix the problem.  We want to prevent any solution that would disrupt the community's use of the website for any amount of time.  That's one of the reasons why this one is taking a little longer. 

On a more personal level for those interested, the other reasons are all related to time and having to take care of our immigration bureaucracy fiasco that we're dealing with right now and that we briefly mentioned on a previous community update. We met with our MP's assistant yesterday, and there may possibly, very maybe, be something that can be done... Yeah. At this point no one knows for sure.  But we'll see. So we often need to take days off to focus on that for our family lately.  Although a bit of time juggling, we keep on with the work for PoetBay in between, as much as we can. 

We hope everything on the website is working well for everyone.  We'll be back with more in a bit...

Isabelle

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Our 'What's up?' page (Community notice)

04 Nov 

Hi everyone,

Just a quick note to let you know that we've prepared a list of the current known issues as well as the issues the community have reported so far.  This to minimize our intrusions about things unrelated  to 'writing' on our main list of poetry postings.

We will be updating that page for you as and when we fix an issue or when a new report comes in so that you know what's going on.  

To view the list, visit this link:

What's up?

There's a fair amount of issues that we're working to solve (all relating to our server specs surprise).  However, we're making progress every day, so there's a light at the end of the tunnel for sure.

Enjoy your week!  And don't hesitate to let us know if you encounter an issue - it will not bother us at all (for those worried about us having a lot on our plates).  

Isabelle