STEX Issues - Community Report Thread

Odainsaker · October 7, 2017

I'll add in another URL straggler from 2004:

In the description, there is a link for discussion, questions, and comments:

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/view.asp?mode=viewtopic&topicID=48119

However, that link uses a pretty old URL, leading to a page not found. Pasting the topic ID of the broken URL into a current URL brings a working forum thread from 2012:

https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/48119- /

I'm not actually sure if that is the thread originally intended to be linked, for while the brief discussion does refer to toroca's file, it reads as after-the-fact rather than contemporaneous to the file. That forum thread is also full of broken links lost in some site changing and processing and which now just try to reload the thread.

toroca's Opera House Fix is commonly mentioned as an important fix in many popular lists of recommended SimCity 4 mods, so its STEX description might be a candidate for hands-on fixing.

________

This next is perhaps outside the scope of the STEX-specific issues of this thread, but toroca's included readme.html also contains outdated and broken URLs to Simtropolis forum threads. They are not necessarily critical links, and other broken links in the readme point to sites outside the control of Simtropolis, but it may be useful to be aware of these in the discussion of automatic redirects or creating pinned guides on how to find forum threads with obsolete URLs.

CorinaMarie · October 8, 2017

9 minutes ago, Odainsaker said:

Pasting the topic ID of the broken URL into a current URL brings a working forum thread from 2012:

https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/48119- /

Seems to me updating the description to have the linky point there is way better than having a broken link. I'm sure one of our STEX Moderators will be along soon and fix this up. (And I'd guess a simple note in the file description about the readme.html having old, broken links would be sufficient to alert peeps to that part.) I'll defer to the experts on how they want to handle this.

Cyclone Boom · October 8, 2017

1 hour ago, Odainsaker said:

However, that link uses a pretty old URL, leading to a page not found.

Seeing as it points to the 'www' location, we might be able to do a rewrite to direct this old URL to the correct format. Just as has been done recently for older STEX file links. Or better still as a permanent solution, updating these instances via a database command. (That's something we're looking into.)

1 hour ago, Odainsaker said:

I'm not actually sure if that is the thread originally intended to be linked, for while the brief discussion does refer to toroca's file, it reads as after-the-fact rather than contemporaneous to the file.

Yes, although there is reference to the Opera House Fix, it does seem unlikely given the file was uploaded 8 years before the thread was created.

It's possible those old links are so outdated (back when ST used the IdealBB forum software), that the ID numbers no longer correspond to the IPS equivalent today. Along with readme files, this means it'd require a best guess and a manual update as Cori said.

1 hour ago, Odainsaker said:

That forum thread is also full of broken links lost in some site changing and processing and which now just try to reload the thread.

It seems those URLs are empty as follows:

<a href="" rel="external nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Opera House Fix</a>

There is no target in the href, so it just directs to the currently viewed page being the thread.

Again with this data missing and without a pattern, it rules out an auto-redirect or batch process. Therefore the only viable way forward is for us to manually fix them on demand, providing it's possible to determine the correct target location.

Samerton · October 8, 2017

Unfortunately, when I was creating my STEX link updater, I did have a look into converting topic links, however it seems the IDs for topics have changed over the years, so older topic links can't be converted into the new format.

I'm also unable to find the actual support topic the link is supposed to direct to, looking at @toroca's topics there doesn't appear to be one that matches.

SecretMbr_735754 · October 22, 2017

The base canal set file page seems to be out of alignment. Needs a fixin'

CorinaMarie · October 22, 2017

10 minutes ago, RandyE said:

The base canal set file page seems to be out of alignment. Needs a fixin'

Oooo. This is a tricky one. (Most times we can just edit, do nothing, and save and it fixes it all up.) Since this one has an embedded table it has to be edited in the html source. I'm going to save a copy of the original here in case I screw it up royally.

Spoiler


<table align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="450">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="2">
				<div align="justify">
					<p class="text_normal">
						<font size="1">By popular request, this is a base set of more industrial canals, similar in concept to those by Oppie and Pegasus. I always enjoyed using both of those creators versions, but wanted a set more industrial in nature, and more variations of pieces.<br>
						<br>
						This is the base set of lots; there will be add on sets over time, by myself, as possibly by other BSC Members.<br>
						<br>
						These lots are designed to play as neutral as possible in game. This will allow the player to build an extensive set of canals, without &quot;ruining&quot; game play by making a city develop too easily. There are no park, landmark or Mayor Rating effects, nor demand cap relief. No pollution, nor monthly cost. This set will function, by design, as 99% eye candy only.</font>
					</p>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="2">
				<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
					<tbody>
						<tr>
							<td bgcolor="#4b4d91" height="20">
								<span class="text_titel"><strong><font color="#ffffff" face="Arial" size="1">&nbsp;Lot Details and Information</font></strong></span>
							</td>
						</tr>
					</tbody>
				</table>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td class="text_normal" colspan="2">
				<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="text_normal" width="450">
					<tbody>
						<tr bgcolor="#e9ebf0">
							<td width="100">
								<font color="#4b4d91"><font size="1"><strong>Lots Included</strong>:</font></font>
							</td>
							<td width="100">
								<b><font color="#4b4d91"><font size="1">Lot Size</font></font></b>
							</td>
							<td width="250">
								<b><font color="#4b4d91" size="1">Comment</font></b>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td>
								<font size="1">Straight</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">1 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">Single Tile</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr bgcolor="#e9ebf0">
							<td>
								<font size="1">Straight Plus</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">1 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">Single Tile with Random Pipes</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td>
								<font size="1">Straight</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">4 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">For long canals</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr bgcolor="#e9ebf0">
							<td>
								<font size="1">Straight - Tunnels</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">2 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">To add more variation to straight sections</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td>
								<font size="1">Corners - Rounded</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">1 x 1, 2 x 2</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">For a more boat freindly corner</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr bgcolor="#e9ebf0">
							<td>
								<font size="1">Corners - Square</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">1 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">Inside and Outside corners, at 90 degree angles</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td>
								<font size="1">Bridge Pieces</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">2 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">Use in pairs to make &quot;bridges&quot; with any transit type.</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr bgcolor="#e9ebf0">
							<td>
								<font size="1">Water Tiles</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">1 x 1 and 3 x 3</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">For large spanses of water</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td>
								<font size="1">Overflow Dam</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">2 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">To transition to Game water.</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr bgcolor="#e9ebf0">
							<td>
								<font size="1">Pedestrian Bridge</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">2 x 2</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">Non functional, for appearances only.</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td>
								<font size="1">Graceful Bend</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">3 x 3</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="1">90 Degree Corner</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
					</tbody>
				</table>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="2">
				<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
					<tbody>
						<tr>
							<td bgcolor="#4b4d91" height="20">
								<span class="text_titel"><strong><font color="#ffffff" face="Arial" size="1">&nbsp;Dependancies</font></strong></span>
							</td>
						</tr>
					</tbody>
				</table>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="2">
				<div align="justify">
					<span class="text_normal"><font face="Arial"><font size="1"><b>Base / Overlay textures: </b>NONE<br>
					<br>
					<b>Essentials</b> : </font></font></span>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

CorinaMarie · October 22, 2017

@RandyE

Ok, how's that? And should the Essentials: at the bottom have something after it?

SecretMbr_735754 · October 22, 2017

4 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

<table align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="450">

If you have to tackle the HTML, from looking at the page, it seems its all too centered and the width setting is too narrow? But I don't know what the standards are for simtropolis file pages, its hard to tell from looking at the source from this side.

CorinaMarie · October 22, 2017

I tried setting it to 800 width and then the text trampled over the Download File button so I put that back to 450. Otherwise all I did was change the font size="1" to font size="2".

SecretMbr_735754 · October 22, 2017

4 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

And should the Essentials: at the bottom have something after it?

Looks like something did go missing at the bottom. It would be listed as BSC Essentials. I'll try backpaging to see the original.

CorinaMarie · October 22, 2017

3 minutes ago, RandyE said:

It would be listed as BSC Essentials.

As best I can tell it was missing before I started mucking around in there. (I did just now updated the word Comment in the table header to 2. (It used a size= instead of a font size= so my Ctrl-F missed it first time around.))

Anyhow, should I change that to say BSC Essentials and take of the colon at the end? (I have no clue how to make it an embedded linky in the html source.)

SecretMbr_735754 · October 22, 2017

7 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

Anyhow, should I change that to say BSC Essentials and take of the colon at the end?

To ensure the proper functionality, make sure the files mentioned Below are installed in the plugins folder.

Base / Overlay textures: BSC Texture MEGA Pack

Essentials : BSC Essentials Files

Prop Packs : NONE

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

The above is consistent with all the canal sets, so its safe to add the above to this set. There are no other deps missing. So the above is the text that goes after the blue box listing Dependencies (which is misspelled 'dependencies')

SecretMbr_735754 · October 22, 2017

34 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

Base / Overlay textures: NONE Essentials :

Good thing you saved a copy. The HTML was obviously mucked up from the beginning.

CorinaMarie · October 22, 2017

I figured out how to add regular editor text after the table. Take a look now and let me know if that's any better.

SecretMbr_735754 · October 22, 2017

3 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

Take a look now and let me know if that's any better.

Yeah its all good now. Looks good and you got the links in there and they work OK. Thanks, and Mr. Goober is again honored for his masterworks. Good fixin'

CorinaMarie · October 22, 2017

1 minute ago, RandyE said:

Yeah its all good now.

Woot!

Tho it would be nice to go that one extra step and get the Deps and Linkys up in the Table itself. (The whole thing is a table including the starting text that prolly really doesn't need to be, but that must be how it carried over from a previous site version.) All those extra , <tr>, <td> and , </tr>, </td> stuff is confuzzling me for exactly what to replace.

Here's the revised source.

Spoiler


<table align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="450">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="2">
				<div align="justify">
					<p class="text_normal">
						<font size="2">By popular request, this is a base set of more industrial canals, similar in concept to those by Oppie and Pegasus. I always enjoyed using both of those creators versions, but wanted a set more industrial in nature, and more variations of pieces.<br>
						<br>
						This is the base set of lots; there will be add on sets over time, by myself, as possibly by other <abbr title="BATT Squad Certification">BSC</abbr> Members.<br>
						<br>
						These lots are designed to play as neutral as possible in game. This will allow the player to build an extensive set of canals, without &quot;ruining&quot; game play by making a city develop too easily. There are no park, landmark or Mayor Rating effects, nor demand cap relief. No pollution, nor monthly cost. This set will function, by design, as 99% eye candy only.</font>
					</p>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="2">
				<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
					<tbody>
						<tr>
							<td bgcolor="#4b4d91" height="20">
								<span class="text_titel"><strong><font color="#ffffff" face="Arial" size="1">&nbsp;Lot Details and Information</font></strong></span>
							</td>
						</tr>
					</tbody>
				</table>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td class="text_normal" colspan="2">
				<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="text_normal" width="450">
					<tbody>
						<tr bgcolor="#e9ebf0">
							<td width="100">
								<font color="#4b4d91"><font size="2"><strong>Lots Included</strong>:</font></font>
							</td>
							<td width="100">
								<b><font color="#4b4d91"><font size="2">Lot Size</font></font></b>
							</td>
							<td width="250">
								<b><font color="#4b4d91" size="2">Comment</font></b>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td>
								<font size="2">Straight</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">1 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">Single Tile</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr bgcolor="#e9ebf0">
							<td>
								<font size="2">Straight Plus</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">1 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">Single Tile with Random Pipes</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td>
								<font size="2">Straight</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">4 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">For long canals</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr bgcolor="#e9ebf0">
							<td>
								<font size="2">Straight - Tunnels</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">2 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">To add more variation to straight sections</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td>
								<font size="2">Corners - Rounded</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">1 x 1, 2 x 2</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">For a more boat freindly corner</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr bgcolor="#e9ebf0">
							<td>
								<font size="2">Corners - Square</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">1 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">Inside and Outside corners, at 90 degree angles</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td>
								<font size="2">Bridge Pieces</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">2 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">Use in pairs to make &quot;bridges&quot; with any transit type.</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr bgcolor="#e9ebf0">
							<td>
								<font size="2">Water Tiles</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">1 x 1 and 3 x 3</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">For large spanses of water</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td>
								<font size="2">Overflow Dam</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">2 x 1</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">To transition to Game water.</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr bgcolor="#e9ebf0">
							<td>
								<font size="2">Pedestrian Bridge</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">2 x 2</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">Non functional, for appearances only.</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td>
								<font size="2">Graceful Bend</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">3 x 3</font>
							</td>
							<td>
								<font size="2">90 Degree Corner</font>
							</td>
						</tr>
					</tbody>
				</table>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="2">
				<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
					<tbody>
						<tr>
							<td bgcolor="#4b4d91" height="20">
								<span class="text_titel"><strong><font color="#ffffff" face="Arial" size="1">&nbsp;Dependencies</font></strong></span>
							</td>
						</tr>
					</tbody>
				</table>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="2">
				<div align="justify">
					<span class="text_normal"><font face="Arial"><font size="2"><b><abbr title="BATT Squad Certification">BSC</abbr> Textures MEGA Pack </b><br>
					<br>
					<b><abbr title="BATT Squad Certification">BSC</abbr> Essentials</b></font></font></span>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<p>
	&nbsp;
</p>

<p>
	To ensure the proper functionality, make sure the files mentioned Below are installed in the plugins folder.
</p>

<p>
	<strong>Base / Overlay textures:</strong> <a href="https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=90" rel="external nofollow"><abbr title="BATT Squad Certification">BSC</abbr> Texture MEGA Pack</a>.
</p>

<p>
	<strong>Essentials:</strong> <a href="https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=443" rel="external nofollow"><abbr title="BATT Squad Certification">BSC</abbr> Essentials</a>
</p>

<p>
	<strong>Prop Packs:</strong> NONE
</p>

<p>
	&nbsp;
</p>

<p>
	<span style="color:#2980b9;">-Edited for formatting by Cori.</span>
</p>

<p>
	&nbsp;
</p>

SecretMbr_735754 · October 22, 2017

7 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

All those extra , <tr>, <td> and , </tr>, </td>

Getting the deps and linkys up in the table would be very easy, just by adding a TR (table row) and then as many TDs (Table cells) across. If you change the border size to either 1 or 2 you can see how the table is layed out and then figure where to add the extra row and cells. <table align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="450">

The revision you made looks good HTML. Its equal to HTML 4.01 transitional. I've said this several times, with the programming ability you already have you'd master HTML over a weekend with ease. Maybe I should write a basic HTML tutorial for everybody on ST? Its useful for file packages too. I'd even like to start using it maybe on my new file pages.

CorinaMarie · October 22, 2017

11 minutes ago, RandyE said:

Getting the deps and linkys up in the table would be very easy,

Since I couldn't just leave it be I messed around in there some more. I believe I've got it fixed now.

12 minutes ago, RandyE said:

I've said this several times, with the programming ability you already have you'd master HTML over a weekend with ease.

I imagine I could learn if I'd just take some time.

12 minutes ago, RandyE said:

Maybe I should write a basic HTML tutorial for everybody on ST? Its useful for file packages too. I'd even like to start using it maybe on my new file pages.

Well, basically if you did it would be for me only since CB is already a master of the language and only we admins can edit posts in Source Mode. (Apparently there are some security risks to letting just anyone use HTML.) Now, as CB once offered to me: If you have an HTML table or something you need embedded let me know and I can do that for you.

SecretMbr_735754 · October 22, 2017

Excellent, I just wrote the repaired HTML myself and then came back and you had done the same repair, so its all together now in the same table. You'll probably learn most of it as you go along anyway, and CB is very good at making things easy to understand.

9 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

If you have an HTML table or something you need embedded let me know and I can do that for you.

Okay, I'll be uploading a set of city view backgrounds as a file package probably later today or tonight, so I'll write an HTML table for the file page and then PM you so you can embed it. This just makes ST all the more fun for me so thank-you.

CorinaMarie · October 22, 2017

18 minutes ago, RandyE said:

I'll write an HTML table

One thing I wonder about: Does that top part have to specify the width? (Like the 450 pixels of the Canals.) Or is there a way to tell it to just use whatever space is available? It seems to me hard coding it could mess it up for some peeps depending on their screen resolution or what device they are using such as a phone or tablet. I notice later in the table is just uses 100%. I presume that means to use as much of the 450 it wants, but could the 450 itself just be 100% instead of a specific number?

SecretMbr_735754 · October 22, 2017

4 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

I presume that means to use as much of the 450 it wants, but could the 450 itself just be 100% instead of a specific number?

For any width you can either use pixels or percentage. So a table at width 100% would use as much space across the screen as available. This can also make things too stretched out if the user has an exceptionally wider screen than the one you are designing with. 450 seems about right for how the ST file page is designed, but percentages could be adjusted for different screen sizes. I usually use 80% for table width which balances things a bit. Within the table you could make 2 columns (TD) across the rows (TR) and make each 50% to get equally spaced cells between the table edges. Using percentages seems a better option to make things fit into different screens, but that can also make the design not exact to how you really want it to appear, resulting in it looking messy.

CorinaMarie · October 22, 2017

1 minute ago, RandyE said:

Using percentages seems a better option to make things fit into different screens, but that can also make the design not exact to how you really want it to appear, resulting in it looking messy.

Seems I'd better quit while I'm ahead then.

SecretMbr_735754 · October 22, 2017

2 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

Seems I'd better quit while I'm ahead then.

Its the same as with your maps, practice makes perfect. After awhile you develop your own methods of making things work the way you want. We'll get a bit of practice later when you embed the table I'll make for my new file page. You can adjust the width yourself until it looks about good. I'll start it at 500 pixels.

AndisArt · February 3, 2018

Hi guys, I've been away for a year, so I'm not sure what is know in terms of STEX bugs/issues.

Wanted to check if the following are known:

STEX search for multiple words (like New York) using search field in top right side of ST, choosing "Files" as search option, results in almost no results. (seem it is searching for "new+york" as a whole instead of "new" + " york")
repeating the search again in the opened STEX search field works (using "new york" again as search term)
as you scroll further down, more and more search results don't display the image of the upload (and I don't mean comment results, I search for titles-only and there are uploads not showing images:

Cyclone Boom · February 3, 2018

Hi @andisart,

Thanks for the reports.

To put it mildly, it's true the current search engine could be a lot better. In fact, although there were a few recent subtle improvements, it still leaves a lot to be desired. The power and relevance of search results, the filtering options, along with the user interface itself. Now the good news is very shortly (hopefully in the next few weeks), IPS will release their 4.3 update, which includes a highly-anticipated and much needed search overhaul.

Part of this offers the full integrated support for Elasticsearch. This is a significant step up from the current SQL-based method which relies on database queries to pull data from an index. The problem being it's a like-for-like type search, and there is a limited capability. However with the new system, there are notable benefits. These include improved accuracy of searched terms, logic to present related keywords, and all-around better performance. Although suitability for our community still needs final confirmation, from all indications (since ST is locally hosted and has a large data set), this will be a welcome addition to help with accessibility of site content, including the STEX.

7 hours ago, andisart said:

as you scroll further down, more and more search results don't display the image of the upload

My initial investigation has found the images are intact, but this is likely due to an incorrectly set boolean value in the file records. Basically something which should be 1 is a 0. It seems this is the case with older files, and I suspect is due to changes in site software formats over the years. I'll see what can be done.

AndisArt · February 3, 2018

@Cyclone Boom ok that sounds good ^^ accessibility of the site and STEX content is very important in my eyes, so that's good to hear. if you need help with any manual work I'm willing (I like those things, I know, it's weird haha)

Moonraker0 · February 6, 2018

Am I the only one who can't download from the STEX still? I saw an announcement a while back about "intermittent" downloading issues, but it seems gone now, and my issues were never intermittent—I tried a few different times a few hours apart and then a few days apart, and this was last week, now I'm still getting the error. When trying to download the Abandonment/Dilapidation Modd 1.2 from the STEX, I get the error:

This site can’t provide a secure connection

nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com sent an invalid response.

Try running Windows Network Diagnostics.

Running Opera 50.0.2762.67 (PGO) on Windows 10 (64-bit). Just tried logging out from ST, clearing cache, cookies, and any other site data, then restarting browser and logging in again. Not to mention, I tested this on Microsoft Edge and got a similar security certificate error that wouldn't allow me to ignore it and download the file. Besides this, every forum user's avatar is a broken image and many other images are missing from the site—namely all of the ones in the "please donate to ST" pop-up on the main page, main page slideshow items, and "Awards" icons in forum posts.

Cyclone Boom · February 6, 2018

Hi @Moonraker0,

To me from that error you've posted, and given the persistence, I suspect it's a different issue than the intermittent 503 and 504 errors we've been experiencing lately with the files host. It sounds related to the SSL configuration, by where the connection is served using secure HTTPS. All STEX files along with their screenshots, Gallery images, attachments, avatars and award icons are currently hosted off-site on Digital Ocean using this protocol, as well as the site itself.

I've just tried downloading that linked file and a few others at random and they each did work for me on this occasion. Understandably there can be many contributing factors here, not just limited to location, traffic, but also the type of browser and connection. For instance, a VPN or routed network may have an influence.

It was a good first step to rule out cached browser data as the culprit, as this can often have an influence. If you've access to another device, it might be worth trying that to rule out an issue on your current system. Or even on a different network (e.g. mobile) if that's an option.

As a test, below are links to download the "Abandonment Dilapidation" file in 3 locations:

Let us know which one(s) of these work or not. This will help to rule out whether it's a local server issue, or something up with the external files host.

Thanks!

Moonraker0 · February 6, 2018

@Cyclone Boom Thanks for the reply; I had thought of trying it on my cell phone but didn't get around to downloading the file through that until now...it worked using the first link (Directly from the STEX) on my phone right away. However, this was on the same network, my home Wi-Fi (although my computer uses Ethernet and my phone uses the Wi-Fi network on my router). On my computer, the first and second links produce the aforementioned error message, but the third (On the local server) one works fine. Also, I just tested the other two links on my smartphone...looks like all three of them work on the phone. Hope this helps diagnose the issue.

Zasco · September 18, 2022

This is not really an issue, but I didn't want to start a new thread for this and this one was related. I was wondering if there is some kind of standard or convention for publishing content that I'm not aware of? As much for the naming and the description text as for the content's structure. I think this would deeply help the whole community.

STEX Issues - Community Report Thread

97 posts in this topic Last Reply September 16, 2024

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