Lots And Lots Of Errors - V8 Is Bad

[RuralWeb]

I'll take the post as an attempt to score brownie points with Actinic

Get a life

[samx]

oooh good come bock

[george]

Sorry to interupt chaps but I've done a fair bit of lurking on the v8 section the last few weeks and months and if there is one common denominator with problem sites (in v8) it seems to be ones that have been upgraded. I reckon there are a couple of `things` that have been orphaned from previous version(s) that seem to possibly cause problems in v8. Malcolm is FAR better to comment on this than the likes of me though, but just thought I'd add my comment.

I'm dreading the day I finally upgrade. Are we SURE theres no-one going to the buying add-on and email marketing for v7? (lol)

[RuralWeb]

I'm dreading the day I finally upgrade

Its not that bad - Ive just done a V4 site today and it was OK.

[bentleybloke]

It's a shame there isn't a content import feature like the one for importing orders. It'd be much simpler than importing a snapshot and mucking about. Then the customisations could be made directly in v8. Let's face it, when we upgrade versions we are more than likely to facelift the site too!

[samx]

I am sure its a problem with the upgrade process. As I said the demo site shows non of these errors. So far I have managed to generate lots of errors when adding, editing, deleting adjustments.


I'm not convinced its anything to do with customisng the site either as when you add an adjustment its done off line and written direct to the database. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think this has anything to do with customisation.

I would love to create a new site and add everything from new but its not realistic.

[george]

It's a shame there isn't a content import feature like the one for importing orders. It'd be much simpler than importing a snapshot and mucking about. Then the customisations could be made directly in v8. Let's face it, when we upgrade versions we are more than likely to facelift the site too!

I agree with this importing, although maybe its possible?

[RuralWeb]

I agree with this importing, although maybe its possible

I seem to remember a post by jo, I think , a while ago describing how to do this by doing a file export or something.

[bentleybloke]

There are probably loads of other posts about this, but I found this worked for me (using Business Multisite).

1. Start with demo site
2. Import snapshot from site you're upgrading and allow v8 to do as it pleases
3. Close then restart Actinic once it has finished.
4. Export upgraded site from v8 (File | Export) as .csv
5. Licence another demo site
6. Import the .csv file you just made in step 4 into demo the new site chosing to Replace rather than Update.
7. If this has worked, make a Snapshot and keep it in a safe place in case you end up needing to start again.

Notes:

If you have any custom properties, you will have to create them in the new demo site (Design | Library | Variables) before step 6. It is probably best to create them in the General group.

If you're using a non Multisite version, you'll have to make a copy of your default Site1 folder before doing any of the above so you can go back to this in place of step 5.

If you reach a milestone and are happy with something you've done take a snapshot. Equally, if you're about to do something which could bugger everything up, take a snapshot so you can go back.

[samx]

I have tried the file export rather than the snapshot and imported it back in but that too complains of errors and very strange things happen.

Sections which contain products display like a fine mesh grid, correction its lots of tiny dots in a block about 600 x 100 pixels. If I try and change the layout the microsoft error box pops up - this is why I am worried.

The snapshot, though far from perfect is much better

I believe these problems are probably related but as I said in the thread title lots and lots of errors

[bentleybloke]

Perhaps you should consider contacting professional Actinicers - who build sites for people for a living.

[samx]

You may be right - making the assumption that I don't know how to use the software after 6 years with very little trouble.

If you're offering and know how to solve the problem, get in touch. Not just with me but with Actinic as they haven't solved it yet, and they admit there is a problem.

Check earlier post, so please explain where a professional designer would help with this problem

[pinbrook]

so please explain where a professional designer would help with this problem

A professional developer would help by virtue of experience, they probably have already done a dozen of so upgrades to v8 already (and developed and trashed a few hundred whilst learning the product), they would have the expereince of having worked with the v8 since last July, whilst constantly monitoring the community to be ahead of the game when encontering problems, and have a relationship with actinic and other actinic professionals to help sort out a problem.

So much the same as any professional versus the DIYer

[george]

And apart from the experience they have, they can devote time to finding and hopefully curing the problem unlike many of us on here who have to try to keep a business going at the same time.

[samx]

As I said earlier, if you know what is causing the error by all means share this with us.

Perhaps I'm missing the point of Actinic Cover and this forum. My thoughts were that if we were experiencing problems we called the helpline - which we pay for.

Also for out of hours convenience, and feeding from a wealth of experience we have this forum.

I have reported an error, acknowledged by Actinic as rare but definitely an error. I posted the error to see if anyone else had come across this problem and solved it.

Its interesting that most of the replies are telling me to do things which have nothing to do with solving my problem. If the Actinic Pros know the answer then post it. If they don't know the answer, no disrespect intended, why would I employ them to work on my sites.