DESPERATE for help...

[Notator]

I have been building my site in Catalog 7 - as I have gone along I have export sequential b/ups at the end of each section..
on the last section "Actinic encountered and error and needs to close" - I have tried to import ANY of my previous imports but to no avail - I have even tried to open snapshots on another computer and get exactly the same thing - none of the backups that have been made will open.. I cannot export or import without it shutting down midway... can anyone offer any solutions I am at my wits end here - hours and hours of work over the last 5 days..

[Notator]

Still Desperate..

I have now tried everything I cn think of...
As I was worried about making mistake I exported snapshots regularly and labelled them sequentially - I had 16 of them. On the last snapshot of the day as I was preparing to call it a day and have a break the export "froze". No worries I thought - I'lll just lose the last bit of work and reload from the previous snapshot - but no... NONE of the previous snapshots will load. I have actinic on another compueter ( ready for when the shop is made, ha ha ) - I cannot load any of the snapshots onto that one either. Part way through - smae thing every time - "Actinic has encountererd an error and needs to close" no options..no nothing - I have lost DAYS and DAYS of work here..
can anyone please help me ?

[wjcampbe]

You could try this solution - it may help
http://community.actinic.com/showthr...ed+error+close

It is highly likely that you have been making your snapshots with a product or fragment selected. There is a known problem with this. Before taking any snapshot, it is best to close the navigation tree and highlight the site root (or at leas a section page).

[Notator]

Half Fixed...

you are a diamond mr campbell....

I managed to get a half way version opened - and exported a snapshot successfully...

Now I am into another headache - I have cleared all the files on the web...
when I try to upload the pages from Actinic it now says " There was an error merging files" and my site is not properly uploaded... Yet exactly the same settings were working just fine yesterday before I cleared all the folders on my host. Is there some way to make actinic think it is the first time it is uploading or to fix this problem ???

I have read through the forum and seen - "change your FTP to passive " or "use enhanced FTP" etc - I uploaded the site in increments successfully yesterday and I have not changed any of the server settings...

I'm learning to hate Actinic - but God Bless those who have helped me on this forum I would be absolutely stuck without you ....

Any ideas ?

[wjcampbe]

First run Housekeeping | Compact databases with both boxes ticked, then once you have re-opened Actinic, run Web | Refresh Website. If that does not solve your problem (and it might not), then a search on the fora for merge error will bring up several other suggestions that have contibuted to past successes.

[buspassjohn]

Beat me to iy Bill.
I've had this problem before and fixed it by completely refreshing the website, not just uploading as this fails if you have reverted to a snapshot.
By the way, my Actinic 7 refuses to take a snapshot if the database is open, it says something to the effect that db is caught, I usually close down without saving, restart Actinic and then take snapshot.
Works for me.

[Notator]

T H A N K Y O U !!!

Guys, thankyou SO much for your help...

Seriously I was going nuts here and you've sorted it for me, I cannot thank you enough for your help.

Actinic's help file Sux...

This forum rox.


Jerry Harper

[Notator]

Thanks part II

Refreshing the site worked !!! Yay !!!

I lost about half of the products after the crash - but I got back all the setup - colours - shipping - business & tax settings so at least that is all working again..

http://www.eurobulbs.co.uk

lives again..

A big thankyou to those who helped me, especially Mr Campbell who helped me a couple of days ago too...

When I've finished the site I'll put a credit for the help and a link to the forum in the site 'cos I couldn't have done this without your help - I spent HOURS looking at stuff yesterday to no avail and you guys got me going in less than one !

<group hug from happy camper !!!!>

J

[wjcampbe]

Have you used the link at the top of this page to the Actinic Knowledgebase? There is quite a bit of additional help information there, and also in the extra guides available from the Actinic support website downloads page.

Actinic also monitor these fora, and if they don't see other users helping out with working solutions, they jump in and offer comprehensive help, including developer review of problems.

Many problems are common and have already been answered, those tend to be given lower priority by the volunteer posters here. The search facility works fairly well and should always be the first stop before posting any question, but there is always someone here ready to help you find the answers you need - we have all been through the learning cycle.

[Notator]

learning cycle

"learning cycle"... oh what a lovely way of putting it...!!!
Shouting, swearing, headaches, stress and my Mrs not talking to me..

The "learning cycle" is a MUCH nicer way of putting it.. !!

Take a look at the (unfinished) site Mr Campbell - let me know what you think hey !

Cheers,
Jerry

[wjcampbe]

Jerry,

I see a problem with the dropdowns for quantity based on the fact that you have multiple product on each page. Say a user selects 1 x 500 of the top product, then before buying decides to look further and scrolls down the page using a wheel mouse - what is the first thing that happens - the selection of 500 changes to the bottom choice 1 x 1000, then the page scrolls. The only way to get round this and keep multiple products on the one page, is to provide a requirement to click on something outside the dropdown after making a selection.

I would recommend going to one product per page, as this gives you the best scenario for Search Engine Optimisation, and makes future maintenance easier (IMHO).

[Notator]

hmm.. good point.. hadn't thought of that !!

I'll try out some options, thanks fella - good suggestion

(going to look at your site now for inspiration !!)

I still got an Error 4 message on the contact email as well - checked out the forum and seen the "localhost" etc - tried with or without the authentification on the smtp settings but still get the error message - stuck on that one too !

[buspassjohn]

Looked at the site, it all seemed to work ok so I ordered some bulbs (rather my wife did) then noticed the bit about site being constructed and phone to order. Card payment went thru ok so I guess at least you'll get the money!
On the subject of the site itself, I like simple sites like this that work, would like to see more images of flowers before all that text, just to whet the appetite for buying!!
I'll give you a ring tomorrow re order, I appreciate what it's like to get stuck, I spent 13 hours yesterday to sort out why our site was loading thru glue (3 hours to update!).

[Notator]

PS ...your site has one thing on that I tried to work out ( and failed !) how did you get more than one "box" on the sides ???!! I wanted to put something very similar on mine but couldnt figgure it out !
On mine it says "all definable custom layouts done, cannot add a new one" - is it because Im only using catalog and not business ?

[Notator]

TO MRS BUSSPASS JOHN !!!

I emailed you ! Order did go thru - forgot to remove the please call us bit from the front page - I'm still adding items after the crash ...

( Tried to ring you but no answer ! )

( you will love the giant bulbs by the way ..they are a bit special !! )

thanks also for the image first suggestion...thats a good idea that and I will act on that one too...

thanks to you and all for the feedback and support - very genuinely grateful

Jerry ( NoteGraphics currently working on behalf of Eurobulbs )