498546 - WYSIWYG form data is not saved

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(Firefox :: Session Restore, defect)

Description

[8600GTS]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.0.4) Gecko/2008102920 Firefox/3.0.4 (.NET CLR 3.5.30729)
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.0.4) Gecko/2008102920 Firefox/3.0.4 (.NET CLR 3.5.30729)

This happens on any site which has similar text fields to Overclock.net, however, Overclock.net is the best example as I use it every day.

If I restart Firefox in the middle of typing a message on Overclock.net (whether it's a new thread or a reply), then I lose everything I have typed.  But in Firefox 3.0.4., I can continue typing where I left off - even if I reboot my system.  I am using the Session Restore feature, or rather, "Show my windows and tabs from last time.".

Please note:  this does not apply to the "Quick Reply" feature at the bottom of threads on Overclock.net.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1.  Use "Show my windows and tabs from last time".
2.  As a registered member of Overclock.net, go to any forum and click the "NEW THREAD" button.  Alternatively, go to any thread in any forum and then click the "POST REPLY" button, or even any of the Quote buttons.
3.  Type anything.
4.  Restart Firefox.  You can even reboot before re-opening Firefox.
Actual Results:  
It did not save what I had typed, so I could not continue typing where I left off.  Concerning the Quote feature, it indeed saves the Quoted text, but it does not save what I had typed.  Although, I realize that its not actually saving the quoted text in the way that I'm talking about when I'm referring to it saving what I have typed before closing Firefox.

Expected Results:  
I expected to be able to continue typing where I left off.

I believe that it's also important to note that Overclock.net is a Verified Secure by ControlScan.  http://www.controlscan.com/cgi-bin/pcir/seal/verify4.php?dom=8C2F19F3&id=168

There are times where Firefox will get stuck trying to load the ControlScan.com elements, and when it does, it won't load the text I was typing until it is finished dealing with ControlScan.com.  If I get impatient enough, then I just press F5, and then it loads just as fast as normal.  At that point, it also loads the text I had previously typed before closing Firefox.  But again, it will not load that previously typed text until it has finished dealing with ControlScan.com.

It's also important to mention that this happens no matter what theme I use.  It even happens when I do a fresh install of any Firefox past version 3.0.4. after a reformat.  I mean, it happens with or without additional Add-Ons.

I realize that a workaround is to just copy/paste to Microsoft Word or even WordPad, then save it, and THEN close Firefox, but that's way too much of a hassle.  So, please bring back this really useful and convenient feature.

Comment 1

[u279076]

This works for me using Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2a1pre) Gecko/20090707 Minefield/3.6a1pre on ubuntuforums.org

I notice you are using Firefox 3.0.4.  This is an outdated version of Firefox.  The most recent version is Firefox 3.5 which can be obtained either by going to www.mozilla.com to download or click Help menu > Check for Updates.

Resolving WORKSFORME.  Please reopen if you can reproduce this on Firefox 3.5.

Comment 2

[8600GTS]

(In reply to comment #1)
> This works for me using Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US;
> rv:1.9.2a1pre) Gecko/20090707 Minefield/3.6a1pre on ubuntuforums.org
> 
> I notice you are using Firefox 3.0.4.  This is an outdated version of Firefox. 
> The most recent version is Firefox 3.5 which can be obtained either by going to
> www.mozilla.com to download or click Help menu > Check for Updates.
> 
> Resolving WORKSFORME.  Please reopen if you can reproduce this on Firefox 3.5.
But the whole point of me using 3.0.4. was to keep the functionality that I have described here, otherwise I would have been using the latest version (after all, I'm on Overclock.net, so I hear about the latest versions for nearly everything when they're released).  Nevertheless, I just tried 3.5, and this still happens, so I am going back to 3.0.4. as soon as I'm done typing this reply.

Oddly enough, one of the supposed "Improved" features is Session Restore, stating that users can continue typing where they left off.  This is not true for me - at least when using Overclock.net.  It doesn't matter if I'm using XP Pro SP2 x86, or 7 x64 build 7100.  It just matters which version of Firefox I'm using; and so far, it's any version past 3.0.4.  And I mean that very literally:  any version.  Believe it or not, I have tried every version since 3.0.4., now including 3.5 since you recommended it.

And so now I will post a thread on Overclock.net seeing if anyone else can reproduce this using versions later than 3.0.4., and I hope to remember to update this bug report with the results.

Comment 3

[u279076]

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.1) Gecko/20090615 Firefox/3.5

Works for me.  Can you please provide more details about how you are reproducing this bug.  A screencast may help in this situation.

Comment 4

[u279076]

It's been over a month with no feedback.  Reporter, please provide the requested feedback.  Failure to do so within the next two weeks will result in this bug being resolved WORKSFORME.

Comment 5

[Simon Bünzli]

(In reply to comment #4)
> Reporter, please provide the requested feedback.

The lack of feedback makes this bug INCOMPLETE. Feel free to reopen or resolve as WORKSFORME when more information is available.

Comment 6

[8600GTS]

I am sorry, but I feel like I have already provided the information being requested in the original report.  I mean, what more do I have to explain?  I explained it as clearly and as thoroughly as I possibly can.  Did I type way too much?  Are you unwilling to make an account on Overclock.net just to replicate this in comparison to version 3.0.4. and all newer versions than that one?

I apologize for the following, but I absolutely do not understand why more information is being requested.  Should I make a website with pictures and maybe have somebody help me make a video to explain what this is all about?

Anyway, all I know how to do is switch it to "UNCONFIMRED", so that's what I did.  I am hoping that is what I need to do in order to help keep this alive.  I mean, I may have labeled this as "minor", but this isn't really "minor" to me.  As a member on Overclock.net who loves to help, I have occasions where I suddenly find that I need to look at my BIOS just to help me complete my reply to whoever is asking for help at the time.  With all versions up to 3.0.4, I could close Firefox while in the middle of typing a reply, and then continue typing where I left off once I re-opened Firefox.  Starting at version 3.0.5, I can no longer do this.  To be absolutely clear:  3.0.4 is the last version that had this functionality, and all versions since 3.0.5 do not have this functionality.

But now I'm just repeating myself.  I mean, there is no more information to provide other than trying to find different ways to explain it in hopes that at least somebody will understand it and go "Oh, well that's easy to fix", or "oh, that's like that because..."  You know what I mean?  If this doesn't make sense, then I will try to find another way to explain it.

But please do not close this or delete it.  I mean, come on:  I can't be the only one who wants this functionality back.  Perhaps I'm just the only one who figured out that something could be said about it.  After all, the general public seems to think "bah, somebody else will say something, and then it will be fixed for me."

Comment 7

[8600GTS]

I do not have the skills or experience to make a screencast (I haven't heard of one until now).  The best I can do is host screenshots with text overlays and anything else that might be helpful and then provide the URLs to those screenshots (.PNG, of course).

But to be honest:  I spent more than 2 hours typing up the original report.  I went over it dozens of times too.  I made absolutely sure that the text was more than sufficient to put somebody else on the same page as I am, so-to-speak, so that's why I'm responding like this.

Comment 8

[u279076]

Actually, I did make an account at Overclock.net as well as several other sites using the same forum software.  At no time was I able to reproduce this bug.  When I type a reply on the forum, the information is saved across restarts, crashes and even OS restarts.  We have tried hard to reproduce this bug on our end with the information you have provided but have failed to do so.  This is why a screencast is requested.

To create a screencast on Windows, you can try http://www.jingproject.com/.  It's free and simple to use.

Comment 9

[8600GTS]

Wait, so you used a version later than 3.0.4 (3.0.5 or later) and it saved all the text that you entered?

If that's the case, then I don't see how a screencast would help because it would just be re-hashing everything all over again.

I mean, I've tried this in safe-mode with newer versions past 3.0.5 and it doesn't save it.  I've tried this with a fresh reformat and a fresh install of versions newer than 3.0.4 and it doesn't save the text.

So, I don't know what to think.  Perhaps this SHOULD be closed then because it seems to be wasting everyone's time.

Comment 10

[u279076]

The point of a screencast is to visualize exactly what you are witnessing.  As I said earlier, Firefox restores data in forms on Overclock.net for me when using the latest version of Firefox (3.5.2 and 3.0.13).

Comment 11

[8600GTS]

This would have been solved if I had done a screencast because you would have noticed a difference in the editor that I'm using on Overclock.net

So, this is new information that I'm about to share which may cause this 'bug' to be reproduced (if it's even a bug):  to keep it simple, edit your Overclock.net User CP options by clicking here:  http://www.overclock.net/profile.php?do=editoptions

Then scroll down to the very bottom where it says "Message Editor Interface" and choose the "Enhanced Interface - Full WYSIWYG Editing".  Then click "Save Changes", and then try to reproduce it again.  I think it will be reproduced!

You see, I was always using this editor, but I recently joined G.SKILL's message board just because I bought one of their products.  They use vBulletin just like Overclock.net, but I noticed yesterday that I could restart Firefox and even reboot and continue typing where I left off at any time with version Firefox 3.5.1.  So I noticed that G.SKILL only has the Basic and Standard editors while Overclock.net has the addition of the WYSIWYG editor.  So, I tried the Basic and Standard Editors on Overclock.net, and sure enough, I could restart Firefox, reboot, etc., and I would always be able to continue typing where I left off no matter which version of Firefox I was using.

So now I can describe the bug like this (along with everything you already know):  when using Overclock.net's Enhanced Interface WYSIWYG editor, I cannot restart Firefox 3.0.5 or later while in the middle of typing a message and be able to continue typing where I left off.  But if I use either their Basic or Standard editors, then I can do that all day and every day with any version past 3.0.4.

So, I'm extremely grateful for your patience even though I don't really feel like it was deserved for the way I acted.  However, with your help, I think I nailed it.  So for now I will continue switching to the Standard Editor whenever I need to restart Firefox or reboot in order to continue typing where I left off.  I'll also try to keep checking this e-mail address daily, if not every other day.  It was just an address I used once to help me buy an 8600 GTS from someone.

Thank you again for all of your time and patience!


-Tim

Comment 12

[u279076]

Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X 10.5; en-US; rv:1.9.2a2pre) Gecko/20090825 Namoroka/3.6a2pre

I can now confirm this behaviour.  Thanks for looking more into this.  Do you know what WYSIWYG software this site runs?  Do you know of other sites which use it?

Comment 13

[u279076]

Regression Window:
WORKS -> Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X 10.5; en-US; rv:1.9.0.5pre) Gecko/2008111804 GranParadiso/3.0.5pre

FAILS -> Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X 10.5; en-US; rv:1.9.0.5pre) Gecko/2008111904 GranParadiso/3.0.5pre

Comment 14

[Simon Bünzli]

This looks like the same regression window the one of bug 510660.

Comment 15

[8600GTS]

(In reply to comment #12)
> Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X 10.5; en-US; rv:1.9.2a2pre)
> Gecko/20090825 Namoroka/3.6a2pre
> 
> I can now confirm this behaviour.  Thanks for looking more into this.  Do you
> know what WYSIWYG software this site runs?  Do you know of other sites which
> use it?
Thank you very much for your patience, Anthony.

Unfortunately, I don't know of any other sites which use it, however I will ask which WYSIWYG software they use and then report back.  I didn't ask before replying because I wanted to get this reply back as fast as possible.  I am tending to forget to check this.

Comment 16

[8600GTS]

I posted a thread on Overclock.net asking which WYSIWYG software is being used, and all I got so far was responses from other forum members saying that they think it's just vBulletin's WYSIWYG editor.

One member commented that he knows of a couple of other message boards that also use vBulletin and have the WYSIWYG editor enabled, and he said that he got the same results with Firefox not saving the form data.

Comment 17

[8600GTS]

I changed the version to 3.5 Branch.  3.0 Branch was still selected even though this bug is present in 3.5.x as well.

Comment 18

[8600GTS]

I noticed the release notes for 3.5.7 only have 3 bug fixes. Does that mean that this bug is a difficult one to fix?

I have to admit that I am really looking forward to seeing this get fixed as I really miss this functionality.  I'd go back to 3.0.4 to get the functionality back, but I'm using a couple of extensions that require at least 3.5.

Comment 19

[8600GTS]

This bug still exists.  Is it really a bug, or was it an intentional change to Firefox?

Comment 20

[Paul O'Shannessy [:zpao] (not bugmail, email directly)]

Would you be willing to give Firefox 4.0beta a try to see if the bug is still present? We haven't specifically tried to fix this but may have done so in the process of fixing other bugs.

Comment 21

[8600GTS]

The behavior is still the same in Firefox 4.0 Beta as it is in every version since the release of 3.0.5.

Comment 22

[twocables]

This is still a problem even in Firefox 4.0.1.  However, I no longer have "[e-mail]", so I am resubmitting this bug using a new Bugzilla account with my new e-mail address (which is the main reason why I'm adding this comment).

Comment 24

[twocables]

This is still a problem in Firefox 21.0 on any vBulletin message board when using the WYSIWYG editor.

In addition, Overclock.net has since switched to Huddler and their copy of Huddler has a WYSIWYG editor and the same problem exists there too.

Comment 25

[Peter Magyari (Desktop QA)]

Hi,

Since I cannot reproduce the issue and this is a very old thread I'm going to close it as WFM.
Please feel free to re-open the issue if you can still reproduce it on the latest Firefox release.

Thank you!