dupes problem still occurring

[azjoe]

Yes, the multiple posting problem is still with us... and we're working on it.

We have support tickets active with both our host server people and the vBulletin people. This is apparently not an easy problem as it isn't reproducible "on demand" (ie, it happens randomly and not frequently). It's easy to get fooled into thinking it's fixed (as I was last night). Please hang in there... it will get resolved eventually.

In the interim... multiple posts seem to occur when you enter a post, click submit, and then (unexpectedly) get a blank screen. I suggest at that point you NOT click refresh, back, etc. Rather, close that browser window and then follow your bookmark to reopen the srp forum. I know this is a pain, but the more dupes we create the longer it will take to clean all that up. If you do end up with a dupe, don't bother deleting it as we'll take care of all those when the problem gets resolved.

[drsch3]

I'm pretty sure Lynn started the site but who looks after it? I see that some members are moderators, what's the job spec for that? I work as a software engineer and I'm not saying I could fix things any quicker than anyone else but if the forum is short a moderator or two then I'd be happy to help out.

[Redwoood]

I am surprised, to say the least, that vbulletin would let you post two identical consecutive messages. Isn't there some option to restrict that?

Redwoood

[sensei_kyle]

It's an issue in the software that's causing it. It might not totally be vBulletin's fault. There are a few different pieces of the puzzle that work together. The blanks screen issue most likely occurs when something doesn't receive an acknowledgement from another module that the post was successfully added to the database.

[Redwoood]

If I had to implement something like that, I would calculate a hash of the message (preferrably on the client) and then before I add the entry to the db, I'd grab the hash(es) from the last committed post(s) of that user and only add it if they're not the same.

Then again, I don't know squat about vbulletin...

Redwoood

[azjoe]

I am surprised, to say the least, that vbulletin would let you post two identical consecutive messages. Isn't there some option to restrict that?

No.

Can you imaging the additional db server load if they had to check everything twice? Large vBulletin sites consume huge db server resources. Granted, we're not in that category, but the software has to meet all needs. vBulletin is a very mature and well respected package... it's pretty much considered the best forum around.

We strongly suspect the problem is a server problem, not a vBulletin problem. Remember, this started happening out of the blue 3-days ago and no changes have been made in the vBulletin config on our site for 6+ weeks. Trouble tickets are active with both the server folks and vBulletin.

If you think this is a simple system, consider that a backup of our site runs something over 4GB (compressed, gz format). The forum db is only 70MB uncompressed... essentially, the rest (4+GB) is software modules for the main SRP site CMS system (Mambo) and the forum, plus the supporting image files for buttons, widgets, etc.

[Redwoood]

No.

Can you imaging the additional db server load if they had to check everything twice? [...]

Well, if you implement it as outlined above it shouldn't be a huge deal. In theory.
I think

We strongly suspect the problem is a server problem, not a vBulletin problem. Remember, this started happening out of the blue 3-days ago and no changes have been made in the vBulletin config on our site for 6+ weeks. Trouble tickets are active with both the server folks and vBulletin.
[...]

I agree that nothing points to vbulletin being the culprit. In fact, the problem is 'operator error'. Lacking visual feedback, the user resubmits the same posting again and again. Now, why there is no visual feedback is another question.

My suggested solution was not a cure for the desease but for the symptoms. I believe that dupe avoidance should be a feature of every forum softwware. I am aware that you guys don't maintain vbulletin, I was merely thinking out loud.

Redwoood

[azjoe]

...if the forum is short a moderator or two then I'd be happy to help out.

Thanks for your interest in helping out.

We have about a dozen or so moderators. Their function is primarily to stimulate conversation, answer questions about using the forum, and maintain order and discipline on rare occasions. Most of the mods work across all forums, but a few have specific ones assigned to them.

Admins (of which there are three, with David Wessell being the lead) are chartered with installing/upgrading s/w, making minor configuration changes in that s/w, and interfacing with the various vendors involved... ie, the hosting company, vBulletin, Mambo, FlashChat, etc.

The recent problems we've been having (outages, duplicate postings, etc.) seem to all be problems attributable to the hosting company... getting them to admit to and resolve is the major task at hand.