BBCode issue makes posts empty and appear only if code is disabled.

[EgyptWrite]

website link: egyptwrite.com/w
sample of impacted posts: http://egyptwrite.com/w/viewtopic.php?t=1201
PHP version : PHP Version 7.2.34
PHPBB version: 3.3.11

The issue is the posts are not showing at all as if it's empty, but if you check the source of the page you will find the content written there, also if you clicked on edit for the same post you will find the text along with lots of messed up bbcode, the only way to show it in a post view, is if you edit and disabled bbcode then sumitted, but of course it will show with all the messed up code, not the text alone. I wish if there is any solution to solve the issue for all posts cause manual edit to each post to remove the code by hand is almost impossible.

worth to note that I was using the infamous Almsamim wysiwyg but I'm not sure if it's related to that or not, I have cleared my forum from it long ago but it may have left an impact.

The pictures below describe the issue after trying to edit the empty post:

Capture1.PNG

Capture2.PNG

[Mannix_]

your bbcode [size=3] makes the text font size have value of 3% so it's super tiny so you gotta change that value from 3 to a much higher number

[Mick]

You don’t say if everything was ok before this happened, were you doing anything just before it happened that may have caused it? Has it been ok since you removed Almsamim? I also note it’s not all forums, topics and posts.

[Egypt Write]

You don’t say if everything was ok before this happened, were you doing anything just before it happened that may have caused it? Has it been ok since you removed Almsamim? I also note it’s not all forums, topics and posts.

Unfortunately it's hard to track what went wrong and when. The forum was heavily modded aside from almasmim, so to get the least damage I did a restore to an old backup but that was many years back. I believe the empty posts issue started after upgrade to 3.x.x versions.

And yes I noticed it's only happening in posts where personalized fonts were used(maybe from.almsamim days)
But any post that was written on default format is showing perfectly fine.

[Egypt Write]

your bbcode [size=3] makes the text font size have value of 3% so it's super tiny so you gotta change that value from 3 to a much higher number

Maybe that was part of almasmim mod code, is there a way to fix it in bulk for impacted posts only ? Cause posts written in normal default font are working fine.

[EgyptWrite]

You don’t say if everything was ok before this happened, were you doing anything just before it happened that may have caused it? Has it been ok since you removed Almsamim? I also note it’s not all forums, topics and posts.

@mick any solution you have in mind?

[warmweer]

One thing you could try is to edit the posts in the database
e.g. change [size=3] to [size=x]where x is the size you want.
You might have to reparse posts after doing that.

BUT: before editing the database, take a database backup just in case.

[EgyptWrite]

One thing you could try is to edit the posts in the database
e.g. change [size=3] to [size=x]where x is the size you want.
You might have to reparse posts after doing that.

BUT: before editing the database, take a database backup just in case.

@warmweer Thank you. but do you mean there is a bulk way to edit the posts in the database? or one by one?
and what is the default PHPBB font size for normal text (not a header or title)?
Also, is there a way to remove the extra BB code altogether from all posts, not just size, but color and everything. so that all topics and replies would show up normally.

[warmweer]

@warmweer Thank you. but do you mean there is a bulk way to edit the posts in the database? or one by one?

The fact that you ask this question almost implies you shouldn't even try it until you can
a) identify exactly which parts of the values in the field post_text need to be edited/removed
b) write the correct SQL
something like UPDATE phpbb_posts SET post_text = REPLACE(post_text, 'a string', 'another string')
c) if something goes wrong, figure it out yourself

That's something I usually (actually very seldom) do in various stages and would need some investigation beforehand.

There's 1 rule you should never break: never work on the database without having a backup (and take regular backups when parts have been fixed

and what is the default PHPBB font size for normal text (not a header or title)?

common.css

Code: Select all

body {
	font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
	font-size: 10px;

Also, is there a way to remove the extra BB code altogether from all posts, not just size, but color and everything. so that all topics and replies would show up normally.

Yes, but again (as in the first part of my reply) it's not an easy task.
Some BBcodes actually format text without which the strings wouldn't make any sense (e.g. lists)

How many posts does your board have?

[EgyptWrite]

14948 Post
Thanks for the reply, I understand it won't be easy and needs a lot of caution.

[EgyptWrite]

I believe there is an issue in the database itself, I can't see post text in DB, it just shows:

Code: Select all

<t></t>

psdbissue.PNG

for all posts even though the text issue is not happening in all posts. what may be the reason for this? and is there a fix for the empty posts issue with this < t > issue without affecting the working posts?

also If you are providing such paid service kindly let me know

[Mick]

also If you are providing such paid service kindly let me know

It's not allowed to offer payment in any form for assistance in this forum, but we can help you, for free! If you feel what you want to do is beyond your capability, then please post in the Wanted! forum where you may find someone willing to take on your project.

[EgyptWrite]

also If you are providing such paid service kindly let me know

It's not allowed to offer payment in any form for assistance in this forum, but we can help you, for free! If you feel what you want to do is beyond your capability, then please post in the Wanted! forum where you may find someone willing to take on your project.

Apologies, Mick. I didn't know that and absolutely meant no disrespect.
well, to understand if it's beyond my capability or not, is the <t></t> code in DB as above, a usual thing? and is it normal to have that in DB and still have the post showing normally in my forum?

[Mick]

In your first post you gave us an example of what you’re seeing in the page source. Did you try editing that and seeing if it fixes the issue? Don’t forget to reparse the posts.

I understand it won't be easy and needs a lot of caution

If it were me I’d install a personal web server following Knowledge Base - Installing and Setting Up Your Own Web Server. Then I’de make backups of all the files and database as per Knowledge Base - Forum Backup Instructions and put them somewhere safe. Then I’de follow Knowledge Base - Transferring Your Board to a New Host or Domain to install your board to the PWS. You can then make another copy of the db in sql (text) format and save it to your desktop then, with a GOOD text editor like Notepad++, you can carry out a find and replace. Once completed, it shouldn’t take very long, upload the edited sql to the PWS and see if the issue is fixed. If it’s ok you can then decide how to do it on the live board, if it doesn’t no harm done.

[Talk19Zehn]

Hello, just mentioned additionally. STK - https://github.com/Tatiana5/phpBB3.2-STK
*More informations: https://www.phpbbguru.net/community/vie ... 64&t=42862

Important, therefore
please note that the STK is not a "toy". Always (!) create a DB backup beforehand.

BTW: Notes ...

Admin tools: This category contains tools for the administrator to maintain the board.

On the Fly: Test, try, take a look ...

Removing BBCodes: This allows you to remove incorrect or no longer desired BBCodes in forums and posts. Since the *STK (DEV) may be true, some functions may still work (perhaps) incorrectly, so please ALWAYS make a backup of the database before using it.

If necessary, test in a test board (branch). I don't know if there would be a translation for your required language. Just as it doesn't matter whether it leads/can lead to the result.

Hint: Without guarantee ...

Regards

Edit:
Mentally, I can't judge your case exactly in the history presented.

*) The Ext developers have to test their Ext´s with this PHP / phpBB version before they can release it.