FictionPress & FanFiction Blog

We have resolved some issues with our last update and this post has been created to be the central list for problem reporting and fix announcements.

Note that browser compatibility is very difficult due to different os, screen resolution, device type, and browser vendor but we have already resolved some of the first reported problems and are working hard to knock off the rest shortly.

If you are having browsing problem and the issue  is not part of the list below, remember to include your screen resolution, browser, and os version so we can better understand the underlying cause.

Pending issues with fix coming:

• Dark theme within story page.
• Table column sorting for some admin pages.

Resolved Issues.

• Fixed. FP. Forum action links pointing to FF.
• Fixed: FF. Some menu links always going to anime.
• Fixed: Not able to sort stories or view favorites within member profile.
• Fixed: Small font problem.
• Fixed: Unusually small font in IE8.
• Fixed: Font too gray/light issue.
• Fixed: Middle mouse click to open in new tab not working due to 3rd party bug.
• Fixed: Font is half-size too big on some Firefox browser.
• Fixed: Font is two size too large on some Opera browsers.
• Fixed: Stats graphs crashing on some browser and too wide/growing on others.
• Fixed: External links in profiles not working.
• Fixed: Spacing between paragraphs more compact than before.
• Fixed: Issues with old Windows XP/Vista pcs.

[UPDATE: Please see new blog post for compatibility update with list of resolved and pending issues. ]

Search engine is now 4 character aware and users can filter through all of them one by one. Please note the browsing part with four character support is coming soon.

We have also pushed out a major revision of the site theme but also  expect some growing pains as result. Please let us know of any place that is exhibiting unexpected behavior. Refinement of the new theme will slowly roll out over the next few weeks and we want your feedback.

If the changes reduced your font size to unacceptable small or large levels, you need to  provide us with the browser version, device os, and screen resolution so we can upgrade the theme to be compatible with all device types. Compatibility is extremely difficult but we usually get it right after initial feedback.

For the story settings we want to clarify that the ordering of the 4 characters is irrelevant to the search engine and the upcoming browsing enhancements. All four characters are equally weighted.

Changes:

• Search engine now able to filter through 4 characters
• Site theme updated with mostly subtle changes.

Fixed

• Tons of small fixes and too many to list.

UPDATED

Pending issues with fix coming:

• [Refer to new blog post.]

Resolved Issues.

• [Refer to new blog post.]

Resolved Profile editing issues from our last update.

Forum creation limit has been changed to adjust for the new forum type classification. Members can now create one forum per combination of category, language, and type. A forum creation limit is put in place to guard against spammers.

New “Contests” forum type classification introduced to help communities gather and create awards/contests for their favorite genres.

We are hardening our password policy to align with current recommended protocols. Passwords for new sign-ups and password change requests are now required to be at least 8 characters in length.

Changes:

• Passwords now have a minimum length of 8 characters and up from 6 previously. Applies to new sign-ups and password change requests. Existing passwords will continue to work but we recommend users to use a long password whenever possible.
• Members can now create one forum per combination of category, language, and type. Previously, users are capped at 1 per category regardless of forum type. Since the recently introduced forum type classification, this limit has been adjusted. For example, a member can now create both a “General -> General” forum and a “General -> Roleplay” forum.
• “Contests” type has been added to forum type classifications.

Fixed:

• Inability for some browsers to apply bold/italic/centering styles to profiles after our recent update.
• Some formatting errors when editing a doc or forum post.

For FanFiction:

The number of characters a writer can assign to each story is now 4 and up from the previous 2 limit. We have set a ceiling to emphasize the fact that writers should use this field to denote the major characters within their story allowing ease of browsing and searchability by potential readers.

A short background on how we implement the characters field to the benefit of both writers and readers. The characters field is not designed to list every single character that appears in a story but rather a tool to help readers focus in on their primary interests. If a limit is not used, a list of characters is just that, a simple list without focus as each additional minor character added devalues the importance of previous characters and rendering search/filtered results less valuable.

The limit of 4 is a middle ground value we believe should satisfy most of the writers and readers. With that said, if we discover in the future the character ceiling should be lifted, we can easily do so after this upgrade.

Please note that although this appear to be a minor update on the surface, it is part of an extremely large upgrade which we will use to piggy back on in preparation for more feature launches looming on the horizon.

Part 1: Writer admin side. Allowing writers to select, if applicable, up to 4 characters per story.

Part 2: To be released over the next few days: Reader’s ability to filter/search up to 4 characters.

In summary, we have released this feature update to writers first and the public facing side will enjoy the new changes in a few days.

We have rolled back our last update due to compatibility issues with some versions of Firefox. Everything has returned to pre-update status until we have a fix ready.

We have launched a new editor for the forum posting and profile editing screen. The new editor is not only faster to load  but also gives mobile users the same type of semi-WYSIWYG forum posting option previously only available to desktop users.

Old spellchecker option has been deprecated in the new editor as it now supports browser’s built-in spellchecker which is more accurate, customizable, and comes bundled for free with all modern desktops and mobile devices.

We do expect some rough edges on the new editor so please send in your bug reports and help us flush out all the quirks.

Fixed:

• Problem with network login using Google/Twitter/Facebook account.
• Error connecting or frequent disconnection to the admin area from certain internet service providers.
• Stats bar graphs not able to scroll horizontally for some.

For those having issue with “loading charts” within the Stats area, please clear your browser cache and reload.

We are introducing a new “Recovery” feature under the “Publish” tab  in the admin area that allows writers to recover/un-delete accidentally removed stories up to 2 weeks after the initial deletion.

P.S. March is going to be a monster month so hang on tight as we are just getting started.