WebSite X5Help Center

 
Anton Tajanlangit
Anton Tajanlangit
User

Guestbook error: "There was a problem adding the comment."  en

Author: Anton Tajanlangit
Visited 3433, Followers 1, Shared 0  

When a posting is made to my guestbook page, an error comes up as can be seen in the attached image file.

Why is this happening?

Posted on the
16 ANSWERS
Paul M.
Paul M.
Moderator

Hello Anton,

It is possible that you do not have write permissions set on the 'testimonials' folder on the server, where the data is due to be saved.

In the first instance please log on to your WebSite X5 online control panel, e.g.:

http://antonality.com/admin/login.php

I am not sure which of your sites you are referring to, but the format of the URL is the same...  simply add /admin/login.php to the domain name.

Your username and password for the control panel are your admin credentials defined in Step 4 Advanced Settings > Access Management.

Once logged in go to the 'Website Test' section and check the setting marked 'Public folder path on server (/)'  -  let us know the results.

Also check that a PASS is recorded on the setting entitled 'Public folder path on server (site root folder)'.

Finally, check that the page in which the guestbook is inserted has a .php file extension.

Kind regards,

Paul

Read more
Posted on the from Paul M.
Anton Tajanlangit
Anton Tajanlangit
User
Author

Here is a screenshot of the /admin/login.php page after I've clicked on the Website Test section.

Read more
Posted on the from Anton Tajanlangit
Paul M.
Paul M.
Moderator

Thank you Anton.  The screenshot confirms that there are no write permissions for the folder in which the guestbook comments will be stored, as I suspected.

The easiest way to rectify this is to ask your webhost to do it for you.  Tell them that you need to set directory permissions for the 'testimonials' folder to '777'  -  they will understand what that means.  However, you may need to help them find the 'testimonials' folder on your server, by supplying your domain name, etc.

Alternatively you can do this yourself if you feel comfortable and competent enough to use a standalone FTP client like FileZilla:

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-change-file-permissions-using-filezilla-on-.html

But if you do so, be very careful not to disturb other aspects of your site in the process.

Please keep us updated.

Read more
Posted on the from Paul M.
Paul M.
Paul M.
Moderator

PS: please also note that the forward slash is not necessarily required when entering the subfolder name in the Guestbook 'Data Save Settings'

i.e.

testimonials is sufficient

/testimonials may cause issues

Read more
Posted on the from Paul M.
Anton Tajanlangit
Anton Tajanlangit
User
Author

I checked the permissions through Transmit, my OS X ftp client. For my testimonials file it says "777" (please see attachment).

Anyway, I'll check that slash later. Surely I put it in there; I'll remove it and see how it goes from there.

Read more
Posted on the from Anton Tajanlangit
Paul M.
Paul M.
Moderator

Anton, your screenshot shows the permissions for a file called 'testimonials.php'

You need to set permissions for the folder called 'testimonials' instead.

You may even need to create the folder first in the root directory of your WebSite X5 project, if you have not already done so.

Read more
Posted on the from Paul M.
Anton Tajanlangit
Anton Tajanlangit
User
Author

The folders that I created inside Website X5 do not appear in my ftp client...

Read more
Posted on the from Anton Tajanlangit
Paul M.
Paul M.
Moderator

They won't until the first guestbook comment is submitted and approved.  It is at this point that WebSite X5 attempts to create the guestbook subfolder if it does not already exist.

However, I strongly recommend that you create the folder first using your FTP client instead of WebSite X5, to avoid any possible further issues with directory permissions.

Read more
Posted on the from Paul M.
Anton Tajanlangit
Anton Tajanlangit
User
Author

OK, I just added a new folder to my site through my FTP client and named it "testimonials." Should I then move my testimonials.php file into it? How will Website X5 find it there?

Read more
Posted on the from Anton Tajanlangit
Paul M.
Paul M.
Moderator

No, just leave the testimonials.php file where it is, Anton.  As long as you created the 'testimonials' folder directly within the root folder of your WebSite X5 project, and as long as the folder permissions are set correctly to '777' then everything should work just fine.

If you still experience problems then please let us know.

Read more
Posted on the from Paul M.
Anton Tajanlangit
Anton Tajanlangit
User
Author

OK, done to the letter. I will come back if things don't work still. If it does, I will then mark your answer as correct.

Thanks in advance!

Read more
Posted on the from Anton Tajanlangit
Anton Tajanlangit
Anton Tajanlangit
User
Author

The holidays are over so I can come back to this. I went to my CPanel through GoDaddy and saw the 'testimonials' folder under the root folder. However I can't see what the folder permissions are, and how they are set.

However, from my FTP client (Transmit) when I right-click and select "Get Info," I see the permissions as 777. Please see the attachment.

Read more
Posted on the from Anton Tajanlangit
Paul M.
Paul M.
Moderator
Anton Tajanlangit
However, from my FTP client (Transmit) when I right-click and select "Get Info," I see the permissions as 777. Please see the attachment.

If that's the case then when you log on to your WebSite X5 control panel it should report a 'PASS' for correct directory permissions for 'Public folder path on server'  -  can you confirm that is indeed so?

Read more
Posted on the from Paul M.
Anton Tajanlangit
Anton Tajanlangit
User
Author

It says FAIL (see attachment). But you saw my previous attachment that indicates a 777 permission for the testimonials folder.

What should I do?

Read more
Posted on the from Anton Tajanlangit
Paul M.
Paul M.
Moderator

There doesn't seem to be any logical reason for this discrepancy, Anton...  however, at this point I will ask Incomedia for their thoughts and comments.  Please continue to monitor the thread.

In the meantime I would also suggest checking with your webhost and explaining the issue to them and asking them for suggestions.  It may be useful to give them a link to this thread.

I am quietly confident that the issue lies on the server side, as opposed to settings within WebSite X5.  It would appear to be a directory permissions/access problem.  You might like to also check for any .htaccess rules which might be blocking the necessary access on the server  -  your webhost will be able to advise further.

The Guestbook won't work correctly until 'PASS' shows in the relevant test section of the online control panel.

Read more
Posted on the from Paul M.
Incomedia
Stefano G.
Incomedia

Hi Anton.

Unfortunately, as weird as the case may sound, and as already reported by Paul, it is most likely that the issue lies in the fact that the test WebSite made is reported as "Failed".

At this point, I need to ask you to contact your webhosting support directly, as these settings have no connection to WebSite's settings, but are entirely based on the situation of your Hosting

Let me know what they say

Read more
Posted on the from Stefano G.