Saturday, August 6, 2016

ARGH


UPDATE: I think I have fixed the problem, at least in my "Fall Buttericks and ACC Craft Fair" post. It will take me quite awhile to fix the "New York, Part 2" post, so I'll do that later. Please let me know if you continue to have problems.

Well, it's like this.

For years, I used Picasa to host my blog pictures. Picasa was decommissioned some months ago, but continued to work.

Between my "NYC, Part 1" and "NYC, Part 2" posts, Picasa was completely turned off. I couldn't use it anymore. I had to switch to Google photos.

Google photos doesn't seem to want you to embed single photos in a browser. They only offer the option of embedding an entire album which of course, won't work for a blog post, at least not the way I write them.

I have now tried two workarounds to this problem. The first workaround only worked reliably on Chrome and Firefox, but many of you use Safari or Internet Explorer, which worked for some, but not for others. (I have no idea why.) For the record, I would never use either of these browsers—they just aren't up-to-date with all the features that a good, reliable, safe, multi-functional browser provides, but I know that they are used by many.

The Butterick pictures work in my last post because Butterick is hosting those pics - I link directly to the pics from their site—I don't upload my own copies to Google photos.

I have now spent hours and hours trying to get the images in my last two posts to work. I just don't have the time to keep pouring into this, so I guess I'll be taking a blogging break until I, or someone else (more likely) figures this out. The New York, Part 2 post was particularly painful to fix, because I have to find each pic in my album and jump through hoops producing a usable link, which I then have to locate in the raw HTML of my blog post, and insert that. I worked on this from 6pm to 3:30am last night, trying to get both of my last two posts working for you.

And I failed. I have SO much more to post about my New York trip, including info on the fabric and trim shopping, but it will have to wait.

I have much to do in the real world, so I guess I'll be taking a little blogging break. I'm sorry for this annoyance! It's completely frustrating and demotivating.

41 comments:

  1. how aggravating! I have always felt that the photo part of Blogger was clunky and I decided early on not to use it. In fact features in Blogger seem to diminish year after year - although you might be able to find out more about it than the rest of us :) in any case I have had my photos hosted in Flickr and linked into my blog and lately I have been in fear that somehow Flickr would change and that will break as well. Aargh indeed! hope you can work it out without too much trouble.

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    1. Beth, in the 7 years I've been blogging, Flickr HAS changed how they work and broken photo links everywhere. You especially see this on old Pattern Review posts. I'm grateful that old image links haven't broken but new, reliable links seem impossible. And, for the record, I have no pull anywhere. :)

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  2. I'm so sorry that you've fallen into such a nest of frustration with your pictures! If you are open to suggestion - photobucket works pretty well for me and it is easy to get links or embedding code from them. Hope you find an elegant solution soon - I always enjoy reading your posts!

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    1. Thanks, helenko. I'm not ready to host my pics elsewhere. Maybe I'll get there, but I'm not there yet.

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  3. Shams, I am in awe of your computer skills. It is generous of you to spend so much time and effort so that your readers can enjoy your activities. I wish you well.

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  4. Damn this IT stuff! Have you tried switching it off and on?
    Just to let you know - I could see every pic this morning (Mac, Chrome) but this evening nothing!!
    I know how much time writing and prepping a blog post takes and we all really appreciate everything you do. I keep all my pics in folders on my Mac and upload them from there but I guess that means you have an awful lot to transfer. If there's a person who can solve it, it's you

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  5. I am so computer illiterate that I have no idea what you just said in your post. I dont even know how to post pics on Pattern Review. So I can definitely feel your pain. Please dont give up, we need you.

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  6. OKAY! I believe I've fixed the Fall Buttericks post. I'm leaving this comment so I can keep track of new comments. If you are still seeing the problem (which I've verified in an incognito window), please let me know. Fixing the NY Part 2 post will take me awhile and will have to wait.

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  7. I am so in awe of your computer knowledge. Now I will try to remember to use Chrome instead of Safari! Thanks for your blog - and all of your deep hours trying to make things work. You bring such vitality to the blog world. Many thanks!!!

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    1. Thanks so much, Judy! I think you'll be happier with Chrome! It's definitely the most robust, most fully functional browser out there. I use Chrome and Firefox. I used to use Safari but I gave it up when it couldn't handle something, though I can't remember what.

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  8. Yes, I can see the ACC pics now (Chrome). Wonderful virtual tour for me! Sorry you have had such headaches with this photo fiasco. I had used picasa also so now don't know what I'll do. UGH

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    1. Linda, I can provide info on how to handle it, but it's certainly not very straightforward!

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  9. THANK YOU for your persistence. And thanks so much for your excellent blog. There's a chorus of gratitude rippling across the continent by more voices than just mine!

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    1. I primarily use Chrome, but also Firefox. I write my blog posts in Chrome.

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  11. I really love your blog, thank you for all I have learned and thank you, thank you for the most recent museum tour! I won't get to see it in person, and thanks to your very detailed post we readers were able to learn about many amazing and thought provoking pieces. Hope you are able to solve your tech problem so that posing stays enjoyable for you :)

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    1. Thanks, Damsel! I believe I've figured it out. It's a complex process, but at least I can accomplish it!

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  12. I had the very same problem when I tried to publish a blog post this morning and was going to ask you how to fix! I just kept playing around, got myself a google photo account and was finally able to get my iPad picture library onto it and easily into my blog post. I just checked and the pictures I took afterwards have automatically gone into the Google acct. I will be doing another posting about the Knitting convention tonite or tomorrow so will keep my fingers crossed that it works again. Really want to see the rest of your trip so keep trying!

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    1. Excellent, Peggy! I did get it to work eventually, as you can now see in the Fall Butterick post. I'm hoping that they will be adding an easier solution, but I got it working reliably at last!

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  13. Argh is right! I haven't written a blog post in a week and now I'm concerned. I download pictures directly from my computer into blogger bypassing the photo accounts and let blogger host them wherever they want to. I did know about the change but since I didn't use the picasa albums myself I didn't care. I will check on it again once the power comes back on since I'm sitting in the dark again.

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    1. Carolyn, I think your approach will continue to work. I don't do it that way and maybe I'm in the minority. I hope your power returns soon!

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    2. Power finally returned 5 hours later...and I tried my way and it works. I could never figure out how to make the link from Flickr work so continued to load from my computer. I kinda like this method because it gives me the ability to decide which pictures to save from the hundreds we take.

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    3. Good! I was pretty sure your way would be fine. But I write in HTML, not in blogger wiki, so my needs are a bit different. I'm glad this won't be a problem for most.

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  14. Oh man, that sucks - I'm so sorry that happened to you! For the record, I refuse to use Chrome because of the tracking, and Firefox is dreadfully slow on my Mac, though I have it and use it occasionally. Many of the developers I know hate Safari, but it's the lesser of all evils for me. Different likes for different folks. Your pictures on the Butterick post now work just fine.

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    1. One of my favorite things about Chrome is the incognito window. I use it frequently to see what others see when they are not logged in to a site. But, as you say, different strokes! Glad my pics are working!

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  15. When I got Windows 10, I continued to use the newest version of Internet Explorer only because Edge from Microsoft was so problematic. It makes you use their viewers, apps, etc. And some of their apps don't work correctly. I have 2 or 3 bill payment sites that I can't view in Edge. How do you pay a bill online if you can't see it? Our IT guys at work also don't like the tracking in Chrome. I viewed all the NY posts when you put them up and now the photos are gone, as you said. When I find the way to move my bookmarks to another browser, I will switch. But not to Edge- yuck.

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    1. I have started to fix the images in the NY Part 2 post, Patricia, but I haven't finished yet. Good luck finding the browser that you are happy with!

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  16. I can feel your pain and frustration. Please know that we (your faithful readers) will patiently wait while you sort things out because your posts are too fabulous to miss. Karen

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    1. Aww, thanks Karen! I think I've figured out a way to make it work going forward!

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  17. Hi Shams, a big thank you for all of your time to get it right! Thanks too, for your blogs, my daily "look-see". Nancy

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  18. Your blog is so inspiring - thank you for all the extra time & frustration !!

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  19. Above & beyond. Take a break and breathe.
    I always look forward to your posts (even if some of that tech-jargon wants to creap in and teach me a few things)

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  20. Hi Shams, so sorry about the photo problems, you are still as awesome as ever to spend the time. As for the ME, ME, ME part, never concern yourself with that. I love the way you write your blog and think it is a model for others. It is your sharing that is so worthwhile. I might take a peek at Instagram, but honestly I just don't want to jump to another venue so will stay right here. Take a good break and we'll look forward to the time you have later. :-)))

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