Problems Adding / Editing The HTML And Text Gadgets

We're seeing a few reports, in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, mentioning problems adding or updating the HTML and Text gadgets. The most common symptom is very simple.

When I try to update the gadget, all that I see is

javascript:void(0);

In this case, we have to first explain that "javascript:void(0);" is not the problem - it's simply a symptom of the problem.

Once we explore the problem itself, we see various possible causes.

The base cause for problems with the HTML / Text gadget is simple - the script which processes gadget updates provides no diagnostics when detecting errors.

If you were to update a post, or the template, with bad HTML, you'd see some error message, indicating that your changes are bad.

Both Post Editor and Template Editor provide some diagnostics, when errors are detected. With the HTML / Text Gadget, the script issues no error messages, it simply stops.

Instead of "javascript:void(0);" displaying for a fraction of a second, as the update is saved and the window closes, the blog owner is left looking at

javascript:void(0);

until he hits "Cancel" in confusion.

The HTML / Text gadget has been observed to have various problems, which prevent changes from being properly saved.

• Bad HTML, when accidentally in HTML mode.
• HTML / JavaScript code which contains line breaks in the wrong places.
• Bad HTML code, when intentionally entering an HTML gadget.
• Gadgets with blank titles.
• Layered security, which blocks the gadget update scripts from running.
• Trying to use a non supported browser version.

Blog owners who are not observant, when updating the gadget, may accidentally be in HTML mode. Rich text, containing HTML significant characters, will be a problem.

HTML / JavaScript code is sensitive to line breaks in the wrong places in the code. Blog owners, accidentally or intentionally inserting line breaks, can cause a problem.

HTML / JavaScript code, in general, is syntax sensitive. Bad code will always be a problem.

Gadgets with blank titles will cause a problem, when using some browsers. If a gadget with a blank title is specifically required, it may be possible to use a null title, instead.

<!-- -->

Inappropriate use of layered security may block cookies or scripts, and prevent the gadget from updating.

The gadget, like every other Blogger feature, must be updated to support newer browser versions. It will likewise be updated periodically, to remove support for older browser versions. Non supported browser versions will frequently cause problems.

Some of these error scenarios should be more clearly identified, by the script - but not all can be identified. Attempting to save a gadget with a blank title, for instance, should produce a stern warning

Blank titles are not accepted.

Unfortunately, HTML syntax errors generally can't be consistently diagnosed, with any detail.

The best solution here is for the blog owners to be aware that the gadget operates this way, when being updated. Some cautious effort must be made, when updating the gadget.

It's possible that problems updating the gadget, like many Blogger problems in general, can be best diagnosed using affinity testing, and / or differential testing.

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Various Problems With Blog Owners Using Internet Explorer V11

We're seeing a few browser related problems, possibly related to a recent update of Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer, reported in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken.

I can't see my dashboard!

and

I can't upload pictures - all that I get is a blank box!

and

I am receiving messages, when I log in, that my Internet Explorer is not compatible with Blogger.

Too many blog owners use Internet Explorer for using Blogger - and automatically accept updates, applied by Windows Update.

Right now, Blogger Engineering is in the process of updating Blogger to work with Internet Explorer V11. This is not a minor task - with all of the many Blogger features required by the various blog owners and readers, all of which must be checked for compatibility with each new browser version.

The recent updates of Microsoft Windows, to use Internet Explorer V11, is causing various problems to blog owners and readers.

Blogger Engineering cannot update Blogger, immediately, to work with the new version. While we wait for Blogger to be updated, it's possible that the Microsoft "Compatibility View" setting can help us bypass some of the problems.

• From the Internet Explorer menu, select "Tools" - "Compatibility View Settings".
• From the Internet Explorer address bar, click on the "broken page" icon.
• Type "blogger.com" into "Add this website". Hit "Add", then "Close".

If we can't use "Compatibility Views" to work around the current problem, we have to wait, patiently, until Internet Explorer V11 can be supported, by Blogger.

If we can't wait patiently, we may need to try using another browser with Blogger - at least to diagnose the problem at hand.

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Windows XP / IE V8 Is "Good Enough" - But For How Long?

This month, we've seen more than a few reports, in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, about various Blogger dashboard problems.

Both the Overview and Post Editor dashboard sections seem vulnerable to problems - typically described as bX code terminations. Many of the people reporting problems admit that they are using Internet Explorer V8.

For some blog owners, the choice of staying with IE V8 is not an option.

Get everyone to use Chrome, and don't support those using IE V8. Win XP works fine. Everyone can't get new computers or operating systems, every time some new software comes out!

Unfortunately, Windows XP was sunsetted, by Microsoft, some time ago - and IE V8 is the last version of that browser that will run, on Windows XP.

Windows XP and IE V8 may be "good enough" for now - but time is running out, on both.

Blogger, like every website on the Internet, is going to design their displays and wizards - such as Post Editor - to use features provided in the newer browsers.

As Blogger fixes problems, like the recent problem with the Post Title, the more browser versions they have to support, the more complex their code becomes. Besides fixing problems with Post Editor, Blogger will be developing new features - like Google+ Comments, and the recently added "Blog Posts" option to "Show Author Profile Below Post".

Each of these changes - the recent Post Editor fix, Google+ Comments, and the new "Blog Posts" option - must include code to work in all supported browsers. The more browsers supported, the more complex the Blogger code becomes.

Owners of older computers, with less bandwidth and memory resources, are going to notice Blogger - and other websites - requiring more resources. As the Blogger code base becomes more complex, the amount of code required will make the increased resource use more obvious. Many people have already noticed Blogger running slower, when they edit their posts.

As Blogger code becomes more complex, and as they support more browsers, it's going to take them longer to develop new features - and to fix problems with current features.

The only answer here is that Blogger simply can't support an infinite number of older browsers. As newer browsers, with newer features, are made available, they have to stop supporting older browsers.

It's possible that Blogger is currently making an effort to temporarily override their earlier stated browser support policy, so they can accommodate Windows XP and Internet Explorer V8 - but it's unlikely that they can do this, forever.

If Blogger fixes the current flood of bX code errors, for users of IE V8, this may not last, for long.

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Post Editor Problems With Blog Owners Using Internet Explorer V8

We've been seeing a steady stream of problems being reported in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, from blog owners unable to use post editor.

The symptoms are varied, in detail.

• Some can't get the cursor active, in the window.
• Others can't use the Preview option.
• Still others can't Publish.

The primary symptom, seen by many, involves yet another mysterious bX code.

In many cases, this problem has been forecast, for some time - and the blog owners should blame only themselves. Many of these blog owners are using - or trying to use - Internet Explorer V8, to maintain their blogs.

Last year, Google warned us that this time was coming.

We support the latest version of Google Chrome (which automatically updates whenever it detects that a new version of the browser is available). We support the current and previous major releases of Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari on a rolling basis. Each time a new version is released, we begin supporting that version and stop supporting the third most recent version.

Google stopped supporting Internet Explorer V8, in 2012.

As previously announced, Internet Explorer 10 launched on October 26, 2012, and as a result, we discontinued support for Internet Explorer 8 on November 15.

Recently, as part of an update to post editor, Blogger used code which is incompatible with Internet Explorer V8. As they continue to update Blogger, to remain compatible with newer browsers, they will continue this policy.

As time progresses, more blog owners, trying to use IE V8, will find problems with Blogger - with the problems not answered by Blogger Support. Blog owners using IE V9 or V10, in compatibility mode, will also see these problems.

If you are using Internet Explorer V8, you are way overdue for a browser upgrade. If your computer uses Windows XP, then you need to replace or update your computer. As an alternative, consider using Chrome or Firefox for all Blogger activity.

The solution, for this problem, requires your action.

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Blogger And Mobile Computers

Using the term "mobile computer" is an example of the challenges involved, in using this variety of computer.

Even identifying this device, which is present in so many different manifestations, is confusing.

• Mobile Computer.
• Mobile WiFi device.
• Personal Digital Assistant.
• Pocket phone.
• Smart Phone.
• Tablet.

As the use of mobile computers becomes more common, we're seeing more and more problem reports and questions, from people unable to use Blogger.

• Some folks would like to maintain and publish their own blog.
• Others would like to post comments to their friends blogs.
• And still others don't understand why all of the various gadgets on their blog don't work for their friends, who are also using their own mobile computers.

One of the challenges of mobile computers involves the use of smaller displays, and the need to simplify the content displayed. This requires the use of special browsers and templates, which are designed to accommodate the limitations. The need to support additional browsers and templates creates more work for Blogger Engineering, who now has more different products to support.

Also, many mobile computers are designed to work over proprietary networks, provided by various "phone" companies. Blogger has traditionally supported use of alternate services - email, and SMS - for publishing posts to their blogs.

All of these differences create complexity, and additional possibilities for failure. And we see more problem reports, attributed to use of "mobile" computers.

Full function ("desktop" / "laptop") computers have challenges - but they are still easier to use.

We know about the different major browser brands, and the differences created by the use of each browser, on our desktop and laptop computers.

Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari all have their various peculiarities. These differences are multiplied, when considering the issues involved in developing new features - and in keeping up with new browser versions, and continually updating the various Blogger features and wizards, when required.

Besides the various different browsers, we have to consider the different activities involved in using Blogger. Browsing blog posts, browsing comments, publishing comments, maintaining the blog, and publishing posts, are all different activities - and have their own different needs.

The relative lack of limitations in "desktop" / "laptop" computers still makes each different activity simpler for the blog owner or reader. The process of developing and supporting the different Blogger features is easier for Blogger Engineering. These differences are not so transparent, when using a "mobile" computer.

Mobile computers have known limitations.

• Reduced display size.
• Reduced display colour depth.
• Reduced processor speed.
• Lack of various system features and utilities.
• Lack of a physical keyboard.

All of these details require mobile browsers and templates which operate differently, and the various Blogger features and processes must be used differently.

Try performing the various tasks identified above, using your desktop and mobile computer - and observe the differences. You'll quickly realise the differences, when browsing blog posts, browsing comments, publishing comments, publishing posts, and maintaining your own blog.

One of the workarounds, used by Blogger, to deal with the reduced functionality of a mobile browser / computer, is the "mobile" template. The mobile template, which is optional for all modern Blogger blogs, displays only text and pictures - and eliminates the many accessories, gadgets, and shiny formatting which may be seen in any blog with a "normal" template.

The different layouts of the posts and comments, on a mobile template, makes posting comments a different experience - and the lack of the various gadgets will produce different visitor activity.

The differences between the various "desktop" browsers are considerably less noticeable than the differences between some "mobile" browsers and computers. Most desktop computers use 3 different operating systems.

• Apple / Macintosh.
• Linux / Unix.
• Microsoft Windows.

Even with the different operating systems, the realities of marketplace competition creates some interoperability between the different desktop operating systems - and the different browsers are similarly common in design.

The better known mobile computers also have 3 major different operating systems.

• Android.
• Apple/iOS.
• Microsoft Windows.

Not all PDAs and smart phones use the standard 3 operating systems, however - some use proprietary browsers and operating systems, unique to the manufacturers. And the proprietary networks, provided by the different phone companies, further reduce the possibility of interoperability.

Lack of interoperability is going to create differences in how well different applications, such as Blogger, operate on the different mobile computers. These differences will be more significant than the differences created by the various "desktop" browsers, and operating systems - and we'll see more complaints from blog owners who can't use Blogger on their tablet, or whose readers can't post comments, using their smart phones.

Increasingly common use of multimedia content (both music and video) on mobile computers - combined with the lack of consistent support for cookies and scripts (and possibly, filtering of cookies and scripts) - will make availability of content differ, from computer to computer. Another problem here is lack of consistent support for the Adobe Flash product - which makes some YouTube content non playable, on some mobile computers.

Also consider the various security issues which may be different with mobile computers. Both the different security threats, and the different protective features, will make secure use of mobile computers a challenge - particularly when carried in public.

Fortunately, as mobile computers benefit from ongoing technological advances, improved design of mobile computers may make some limitations less significant. Improved displays, operating systems, and additional security devices are all coming.

As people buy and use more mobile computers, the differences between "desktop" and "mobile" computers will narrow. And use of different new desktop and mobile features, like innovative computer desktops, and products like Google Glass, will force desktop, laptop, and mobile computers to converge in functionality.

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Some Blog Owners Reporting The Template Designer Changes Do Not Update On Their Blogs

For several weeks, we're been seeing various reports in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, mentioning problems with template updates, being made using the Template Designer wizard.

The reports are not so widespread to indicate a complete malfunction - but neither can we dismiss the problem, as being unique to one browser, one template type, or one particular update pattern.

It's likely that we are looking at a number of problems, aggregated and compounded, into one common symptom.

I cannot Save changes in Template Designer.

With a problem report like this, some examining of the details may be appropriate.

The Template Designer wizard, which is a component in the Blogger Dashboard, is a complex and sophisticated collection of menus and utilities, which runs on the blog owners computers.

Like most Blogger code, the Template Designer is subject to the effects of other programs, and various security settings - which may be installed or set on each individual computer, with or without the understanding of the blog owner and / or computer owner. In some cases, the blog owner and computer owner may be different people.

If you are seeing a problem with the Template Designer, when trying to update the layout on your blog, there are several tests which you can make, which may help to isolate the problem.

• Try making the same updates, using another computer.
• Try making the same updates, using another browser on your current computer.
• Try setting up a new blog, with the same template, and make the same updates to the new blog.

If you're able to make one or more of the above alternate updates, that will help to eliminate some, or many, alternate suspects, as the cause of your problem. If other people are reporting this problem, their results from the above tests may or may not correspond with yours - because their base problem may differ from yours.

Right now, we're seeing seven different causes of these problems.

1. Changes made by Blogger Engineering, to support new browser versions and browser updates, and to provide new template features.
2. Changes inherent in new browser versions, made by the browser vendors.
3. Third party browser add-ons, installed by the owners of the various computers.
4. Security settings, inherent in new browser versions and third party add-ons.
5. The cumulative effects of various template tweaks, both made using "Edit HTML" and the Template Designer itself.
6. Unrealistic expectations of blog owners, about effects of Template Designer settings, against all templates provided by Blogger.
7. Unrealistic expectations of blog owners, about effects of Template Designer settings, against templates not provided by Blogger.

Of these possible causes, only #1 (and possibly #2 and #6) are the sole responsibility of Blogger Engineering. The blog owners (and computer owners) must assume some partial responsibility for #2 - and sole responsibility for #3, #4, and #5. The blog owner, and the developer of any custom, third party template, must jointly assume responsibility for #7.

Recently, Blogger Support acknowledged the problem, in part.

Some users have reported that the Apply to Blog button in the Template Designer is non-functional for some Dynamic View templates.

We also have a Rollup Discussion, in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, where individual details are being provided by various blog owners.

Right now, we're starting to suspect that some "problems" are actually caused by the blog owners, who are simply not aware that not all changes made, using the Template Designer (or the Layout or Template "Edit HTML" wizards), are designed to update all templates used in viewing our blogs.

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Template Designer Upgrades Require Supporting Updates To The Individual Blog Templates

This week, we're seeing a small flood of problem reports in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken about problems with the Template Designer.

Every time I change something, I have to refresh the page in order for it to show up. It won't "Save" when I try to save the layout changes. It just says "Saving..." at the top of the page and fades away, but doesn't actually save any changes.

Many problems involve changes made to the template, using the Designer, which aren't being saved - or are broken when saved. Most of the people reporting these problems have made changes to the template, previously - some are so experienced at making changes, they can't believe that their latest changes could ever have problems.

Interestingly, this history of changes is not a coincidence - and it's likely that some of the changes helps to cause these problems.

Take a look at the template code in your blog, some time. You'll notice a lot of code which doesn't look like CSS, HTML, or XML. Some of it is code which supports the various blog features that are adjusted or configured using the Template Designer.

Many template features involve two sets of code.

1. The Template Designer wizard, part of the Blogger dashboard, is common code used by all blog owners.
2. The blog template, post template, and / or widget template, is part of the individual blogs. Some template code does nothing but support the Template Designer - and let you configure your blog layout,

Every time Blogger Engineering adds or updates template features, they have to make changes to both sets of code.

Blogger Engineering does not edit each individual blog, after they upgrade the Template Designer. They make changes to the master template code - and their changes replicate into the individual blog templates. These changes replicate much more consistently, when the individual templates have not been changed.

The more custom a template is, with changes applied by the blog owner or in a third party template, the less likely it is to properly update, to support each succeeding Template Designer update. Any time Blogger Engineering updates the Template Designer, to add a new feature, or maybe to support a new browser version, their updates may require changes which are not properly applied to all blogs - and the Template Designer stops working, in some blogs.

When the Template Designer stops working, the usual recommendation is to refresh the post or widget template - or maybe to upgrade the blog template - and things start rolling again. And the blog owner goes back to tweaking the template, until something breaks again.

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Blog Owners Reporting The New Blogger GUI Display Is Garbled

We have recently seen a few reports in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, concerning the New GUI display, which is broken for some blog owners.

When I login to Blogger, the interface doesn't display properly. Everything is shifted and some buttons appear to be missing.

The reporting volume, mentioning this symptom, is low - but it's not random, or zero.

From what we can tell, this problem started shortly after the latest Microsoft Windows updates, a week ago. Microsoft Answers: Computer Display Messed up After Restart discusses this problem, and essentially suggests that you should download video drivers from the vendor of the video device in your computer - and to not depend upon Microsoft, to provide you updated third party drivers.

If you are unable to use the Blogger Interface because the display is unreadable, with components missing or mislocated, you're going to have to update the video drivers on your computer, using drivers obtained from the manufacturer - not from Microsoft. This is not a problem caused by Blogger.

If the browser involved in the problem is Internet Explorer, you also may need to check your Compatibility View setting.

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Internet Explorer V8 / V9 And The New Blogger GUI

Back when Internet Explorer V8 was first released by Microsoft, and Blogger had yet to update their code to allow for its peccadilloes, some Blogger blog owners used the Internet Explorer "Compatibility View" switch, to make their browsers work with Blogger (when they were using the Blogger "Classic" GUI).

We've recently been seeing an increasing number of people in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, using Internet Explorer, who report problems with The New GUI.

With Blogger code written for Internet Explorer V8 / V9, people who use Internet Explorer V7 - or use V8 / V9 that runs as if V7 (with "Compatibility View" enabled) - are having problems using the New Blogger GUI.

The most popularly recommended solution for problems like the White Screen Of Death has been to switch back to the Classic GUI. A more effective long term solution, for people using Internet Explorer in Compatibility Mode, would be to stop using Compatibility Mode.

1. From the Internet Explorer menu, select "Tools" - "Compatibility View Settings".
2. In Internet Explorer, click on the "broken page" icon, at the end of the address bar.
3. Remove "blogger.com" from the "Compatibility View Settings" list.

Don't have Internet Explorer work like IE V7, now that Blogger has updated their code - and IE V7 is not supported.

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Confusion Over Newer Browser Versions Not Being Accepted By Blogger

Occasionally, we see confused blog owners reporting a problem with using Blogger, because of their browser version.

I am seeing an error when I try to use Blogger.

Your browser is no longer supported by Blogger. Some parts of Blogger will not work and you may experience problems.

I just upgraded, last week, to the latest version of Internet Explorer! What now?

And this is one blog owner who does not understand Blogger, and their browser support policy.

With the release of each new browser version, Blogger has to labouriously re check each different feature in Blogger, and re code for specifically discovered problems, caused by various code changes, in the new version. If any browser brand / version is not recognised as supported, by the Blogger code, it defaults to an error message - such as reported above.

We would hope for Blogger to authoritatively state why any specific browser version is unsupported.

• For older browser versions

  Your browser is no longer supported by Blogger.

• For newer versions

  Your browser is not yet supported by Blogger.

That would be the ideal solution - but it's simply not possible, given all of the different browser brands and versions, to make that distinction, with complete consistency.

Blogger Support has to keep up with the browser update war, so they can't let the browser updates amass. At any time, there can be, at most, one new browser version that remains untested. At the same time, the number of unsupported older versions is continually increasing.

Historically, different browser brand / versions were not explicitly defined by a label such as

• This is Firefox V12.
• This is Internet Explorer V8.
• This is Internet Explorer V9.

The different browser brands and versions have to be deduced by specific code and individual testing, in the browser HTML and back code. This makes it impossible for Blogger code to reliably identify any browser as being too new (and untested), as opposed to too old (and unsupported). And it leaves us having to settle for seeing

Your browser is no longer supported by Blogger. Some parts of Blogger will not work and you may experience problems.

after we upgrade to the latest and greatest version.

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