ListMailPRO Email Marketing Software Forums
ListMailPRO Email Marketing Software Forums => General Help & How-To => Topic started by: boundless on April 14, 2005, 03:41:28 am
-
I've been using this program for almost 3 years.
Yesterday, I upgraded to 1.8.
I have changed none of my follow-up messages as far as their text or message codes, but when I got a response from some of my customers from last night's mailing, where their first names were in the "RE:", there was a extra "!" in front of their name. It's as if ListMail saw !fname and only modified the "fname" string, leaving something like "!Dennis"
But the real problem just occured. I used to have a global code "!price" that would be inserted into our email which reflected the cost of the product.
However, NOW wherever the word "price" appears, the defined value is appearing! This caused a problem today because we recently raised our price, but because we don't use the global code in our emails anymore (too much to remember to keep up with), I didn't change the value.
So one of our emails has a line that says: "even at a price that pales in comparison", the old price of the program was inserted to read "even at a $67.00 that pales in comparison" which first, makes no sense, but also suggests that our program is a cost that it is not.
To me, this is a MAJOR bug that needs addressing. For now, I have to figure out where the word price (or any other word that also might have a code like it) is used and edit all the followup! This is not practical.
Please tell me what's going on and how to fix it.
However, if I choose "Send Email" and send a message to myself through my Test List, this does not occur.
What's up there?
Bob
-
Boundless,
I am sure DW can sort out what is happening for you but it just occured to me reading this that a 'quick fix' in the mean time might be to delete your global !price message code as you say you don't use it now.
-
Boundless,
I am sure DW can sort out what is happening for you but it just occured to me reading this that a 'quick fix' in the mean time might be to delete your global !price message code as you say you don't use it now.
Yep! :) That occurred to me right after I posted the message. Still needs to be addressed, obviously.
Bob
-
Bob,
I wonder if what you are experiencing is caused by incorrect 'priority' of list codes over global codes. I'm not sure why an extra '!' would remain when processing any code, however.
It would be great to see an example of what's going on as it happens. Is there any way for you to recreate the error without emailing your live list?
Would you mind me logging in and taking a look? With access I can make an effort to recreate the problem and troubleshoot the files, if necessary. You can submit your information here (http://listmailpro.com/support?t=other) (Please include a link to this post).
Regards
-
Bob,
It would be great to see an example of what's going on as it happens. Is there any way for you to recreate the error without emailing your live list?
Dean,
It doesn't happen when I mail live if that says anything at all to you. When I mail live the name seems to work just fine. It was the dailymail that was doing it in the followups. Does that mean anything to you?
Bob
-
Bob,
The information, that it happens in dailymail but not Send Email, is useful. It would be handy if you submit your information so that I can see exactly how your codes are set up. Of course, if you would rather not I understand - I can attempt to recreate the error and can check dailymail / send email for any differences.
Regards
-
This doesn't happen on mine, authough I haven't got !price defined but I do have !date which works fine when I mention date in a text. I wondered if you had any problem with other defined words in messages Bob, such as date, and if it the reports noticed were for both text and HTML. Don't let me confuse the issue that DW is dealing with but it sounds interesting.
-
This doesn't happen on mine, authough I haven't got !price defined but I do have !date which works fine when I mention date in a text. I wondered if you had any problem with other defined words in messages Bob, such as date, and if it the reports noticed were for both text and HTML. Don't let me confuse the issue that DW is dealing with but it sounds interesting.
The most annoying one is "!fname", where Bob would show up as !Bob - but again, it seems to only happen in the daily mail follow-up.
Bob
-
Hi Bob,
I'm going to look into this - I haven't forgotten about you (I had some pressing server issues last night). From the lack of response (maybe you missed my request?) I assume you will not be submitting your server details so I can check out your configuration directly.
Either way, I'm going to do some testing based on the information I've been provided so far shortly.
Regards
-
Hi Bob,
I'm going to look into this - I haven't forgotten about you (I had some pressing server issues last night). From the lack of response (maybe you missed my request?) I assume you will not be submitting your server details so I can check out your configuration directly.
Well, if there's any way around it, I want to pursue that. There's just so much there...I'm sure you understand.
Bob
-
Bob,
I understand and commend you on your security measures.
I have a few quick questions: Are all of your codes in Global Codes, or do you have list-specific codes? Can you tell me if the names of the codes having the problem (is it all of them?) exist anywhere else (e.g. !price on global AND !price on list 1, or on list 1 and list 2)? Have you enabled "Capitalization" on your name codes? Have you entered anything into the "Default Output" section of the name/other codes for when data is not found?
I'm going to see if I can smoke this one out now. 8)
Regards
-
Bob,
I understand and commend you on your security measures.
I have a few quick questions: Are all of your codes in Global Codes, or do you have list-specific codes? Can you tell me if the names of the codes having the problem (is it all of them?)
I haven't tested them all, but I have another custom code that inserts my sig file, and it doesn't happen with that, even in a mail where !fname DOES leave the exclamation point.
exist anywhere else (e.g. !price on global AND !price on list 1, or on list 1 and list 2)?
I only have it defined in Global Codes (although I've removed it completely for the time being)
Have you enabled "Capitalization" on your name codes?
I don't recall seeing that option, but all my codes are lowercase and in the case I've talked about in this thread, so was the word that was replaced.
Have you entered anything into the "Default Output" section of the name/other codes for when data is not found?
Not to my knowledge. I don't remember seeing that either. Is that new?
I'll have to go back and take a look. I may just have not ever used it before.
Bob
-
Three more questions:
1. Are the codes having problems actually nested inside a code of the type 'Custom Text' or are they just on their own?
2. Does the !fname code exist in more than one place? (e.g. Global AND List 1)
3. Are you sending text-only or text+HTML?
Regards
-
I apologize for this taking so long. So far I haven't been able to recreate the error. :? Would you email me (http://contact.listmailpro.com) the content of the specific followup(s) causing the problem and explain to me how the codes are (or were) set up when the error occurred?
Thanks
-
Dean,
This seems so unique that I was wondering if there was just a glitch during uploading the upgrade to v1.8 of if all the files did not get replaced... It seems so hard to replicate that maybe the installation of Bob's update is just slightly corrupt.
-
Three more questions:
1. Are the codes having problems actually nested inside a code of the type 'Custom Text' or are they just on their own?
No, they are outside any custom text, ie "Hi, !fname" at the beginning of the message, or "!fname, here's a new resource" in the subject line (without the quotes of course)
2. Does the !fname code exist in more than one place? (e.g. Global AND List 1)
No.
3. Are you sending text-only or text+HTML?
Text-only.
-
Thanks for your input Trevor - it does seem very strange and I still can't seem to recreate the issue - it must be server specific.
The message code processing is the same for all messages - so the issue shouldn't only appear in dailymail. That is, unless something in dailymail is getting in the way.
If the code !name is being replaced, without the ! then the only explanation is that this line (563, admin.php), which retrieves the "!" (keycode / $keych) from the config table is failing:
list($linkch,$keych,$lmpath,$ktr)=mysql_fetch_row(mysql_query("select linkcode,keycode,listmailpath,ktrack from $ctable where 1",$link));
For a manual fix, Bob, add a new line just under that one:
$keych = '!';
Regards
-
If the code !name is being replaced, without the ! then the only explanation is that this line (563, admin.php), which retrieves the "!" (keycode / $keych) from the config table is failing:
list($linkch,$keych,$lmpath,$ktr)=mysql_fetch_row(mysql_query("select linkcode,keycode,listmailpath,ktrack from $ctable where 1",$link));
My admin.php file from my 1.8 update archive does not have this code at line 563.
It has this:
while(list($k,$v)=each($inarr)){
if($v){
$xmsg = $v;
if($k==2) $mhtml = 1; else $mhtml = 0;
if(!$pre){
// get list title
$cmd = "select title from $ltable where listnum = '$lnum'";
$lrow = @mysql_query($cmd,$link);
if($sqldebug) echo "CMD=<b>$cmd</b><br>";
list($ltitle)=@mysql_fetch_row($lrow);
} else $ltitle = 'Preview List';
-
My system shows that line at 541. I have the same as Bob for 563.
Have there been any updates I have missed since the 'final 1.8 release'?
-
My system shows that line at 541. I have the same as Bob for 563.
Have there been any updates I have missed since the 'final 1.8 release'?
And just to clarify, I downloaded the file again this morning so I know I'm looking at the lastest. :)
Bob
-
Sorry about that, I'm using work-in-progress files. As long as you add the line I mentioned after the other line I mentioned you should be ok. If you still see "!" before the name after the code has processed then I would say you might have included the extra "!" accidentally, ie: !!fname
Regards
-
Sorry about that, I'm using work-in-progress files. As long as you add the line I mentioned after the other line I mentioned you should be ok. If you still see "!" before the name after the code has processed then I would say you might have included the extra "!" accidentally, ie: !!fname
Well of course, I know that's not the case because these are the same follow-ups I've been using for 3 years without a problem... plus, I did go check just as a super-safety measure, but I knew that wasn't it.
Bob
-
Sorry about that, I'm using work-in-progress files. As long as you add the line I mentioned after the other line I mentioned you should be ok. If you still see "!" before the name after the code has processed then I would say you might have included the extra "!" accidentally, ie: !!fname
Regards
Well the code change you gave me worked for the dailymail, but the Scheduled mail I sent out still has the extra "!". Where might I add the code to prevent that from happening in scheduled mail?
And I don't know if this tells you anything, but the mailing stopped several times (very common with my larger mailings by the way), and it SEEMS that the mail that was sent out when I "resume" does NOT give the extra "!"... ??
Bob
Bob
-
Bob,
I'm sorry to hear you're still having troubles - this is really strange. I might need access to your server to figure it out as I can't seem to recreate the error on my own installation. (Please be assured I would never touch anything unrelated to this issue) It would be handy if you could also give me instructions on how to recreate the error on a test list, though, I can probably figure it out based on what you have written here.
Regards
-
Bob,
I'm sorry to hear you're still having troubles - this is really strange. I might need access to your server to figure it out as I can't seem to recreate the error on my own installation. (Please be assured I would never touch anything unrelated to this issue) It would be handy if you could also give me instructions on how to recreate the error on a test list, though, I can probably figure it out based on what you have written here.
Regards
Yeah, and to make it even more confusing, some of the dailymail that is being sent is STILL adding the !, while other mail is not. Bizarre....
-
Despite the changes to the code, SOME people are still receiving email with the extra "!". BUT WORSE, just as the word "price" in the email was being replaced with what was the !price variable, now the word "email" is being replace with what would show with "!email" which resulted in a VERY angry person accusing me of sharing her email address with everyone on my list because it appeared in the email that obviously went to everyone!
Dean, while I'm hesitant to upload all my access information to you, I'm finding that I have no choice because this simply can't happen anymore, and it doesn't appear that I can go "backward" in my installation at this point.
On the form that you gave me to submit, what exactly is "Control Panel". Are you talking about the control panel for the entire site that my web host provides? I'm not clear why you would need anything more than my FTP and Listmail Pro directory and access information.
In any case, tell me exactly what you need, and let's get this fixed today. This is clearly affecting the relationship with my customers that I work so hard to create using this very same software!
Bob
-
What does the database know/care about the directory from which signup scripts are run, and would where they signup have ANYTHING to do with this issue?
For example, many of these people are signed up via email automatically upon enrolling in our program through your script.
The signup.php script for those who actually filled out forms has always been run from a different directory than the actual listmail pro installation...that is I had a copy of signup.php and admin.php in the directory where the form HTML was. (I don't remember exactly why I did this, and as of this morning, I'm pointing those forms back to the code in the installation directory...)
In other words...
IF I were to create an entirely NEW installation with a NEW database, and put all the code into a "mail" directory (right now it's called something else), then EXPORT my existing database, then IMPORT it into the new database, would everything still work - or work properly, that is...
Bob
-
Ok, this could be the ah-ha/breakthrough that answers it.
The CRON JOB!!
When I first set up this software 3 years ago, I sent the cron job instructions to my host admin. Those instructions were pointing to an OLD installation of the program...a listmail directory I haven't "used" in forever, but the code was still there!
Perhaps THAT is what's causing the problem? Running old code on daily mail and scheduled mail? It had just been so long that it didn't occur to me until this morning to check the cron job instructions!
Man, if this is it, a BIG flick in the head goes to me! :lol:
Bob
-
Bob,
On the form that you gave me to submit, what exactly is "Control Panel". Are you talking about the control panel for the entire site that my web host provides? I'm not clear why you would need anything more than my FTP and Listmail Pro directory and access information.
The control panel is where you manage your hosting account. From here you can set up email accounts, (possibly) MySQL databases, and other aspects of your hosting.
What does the database know/care about the directory from which signup scripts are run, and would where they signup have ANYTHING to do with this issue?
For example, many of these people are signed up via email automatically upon enrolling in our program through your script.
The signup.php script for those who actually filled out forms has always been run from a different directory than the actual listmail pro installation...that is I had a copy of signup.php and admin.php in the directory where the form HTML was. (I don't remember exactly why I did this, and as of this morning, I'm pointing those forms back to the code in the installation directory...)
The database and the directory are fairly independent - they're tied together in config.php, where you set up your database details. As long as the signup.php script exists in any directory it can subscribe users into the database configured.
Providing the user information appears correct in ListMail, it should not be a signup issue.
IF I were to create an entirely NEW installation with a NEW database, and put all the code into a "mail" directory (right now it's called something else), then EXPORT my existing database, then IMPORT it into the new database, would everything still work - or work properly, that is...
You could do this but you would lose some data as not all fields are currently supported by the Import/Export processes. I don't suspect it's a problem with your user data, the directory, or database ListMail is installed on.
When I first set up this software 3 years ago, I sent the cron job instructions to my host admin. Those instructions were pointing to an OLD installation of the program...a listmail directory I haven't "used" in forever, but the code was still there!
Perhaps THAT is what's causing the problem? Running old code on daily mail and scheduled mail? It had just been so long that it didn't occur to me until this morning to check the cron job instructions!
I am not sure if this is the problem. All of your email is being sent from the new host, correct? It should not matter which host you run the cron task on - you could run the task on an old server to point to a new server. Problems can arise if you are running 2 cron jobs on the same installation, however.
Since you mentioned running old signup scripts, I wonder if your files are all up-to-date. Can you please re-download v1.8 and upload all files in the main directory and make sure to overwrite all of them?
Another idea I have is that you may be Resuming too soon. When the page "times out" and you think there's an error, try going back into the ListMail program and browsing around. You will see a queue entry at the top of the program listing the number of remaining messages. Refresh the page or browse to another one to have it update the number of remaining messages. If this number is still decreasing you should not yet Resume mailing. I will be implementing a check for this. Perhaps when mailing it will update the database every 1 minute or so to tell ListMail that it's still running. ListMail could then prevent you from resuming queues that have responded within 1 minute. I am not certain that this can affect message codes in the manner you are experiencing, but it's an idea. :)
Regards