The CR4 Admin Blog Blog

The CR4 Admin Blog

The CR4 Admin Blog keeps you up-to-date with what's happening on CR4: The Engineer's Place for News and Discussion. Read about site updates, the site moderation team, and more.

Previous in Blog: IHS Colleagues Lead Sustainability Efforts Worldwide   Next in Blog: Happy Holidays from the CR4 Team!
Close
Close
Close
22 comments
Rate Comments: Nested

Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

Posted August 21, 2013 9:09 AM by SavvyExacta
Pathfinder Tags: posting troubleshooting

What could be more frustrating? You spend a lot of time thinking up a great reply and composing a comment only to receive an error message when you try to submit it. It's not as bad as your laptop battery dying 10 seconds before you hit 'save' on an important document, but it's close!

Here's the scoop on what we know (so far) about this problem.

What happens?

From time to time, when users try to submit posts, they see an error:

System cannot process form

Typically, hitting the back button on the browser and trying again doesn't work, either.

Why's it happening?

According to our IT department, the page is taking too long to submit the post for some reason. This causes it to time out. The action is then canceled to free up the server.

Update (10/10/13): According to IT the page to compose a post has always had a 15 minute window. After that time expires, submitting the post might not work.

What are we doing about it?

The IT department is looking into this right now. As soon as I hear back from them I'll update this post.

Update (10/10/13): IT is still looking into possible causes for failure. This may take some time so your continued patience is really appreciated. We understand your frustration - all of the CR4 admins are experiencing the same problems from time to time.

What can YOU do about it?

Unfortunately, not a whole lot at this point. Try copying and pasting any particularly long replies into Word or some other safe place. A hard refresh of your browser might help - try CTRL R. If you know it's going to take a long time to compose your post it might be a good idea to type it into Word first and then hit reply and paste it here when you're ready.

If you're unable to post, wait a few minutes and try again. I've noticed that the post will almost always be successful a little later. I know that even 30 seconds can seem like an eternity when you've got an idea for a great new KrisDel or LynDoor invention, but try to have a little patience.

I hope that we can get this fixed ASAP. I know it's been a big inconvenience for the past month or so. Thanks for sticking with us while we get things fixed. Your patience is appreciated!

You can help keep us in the loop by sharing a comment letting us know whenever you experience the error. (When you're able to submit a comment again, that is!) Please post your info here so it's all in one place: http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/86366

Reply

Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.
Guru

Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: South of Minot North Dakota
Posts: 8376
Good Answers: 775
#1

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/21/2013 11:12 AM

"The IT department is looking into this right now. As soon as I hear back from them I'll update this post."

Yep the IT dept has its top two techs working on it right now and they will get back to you as soon as they have it figured out.

Reply
Guru
United States - Member - Lifelong New Yorker Popular Science - Biology - Animal Science Technical Fields - Technical Writing - Technical Writer

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NY
Posts: 2313
Good Answers: 59
#2
In reply to #1

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/21/2013 11:33 AM

That looks about right.

Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 595
#11
In reply to #1

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/22/2013 9:21 AM

(they're) ERRORHUNTING

__________________
ci139
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Earth - I think.
Posts: 2143
Good Answers: 165
#3

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/21/2013 12:34 PM

I haven't had a problem with posting. But then again, my attention span is too short to make a long -

Ohh look! A butterfly!

__________________
TANSTAAFL (If you don't know what that means, Google it - yourself)
Reply
Guru
Hobbies - RC Aircraft - New Member Hobbies - Automotive Performance - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fort Lauderdale Florida
Posts: 5708
Good Answers: 123
#4

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/21/2013 5:38 PM

I was experiencing the problem for days.

No amount of alcohol would solve the problem.

__________________
Bob
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 8006
Good Answers: 286
#5
In reply to #4

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/21/2013 7:53 PM

Blasphemer!

.

You should be taken out back and given shots.

.

(I suspect your heretical hypothesis simply wasn't tested sufficiently to reveal where it breaks down.)

__________________
Eternal vigilance is the price of knowledge. - George Santayana
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member Netherlands - Member - New Member Fans of Old Computers - Commodore 64 - New Member

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Japan
Posts: 2703
Good Answers: 38
#6

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/21/2013 9:02 PM

Well if you have a large post, instead of CTRL-R, use CTRL-A on the text and then CTRL-C, so when CTRL-R doesn't work, you can use CTRL-V to try again.

__________________
From the Movie "The Big Lebowski" Don't pee on the carpet man!
Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 145
Good Answers: 5
#7

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/22/2013 4:28 AM

I was suspecting that the server is timing out while the post is being composed. Any how, I select all/highlight and copy my posting Ctrl + A, Ctrl + C (Cmd + A, Cmd + C), back up to the reply button, hit reply and paste Ctrl + V (Cmd + V), preview and submit.

Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 145
Good Answers: 5
#8

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/22/2013 4:28 AM

I was suspecting that the server is timing out while the post is being composed. Any how, I select all/highlight and copy my posting Ctrl + A, Ctrl + C (Cmd + A, Cmd + C), back up to the reply button, hit reply and paste Ctrl + V (Cmd + V), preview and submit.

Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 145
Good Answers: 5
#9

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/22/2013 4:30 AM

I was suspecting that the server is timing out while the post is being composed. Any how, I select all/highlight and copy my posting Ctrl + A, Ctrl + C (Cmd + A, Cmd + C), back up to the reply button refresh, re hit reply and paste Ctrl + V (Cmd + V), preview and submit.

Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 145
Good Answers: 5
#10

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/22/2013 4:31 AM

I was suspecting that the server is timing out while the post is being composed. Any how, I select all/highlight and copy my posting Ctrl + A, Ctrl + C (Cmd + A, Cmd + C), back up to the reply button refresh, re hit reply and paste Ctrl + V (Cmd + V), preview and submit.

Reply
Guru

Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 573
Good Answers: 5
#12

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/22/2013 11:19 AM

Yes, it appears to be a timeout issue. Once I realized it, I got the copy and paste to work the very first time!

Reply
Guru

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Metro.Manila, Philippines.
Posts: 1269
Good Answers: 27
#13

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/22/2013 2:37 PM

What I found that always resolves that problem of posting a reply is, to copy the supposedly reply, (right-click mouse then copy), open a new page for a new reply, then paste the copied response to the new spot provided, preview then post.. So far it always works!

__________________
vsar
Reply
Guru
Safety - Hazmat - New Member Engineering Fields - Retired Engineers / Mentors - New Member Engineering Fields - Piping Design Engineering - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member Fans of Old Computers - PDP 11 - New Member

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Stronger Than The Storm
Posts: 2394
Good Answers: 203
#14

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/23/2013 11:46 PM

It is the timing. You are taking too long. How long is too long, I don't know. The way I get around it is the following:

Enter your post in the normal way, just as I am doing now. Open up Microsoft word, or any other word processor, into a half screen window (don't do anything with it yet). Left mouse on the "Preview Comment" as you normally would. Now comes the solution---

1) highlight all of you post in the preview section and right mouse "copy".

2) move the mouse pointer over to the word processor (WP) blank page, right mouse and "paste" the test into the WP. Now you see your text in the WP.

3) move back (top left arrow for IE) to the original blank page for the original post.

4) highlight all the text in the WP, holding the left mouse key down "drag" it over to the original blank entry section. As you do this you will see a small arrow and square while you are in the entry box.

5) lift up the left mouse key and the text is now back in the original entry section of the CR4 but in a negative image. Right mouse over any blank space within the box and it changes back to the way you want it. You are back where you started and in only a minute or two.

6) If you want to save your entry, go back to the WP, left arrow the counter-clockwise arrow at the header and the text reappears. Save it to the location on your disk where you want it.

This may seem like a lot to do but it is short, 1-2 minutes, and solves the problem. The reason why this works is that the timer resets when you go back to the original blank entry screen. Also when you have the text in the WP, use the spell checker in it. It is much more thorough than the CR4 spell check.

Because of the time I have used up writing this I will probably have to do the short procedure to enter this comment.

Good Luck, Old Salt

__________________
Any day on the green side of the grass is a GREAT DAY!, --- me +++++++++. I believe creativity is an inherent part of everyone. --- Kermit T. Frog
Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 145
Good Answers: 5
#15

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/26/2013 9:52 AM

test

Reply
Guru
Hobbies - RC Aircraft - New Member Hobbies - Automotive Performance - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fort Lauderdale Florida
Posts: 5708
Good Answers: 123
#16

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/26/2013 11:42 AM

Still SNAFU.

__________________
Bob
Reply
Guru
Safety - Hazmat - New Member Engineering Fields - Retired Engineers / Mentors - New Member Engineering Fields - Piping Design Engineering - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member Fans of Old Computers - PDP 11 - New Member

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Stronger Than The Storm
Posts: 2394
Good Answers: 203
#17
In reply to #16

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/26/2013 12:09 PM

See #14

Try doing it that way, it only takes a minute or 2.

You can skip #1-3 if you write your reply in a word processor. Then do #4.

i.e. write it in a WP, highlight it and drag it to the empty CR4 reply rectangle. Change from "negative" by pushing left mouse key on the rectangle.

Do what you normally do from there on.

Since doing this I have always been able to post a reply that took long to complete.

Try It, You May Like It! Certainly better than other alternatives

Good Luck, Old Salt

__________________
Any day on the green side of the grass is a GREAT DAY!, --- me +++++++++. I believe creativity is an inherent part of everyone. --- Kermit T. Frog
Reply
Guru
Hobbies - RC Aircraft - New Member Hobbies - Automotive Performance - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fort Lauderdale Florida
Posts: 5708
Good Answers: 123
#18
In reply to #17

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/26/2013 12:26 PM

Do what I normally do????

Drool down the side of my face, and pi$$ off everyone around me?

What I have been doing is just Copy and paste to a new reply a few min later. Seemed to work today. Thanks though. If it keeps up I'll try that. Bob.

__________________
Bob
Reply
Guru
Safety - Hazmat - New Member Engineering Fields - Retired Engineers / Mentors - New Member Engineering Fields - Piping Design Engineering - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member Fans of Old Computers - PDP 11 - New Member

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Stronger Than The Storm
Posts: 2394
Good Answers: 203
#19
In reply to #18

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/26/2013 5:54 PM

I usually go the "Preview Comment" section but you can do anything you like.

I like the WP spell checker better than the CR4 one, since Spelling wasn't one of my stellar performances in my educational enlightenments. Much better at math and science, football, basketball, hooky, looking at certain young ladies, mischief, drinking while underage, and other sophomoric endeavors.

Good Luck, Old Salt

__________________
Any day on the green side of the grass is a GREAT DAY!, --- me +++++++++. I believe creativity is an inherent part of everyone. --- Kermit T. Frog
Reply
Guru
Hobbies - RC Aircraft - New Member Hobbies - Automotive Performance - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fort Lauderdale Florida
Posts: 5708
Good Answers: 123
#20
In reply to #19

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

08/29/2013 12:18 PM

I like the WP spell checker better than the CR4 one, since Spelling wasn't one of my stellar performances in my educational enlightenments. Much better at math and science, football, basketball, hooky, looking at certain young ladies, mischief, drinking while underage, and other sophomoric endeavors.

I havn't figgured out how to use a different spell checker in CR4 yet cause I need to add "computer skills" to my list of my setllar performances, in addition to your above mentioned speelin.

__________________
Bob
Reply
Guru
Engineering Fields - Power Engineering - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: NYC metropolitan area.
Posts: 3230
Good Answers: 444
#21

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

09/04/2013 12:04 PM

I'll give your IT guys/gals a clue, it all started right after you announced an outage to install a "new and improved" version of the software a few months ago, never saw the error before that, now every one of my posts is "timeout" bait. Seems we've all danced to that tune before.

__________________
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” Ben Franklin.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: by the beach in Florida
Posts: 33392
Good Answers: 1817
#22

Re: Having Trouble Posting? About the “System cannot process form” Error

12/23/2013 9:48 AM

It might have something to do with the cookies setting on peoples browser...or not...My workaround is if it's taken more than a minute to compose a reply, I highlight and copy the post, if post fails I hit the back button on the browser until I'm at the page with the post I'm replying to, 3 times I think, hit reply again and paste the post....If there is a picture included, it is sometimes blown out of proportion, I highlight and hit the space bar to erase the pic, and repaste the pic from original source....

__________________
All living things seek to control their own destiny....this is the purpose of life
Reply
Reply to Blog Entry 22 comments
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

bob c (4); ci139 (1); Epke (1); garyrich2000 (5); Kilowatt0 (1); old salt (3); Passerby (1); RAMConsult (1); SavvyExacta (1); SolarEagle (1); tcmtech (1); truth is not a compromise (1); vsar (1)

Previous in Blog: IHS Colleagues Lead Sustainability Efforts Worldwide   Next in Blog: Happy Holidays from the CR4 Team!

Advertisement