My project thread can no longer be edited.

[anonymous74]

I'm currently working on a project to install every build of Windows Vista in VMware. I took a break for a couple of weeks, and when I came back I noticed that I could no longer edit the post in the thread where I update the builds that I have installed. I've seen in other threads that this is intentional, and it is to prevent a post from having its content removed, which makes sense. I was wondering since this is a different case whether this can be changed for my thread? If not, should I just copy the contents into a new thread and start over? Thank you.

Here is a link to my thread: viewtopic.php?t=42342

[ATeamInc]

If I'm not mistaken, you're not allowed to edit posts that are about 1 month old or more.

This was done because back at the day (~2008) many people were editing their posts and placing some kind of garbage phrase when they were banned or something.

[Win7]

If I'm not mistaken, you're not allowed to edit posts that are about 1 month old or more.

This was done because back at the day (~2008) many people were editing their posts and placing some kind of garbage phrase when they were banned or something.

Actually this policy was enforced no earlier than four, maybe five, years ago, after one of the users, who wanted to delete his account, proceeded to edit all of his posts replacing their content with a [deleted] tag...

Win7

[x010]

I'm currently working on a project to install every build of Windows Vista in VMware. I took a break for a couple of weeks, and when I came back I noticed that I could no longer edit the post in the thread where I update the builds that I have installed. I've seen in other threads that this is intentional, and it is to prevent a post from having its content removed, which makes sense. I was wondering since this is a different case whether this can be changed for my thread? If not, should I just copy the contents into a new thread and start over? Thank you.

Here is a link to my thread: viewtopic.php?t=42342

It's automatic and role-based. Whether this can be lifted for you is not something I am sure, because from my end the post is set as unlocked. I don't like the idea of copying the contents to a new thread, but if nothing else, that can be done and we can move the comments over as well.

[ATeamInc]

If I'm not mistaken, you're not allowed to edit posts that are about 1 month old or more.

This was done because back at the day (~2008) many people were editing their posts and placing some kind of garbage phrase when they were banned or something.

Actually this policy was enforced no earlier than four, maybe five, years ago, after one of the users, who wanted to delete his account, proceeded to edit all of his posts replacing their content with a [deleted] tag...

Win7

Of course this is not from just one user. These kinds of things existed since at least the timeframe I mentioned. Maybe it was the last straw, sure.

[anonymous74]

Thanks for the reply! I don't want to cause anyone any trouble, so do whatever is easiest for you.

[Andy]

Unfortunately there is no way to override this on a per-user basis or I would enable that ability for you. I will discuss if we can remove or at least extend the limit board wide as this was only put in place several years ago after a bout of people editing their posts.

We could also get you to make a new post and we could merge the original into it.

[x010]

Unfortunately there is no way to override this on a per-user basis or I would enable that ability for you. I will discuss if we can remove or at least extend the limit board wide as this was only put in place several years ago after a bout of people editing their posts.

We could also get you to make a new post and we could merge the original into it.

I would prefer this limit be retained in general, because we do have cases where users try to delete posts by removing their contents from time to time.

[Darkstar]

Unfortunately there is no way to override this on a per-user basis or I would enable that ability for you. I will discuss if we can remove or at least extend the limit board wide as this was only put in place several years ago after a bout of people editing their posts.

We could also get you to make a new post and we could merge the original into it.

I would prefer this limit be retained in general, because we do have cases where users try to delete posts by removing their contents from time to time.

The "real" solution to this would be daily backups and/or the ability to rollback any user's edits by admins. This would have saved all the content by that individual back when it happened, and it would have removed the need for putting this arbitrary lock in place which now only annoys everyone else, while said individual has long since left BA

[x010]

Unfortunately there is no way to override this on a per-user basis or I would enable that ability for you. I will discuss if we can remove or at least extend the limit board wide as this was only put in place several years ago after a bout of people editing their posts.

We could also get you to make a new post and we could merge the original into it.

I would prefer this limit be retained in general, because we do have cases where users try to delete posts by removing their contents from time to time.

The "real" solution to this would be daily backups and/or the ability to rollback any user's edits by admins. This would have saved all the content by that individual back when it happened, and it would have removed the need for putting this arbitrary lock in place which now only annoys everyone else, while said individual has long since left BA

If this was the wiki I'd agree with you, but I don't think the forum has an option to store editing history (at least not without a mod). And backups are nice, but they are a pain to restore and cause the loss of other users' edits.

[Darkstar]

...

If this was the wiki I'd agree with you, but I don't think the forum has an option to store editing history (at least not without a mod). And backups are nice, but they are a pain to restore and cause the loss of other users' edits.

Of course you should not simply restore the backup. But you can restore the database file, and use two simple SQL queries to find the blanked content in the production db, pull the corresponding posts from the backup db, then restore it with a third SQL query. Takes maybe 30 minutes (at least that's how something like this usually takes me when I have to restore production data in an MSSQL database )

[anonymous74]

I'll leave you all to sort this out, but I'm fine with whatever you decide. I would really have to get in gear to make sure I don't let 30 days lapse again if a new topic is what you decide.

[Darkstar]

Here is another recent example of how one person, acting in bad faith, can sabotage the discussion for dozens of other users by getting random threads locked.

Why a random thread getting locked is preferred to that individual being banned is beyond me

[anonymous74]

Are there any updates on this? I want to get started with my project once again.

[x010]

Are there any updates on this? I want to get started with my project once again.

So I took a look at this, but unfortunately the answer is that you don't have much of a choice, unless Andy overrides the 30-day posting limit (which I cannot do). His alternative method of splitting/merging will not work because phpBB sorts the posts in a topic, and there is no way to override that or to change the date of a post.

There's an alternative however - if you want, you can create a page on the wiki as your post (say User:Anonymous74/topic_Name) and I'll link it to here from the old post that you cannot edit. The wiki is not subject to any 30-day posting requirement.

[anonymous74]

Thank you for the time you've put into this. I think the wiki solution should work fine. Don't I have to sign up separately though? I'll have to figure that out tomorrow.

[x010]

Thank you for the time you've put into this. I think the wiki solution should work fine. Don't I have to sign up separately though? I'll have to figure that out tomorrow.

Yes, you do have to sign up separately at this time (which is straightforward). The only thing you'll need to be aware are the wiki-specific requirements (we do not use the forum's image uploader, and Screenshot Gallery categorisation is needed). Once you've created a wiki account, just upload images like you'd do at any MediaWiki installation (that is, Special:Upload). Let me know if there are any issues.

[anonymous74]

I’m not at all experienced with MediaWiki and how it works, but I should be able to figure it out. I’ll let you know when I do get everything moved over so you can edit the link onto the post. Thanks again for all your help during this, I appreciate it a ton!

[anonymous74]

I've finally gotten my page formatted enough that I'm ready for you to make the edit to the post on my original thread.
You can add "All further progress on my project can be found on (link)this(link) page on the BA Wiki. Any further screenshots are in a new reply at the bottom of the thread due to the 30 day post edit limit" to the top of the thread.

Thanks for all the help X010 on getting this sorted out and moved over to the Wiki. And thanks for the formatting assistance!

[x010]

I've finally gotten my page formatted enough that I'm ready for you to make the edit to the post on my original thread.
You can add "All further progress on my project can be found on (link)this(link) page on the BA Wiki. Any further screenshots are in a new reply at the bottom of the thread due to the 30 day post edit limit" to the top of the thread.

Thanks for all the help X010 on getting this sorted out and moved over to the Wiki. And thanks for the formatting assistance!

Done. That being said, you can also upload the screenshots in the same page on the wiki - the process isn't much different and will allow you to put it all in one page.