Hi all. I've been working on trying to set up my BBS on a different box as the box it's currently on ... well it's tired and needs a rest :)
Anyway I started by copying the entire contents of c:\sbbs over, then I downloaded and extracted the update .zip to update from 3.16c to 3.18b.
Going through things everything seems fine except when I try to read any of the text files in the text files area nothing comes up.

So I went to the synchronet control panel -> BBS -> configure -> Text File Sections and as soon as I select that the scfg.exe blows up with a very unhelpful error message:

"scfg.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

It then wants to send an error report to microsoft. I looked at the technical data in the report (without sending it) but I didn't see anything useful such as an exception message or type or stack trace or anything. Any ideas?

p.s. I also have tried running the old version (3.16c) on this box and the text files section works fine and I can access that area of the configuration but there are issues with some door games. These door game issues don't show up on the current (old) box, however upgrading to 3.18b does fix the door game issues so that's why I'd prefer to get 3.18b working.

---
þ Synchronet þ MutinyBBS.com port 2332
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Text files not working?
By: Divarin to All on Wed Jan 13 2021 08:20:03

So I went to the synchronet control panel -> BBS -> configure -> Text File Sections and as soon as I select that the scfg.exe blows up with a very unhelpful error message:

"scfg.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for th inconvenience."

A little update on this, I found out this is happening not just with selecting Text File Sections but from any part of the scfg.exe program. Such as when I try to enter External Programs, Nodes, System, Networks, etc...

I guess I could try a clean install of the latest version but it seems like it would be a pretty big hassle to get it back the way I want with my modified ansis, files, message bases (complete with messages), and doors etc... that's why I went with the update instead.

---
þ Synchronet þ MutinyBBS.com port 2332
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Text files not working?
By: Divarin to All on Wed Jan 13 2021 08:20 am

Hi all. I've been working on trying to set up my BBS on a different box as the box it's currently on ... well it's tired and needs a rest :)
Anyway I started by copying the entire contents of c:\sbbs over, then I downloaded and extracted the update .zip to update from 3.16c to 3.18b. Going through things everything seems fine except when I try to read any of the text files in the text files area nothing comes up.

You need to run "jsexec update" to migrate the text file section indexes to the v3.18 format.

So I went to the synchronet control panel -> BBS -> configure -> Text File Sections and as soon as I select that the scfg.exe blows up with a very unhelpful error message:

"scfg.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

It then wants to send an error report to microsoft. I looked at the technical data in the report (without sending it) but I didn't see anything useful such as an exception message or type or stack trace or anything.
Any ideas?

Not off hand. It definitely sounds like a bug. Perhaps you could try a current development build (v3.18c) and see if you still get that error. If you do, the following would be helpful:
*exactly* when does the error happen, immediately after choosing "Text File Sections" from the main SCFG menu or after further selection of a specific text file section?

I saw in a follow-up message where you stated that all the SCFG sub-menus are crashing on you. Are you running SCFG in a very large text window or some other unusual configuration? Can you also try with the various "-i" command-line options to possibly narrow this down to a specific output mode that exhibits the problem?

p.s. I also have tried running the old version (3.16c) on this box and the text files section works fine and I can access that area of the configuration but there are issues with some door games. These door game issues don't show up on the current (old) box, however upgrading to 3.18b does fix the door game issues so that's why I'd prefer to get 3.18b working.

"jsexec update". :-)
--
digital man

This Is Spinal Tap quote #27:
As long as there's, y'know, sex and drugs, I can do without the rock and roll. Norco, CA WX: 73.8øF, 16.0% humidity, 1 mph WSW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Text files not working?
By: Divarin to All on Wed Jan 13 2021 11:26 am

A little update on this, I found out this is happening not just with selecting Text File Sections but from any part of the scfg.exe program.
Such as when I try to enter External Programs, Nodes, System, Networks, etc...

I guess I could try a clean install of the latest version but it seems like it would be a pretty big hassle to get it back the way I want with my modified ansis, files, message bases (complete with messages), and doors etc... that's why I went with the update instead.

It does not sound like any known bug in v3.18b, but it would be worth trying a recent development build (v3.18c) to see if the bug is still there:
http://wiki.synchro.net/install:dev
--
digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #49:
Synchronet program was named 'sbbs' instead of 'sync' to avoid conflict w/Unix. Norco, CA WX: 73.8øF, 16.0% humidity, 1 mph WSW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Text files not working?
By: Digital Man to Divarin on Wed Jan 13 2021 11:08:41

Okay I ran jsexec update.js and that got the text files section working again. I updated to 3.18c but the issues in scfg are still there. I also tried the various interface modes but the behavior is the same.
For simplicity I'll step through the program using -iD (standard i/o)
1: Nodes
This sub-menu seems to work fine
2: System
Reading xtrn.cnf ...
(crash)
3: Networks
This sub-menu seems to work fine
4: File Areas
Reading file.cnf ...
(crash)
5: File Options
Reading file.cnf ...
(crash)
6: Chat Features
Reading char.cnf ...
(crash)
7: Message Areas
This sub-menu seems to work fine
8: Message Options
This sub-menu seems to work fine
9: Command Shells
This sub-menu seems to work fine
10: External Programs
Reading xtrn.cnf ...
(crash)
11: Text File Sections
Reading file.cnf ...
(crash)

So it's not all areas after-all but a lot of them. I've taken a look at file.cnf, chat.cnf, and xtrn.cnf and they appear identical to the ones in the older (working) backup (same date/time stamp and size) I haven't run a crc check on them but at first glance they appear the same.

---
þ Synchronet þ MutinyBBS.com port 2332
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Text files not working?
By: Divarin to Digital Man on Thu Jan 14 2021 07:47 am

Re: Text files not working?
By: Digital Man to Divarin on Wed Jan 13 2021 11:08:41

Okay I ran jsexec update.js and that got the text files section working again. I updated to 3.18c but the issues in scfg are still there. I also tried the various interface modes but the behavior is the same.
For simplicity I'll step through the program using -iD (standard i/o)
1: Nodes
This sub-menu seems to work fine
2: System
Reading xtrn.cnf ...
(crash)
3: Networks
This sub-menu seems to work fine
4: File Areas
Reading file.cnf ...
(crash)
5: File Options
Reading file.cnf ...
(crash)
6: Chat Features
Reading char.cnf ...
(crash)
7: Message Areas
This sub-menu seems to work fine
8: Message Options
This sub-menu seems to work fine
9: Command Shells
This sub-menu seems to work fine
10: External Programs
Reading xtrn.cnf ...
(crash)
11: Text File Sections
Reading file.cnf ...
(crash)

So it's not all areas after-all but a lot of them. I've taken a look at file.cnf, chat.cnf, and xtrn.cnf and they appear identical to the ones in the older (working) backup (same date/time stamp and size) I haven't run a crc check on them but at first glance they appear the same.

Do you mind sending me an archive of your ctrl/*.cnf files? Best to ftp to vert.synchro.net/incoming or email them to me to keep any sensitive information protected. If I can reproduce it, I can fix it. It definitely sounds like something (a bug) that is being triggered by the content of your .cnf files.
--
digital man

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #38:
HTTP = Hypertext Transfer Protocol
Norco, CA WX: 64.1øF, 29.0% humidity, 2 mph SW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
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Re: Text files not working?
By: Digital Man to Divarin on Thu Jan 14 2021 10:52:44

Do you mind sending me an archive of your ctrl/*.cnf files? Best to ftp to vert.synchro.net/incoming or email them to me to keep any sensitive informat --
digital man

Sure I'll e-mail the zip to you, thanks

---
þ Synchronet þ MutinyBBS.com port 2332
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Text files not working?
By: Divarin to Digital Man on Fri Jan 15 2021 07:02 am

Re: Text files not working?
By: Digital Man to Divarin on Thu Jan 14 2021 10:52:44

Do you mind sending me an archive of your ctrl/*.cnf files? Best to ftp to vert.synchro.net/incoming or email them to me to keep any sensitive informat --

Sure I'll e-mail the zip to you, thanks

Some problem with the attachment. Please try again?
--
digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #49:
Synchronet program was named 'sbbs' instead of 'sync' to avoid conflict w/Unix. Norco, CA WX: 64.1øF, 29.0% humidity, 2 mph SW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Text files not working?
By: Divarin to All on Wed Jan 13 2021 08:20:03

After upgrading, did you recompile all of your scripts?
-+-

Lupine Furmen
-Dallas Vinson
Furmens Folly (FIDO 1:123/257) - telnet: furmenservices.net:23
SSH: furmenservices.net:23222
Before the Web - telnet: furmenservices.net:23232
Legends of Yesteryear (FIDO 1:123/256) - telnet: furmenservices.net:23322
Sound Source ]|[ - telnet: furmenservices.net:2323



Dallas

... Universal suffrage is the government of a house by its nursery.

---
þ Synchronet þ Furmen's Folly - furmenservices.net:23
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Re: Text files not working?
By: Digital Man to Divarin on Thu Jan 14 2021 10:52 am

Re: Text files not working?
By: Divarin to Digital Man on Thu Jan 14 2021 07:47 am

Re: Text files not working?
By: Digital Man to Divarin on Wed Jan 13 2021 11:08:41

Okay I ran jsexec update.js and that got the text files section working again. I updated to 3.18c but the issues in scfg are still there. I also tried the various interface modes but the behavior is the same.
For simplicity I'll step through the program using -iD (standard i/o)
1: Nodes
This sub-menu seems to work fine
2: System
Reading xtrn.cnf ...
(crash)
3: Networks
This sub-menu seems to work fine
4: File Areas
Reading file.cnf ...
(crash)
5: File Options
Reading file.cnf ...
(crash)
6: Chat Features
Reading char.cnf ...
(crash)
7: Message Areas
This sub-menu seems to work fine
8: Message Options
This sub-menu seems to work fine
9: Command Shells
This sub-menu seems to work fine
10: External Programs
Reading xtrn.cnf ...
(crash)
11: Text File Sections
Reading file.cnf ...
(crash)

So it's not all areas after-all but a lot of them. I've taken a look at file.cnf, chat.cnf, and xtrn.cnf and they appear identical to the ones in the older (working) backup (same date/time stamp and size) I haven't run a crc check on them but at first glance they appear the same.

Do you mind sending me an archive of your ctrl/*.cnf files? Best to ftp to vert.synchro.net/incoming or email them to me to keep any sensitive information protected. If I can reproduce it, I can fix it. It definitely sounds like something (a bug) that is being triggered by the content of your .cnf files.

Thanks for sending the config files. Unfortunately, it's not crashing here: [Configure]
1: Nodes
2: System
3: Networks
4: File Areas
5: File Options
6: Chat Features
7: Message Areas
8: Message Options
9: Command Shells
10: External Programs
11: Text File Sections

Which (Help or Quit): 11

[Text File Sections]
1: ANSI Artwork
2: Zines
3: Mutiny Docs

Which (Help, Copy, X-Cut, Add, Delete or Quit):

I went through all the SCFG sub-menus using your config files and could not trigger a crash.

It's most likely the same cause, regardless of which sub-menu is crashing, even though it looks like a different .cnf file is being read for different crashes. It's interesting that sbbs v3.18 is running fine with those same configuration files? And other v3.18 utilities, such as jsexec, which read those same configuration files using the same source code (or library functions) are working fine? Very curious. I'll try it on Linux here and see if I can trigger a crash there or maybe run it under valgrind.

Are you passing any other command-line arguments to SCFG?

I wonder if you copy your sbbs/ctrl directory to another path (e.g. /test/ctrl) and then pass that path on the command-line to SCFG (e.g. "scfg -id /test/ctrl"), do you encounter the same crashes?
--
digital man

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #18:
DCD = Data Carrier Detect
Norco, CA WX: 64.1øF, 29.0% humidity, 2 mph SW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
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Re: Text files not working?
By: Digital Man to Divarin on Sat Jan 16 2021 12:37 pm

Are you passing any other command-line arguments to SCFG?

I wonder if you copy your sbbs/ctrl directory to another path (e.g. /test/ctrl) and then pass that path on the command-line to SCFG (e.g. "scfg -id /test/ctrl"), do you encounter the same crashes?

No I wasn't using any other command-line arguments.
I tried copying the ctrl directory to c:\test\ctrl and ran c:\sbbbs\exec\scfg.exe -id \test\ctrl but it had the same behavior.

I also tried running the scfg from the old version against this copy of ctrl (from the new version) and it did not crash so although the contents of the ctrl directory may be the cause in some way the old version of scfg doesn't seem to have an issue with any of the files in this directory while the new one does.
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Text files not working?
By: Divarin to Digital Man on Sun Jan 17 2021 03:22 am

Re: Text files not working?
By: Digital Man to Divarin on Sat Jan 16 2021 12:37 pm

Are you passing any other command-line arguments to SCFG?

I wonder if you copy your sbbs/ctrl directory to another path (e.g. /test/ctrl) and then pass that path on the command-line to SCFG (e.g. "scfg -id /test/ctrl"), do you encounter the same crashes?

No I wasn't using any other command-line arguments.
I tried copying the ctrl directory to c:\test\ctrl and ran c:\sbbbs\exec\scfg.exe -id \test\ctrl but it had the same behavior.

Okay, thanks for the test.

I also tried running the scfg from the old version against this copy of ctrl (from the new version) and it did not crash so although the contents of the ctrl directory may be the cause in some way the old version of scfg doesn't seem to have an issue with any of the files in this directory while the new one does.

Hopefully that debug version of scfg shed's some light. I have not been able to reproduce any crash using your ctrl directory contents on Windows 10 or Linux. I'll try again on Windows 7 and possibly XP. Did you try any other versions of Windows by chance?
--
digital man

This Is Spinal Tap quote #36:
Bobbi Flekman: Money talks, and bullshit walks.
Norco, CA WX: 64.1øF, 29.0% humidity, 2 mph SW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
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