PROBLEM WITH VIEWING IMAGES

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:15 am

Hi Cathie

I've given Java a go and it seems fine, no probs so far. Direct Download also works fine. My daughter (clever girl) suggested I log into my account from another computer (not hers of course - can't be too careful).

I tried viewing with ActiveX and had the same problem. The two computers are networked but no clue if that would make a difference? Anyway before I reply to SP I'm going to try a third, unrelated computer tomorrow. The computer I have earmarked is new and completely unmolested, so should not yet be affected by me footering with controls, automatic updates or UFOs.

In the long run it matters not a jot to me how I view the images, so long as it works - I'm just worred I might be socked for credits then locked out

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:08 am

Hmmmm........

Ain't 'puters wonderful

What would we do without them, especially in terms of genealogical research

Aye weel, I might retain my hair

From the ScotlandonLine response it certainly sounds as if something out there, quite possibly an automatic Windows upgrade/patch could have led to the situation, as I have problems imagining any other cause of a good number of people experiencing an identical problem, i.e. it's highly unlikely that a significant number of folk would have changed their set-up in an identical manner at the same time.

I have, on one previous occasion, experienced the problem with SP of not being able to view "new" images, but with no problems in viewing previously viewed images. This was when my pop-up blocker, for whatever, still unknown reason, decided to regard the SP "do you realise that this is going to cost you yet another 5 credits

" message as a pop-up, and therefore, quite correctly, blocked it

The solution in that case, was to clear the cookies and the InterNet Explorer history, and all then worked as before.............

What the consequences might be in terms of other set-ups, e.g. Mac and/or other browsers I'm not competent to comment on.

I for one have long argued that there should be a section on SP relating to such technical problems advising customers of such possible problems, but I can't see anything current relating to this issue on the SP site.

If SP are now saying "We have started to notice that users of Microsoft Internet Explorer have been recently having problems viewing images on our website by using our ActiveX control" then it can be assumed that there are many more folk experiencing this problem than are actually reporting it to SP, so why the heck not put a notice to the same effect on the site

Communications

communications

but then I'm just a lone voice crying in the wildnerness, or so it seems

David

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:09 pm

I use IE6 in my winxp. Today is the 1st day where I've been having real problems viewing images. All I'm trying to do is view previous searches, that takes me to the records and after I click on the 'view paid' it just hangs there. I've cleared my cache.

I'll try again later tonight and see if its any better.

dennis

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:11 pm

Dennis wrote:I use IE6 in my winxp. Today is the 1st day where I've been having real problems viewing images. All I'm trying to do is view previous searches, that takes me to the records and after I click on the 'view paid' it just hangs there. I've cleared my cache.

I'll try again later tonight and see if its any better.

dennis

Dennis

If the problem doesn't clear please report it to SP.

In any case, please keepus informed !

Thanks

David

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:59 pm

I've sent a reply to Dave at SP as follows :

"Thanks for the suggestions. Although my problem was originally with new downloads, I now have problems on ActiveX even with previously viewed images. I'm not seeing a small square - I see the header and the set of squares on the left of the screen. The next thing to appear should be the image, but three "green squares" into the download the whole thing hangs. I have changed my settings to Java which is fine, but I've not as yet tried to download new images with it.

I have tried opening previously viewed images with ActiveX on two other computers, one of which is a couple of months old with very little internet use behind it, no automatic updates, and I still got the same problem on both machines.

Sorry to keep whining on about it, but it seems it's not only me, and not only my computer. I'm sure you're as anxious to resolve the problem as your customers - if you need me to be more specific please let me know."

As I said I would, I did try on another two computers, same problem. I tried at work today - for sure I'm the only one using that machine, so I know it's history of footering with the dials - none. If automatic updates turn out to be the culprit, then I'm sure there are more technical minds than mine, either in cyberspace/Microsoft or SP who will know about it.

DaveWW - I quite agree with you about communication (sorry if my suggestion that "I'm not bothered what I use" seemed like I didn't care whether they fix the problem - I sure do care! At the very least, if there is potentially a problem with ActiveX there should be a notice to that effect. Also, don't know if it's "cos I's fick", but till all this started I didn't realise there were three viewing methods -without an explanation of what was involved with each, I'm not in a position to make an informed choice anyway!

Will keep you posted on any response. I must find some new information to download and see what happens.

Best foot forward !
Pinkshoes

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:18 pm

Best foot forward !

For "Pinkshoes", what else

$\:D/$

David

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:23 pm

Aye - pink wellies would be more appropriate tonight! It's like November here - hope the sun's shining in the Lothians as I'm up for a visit next weekend!

[-o<

Regards
Wet Feet

CatrionaL · Post by **CatrionaL** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:57 pm

David

Thought it might be useful to know. I have WinXP, have had an update in the past day or so and had no problem viewing and downloading an image from SP this evening.

Catriona

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:21 am

When I went back there about an hour ago all seemed well. I could look at the previous searches and then view the paid ones fine.

Sometimes I wonder about the amount of traffic.

dennis

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:59 pm

Hi again
Received this reply today from SP :

Thanks for getting back to us. I have been speaking to our application
developement team and can confirm that nothing has changed recently about
the site, the servers the site is hosted on, the data, the activeX control
or its certificate. There are a number of customer's who have, in the last
ten, days started having problems with using activeX and we are eager to try
to help them solve their problem. It should be noted that we have hundreds
of thousands of users most of whom use activeX and only a few dozen have
experienced this problem. I have been trying myself to uninstall and
reinstall the ActiveX control with different security settings and have only
been able to temporarily reproduce this problem. I believe I may have found
a work around to fix this issue although it is a little lengthy. I notice
you have switched to Java to enable you to see our images but, if you want,
you could try the following fix to get ActiveX working again:

The following are instructions on how to manually register the ActiveX
control for Scotlands People:

- Close all Internet Explorer windows
- Open one new Internet Exporer window and go to 'www.google.com'
- Click on the 'Tools' menu then 'Internet Options'
- Click on 'Settings' under 'Temporary Internet files'
- Click on 'View Objects...'
- This should open a window titled 'Downloaded Program Files'
- There should be a file called 'ViewDirector Object'
- (if this file does not exist then skip the next 3 steps)
- Highlight this file and then press Delete on the keyboard
- You will be asked if you want to permanently delete this file
- Click on Yes
- Close the 'Downloaded Program Files' window and Internet Explorer
- Restart PC
- Open Internet Explorer and type into the address bar:
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/Viewe ... ewdw32.ocx
- You may receive a security warning
- Choose to ignore any warnings and download the file
- Choose to save the file
- Enter the filename as 'c:\viewdw32.ocx' and click OK
- Wait for download to complete
- Click on 'Start' then 'Run' (or hold the windows key and press R)
- Type 'regsvr32 c:\viewdw32.ocx' and click OK
- You may receive a security warning (Choose to ignore the warning)
- Click 'Yes' or 'OK' at the prompt
- Restart PC
- Goto the Scotland's People Website and try viewing pages by ActiveX

If you would ever like to undo the above action then you can do this by:
**
* - Close all Internet Explorer windows
* - Click on 'Start' then 'Run' (or hold the windows key and R)
* - Type 'regsvr32 /u viewdw32.ocx' and click OK
* - Restart PC
**

Hope this is helpful,
Dave Caughey
Scotland's People[

Sounds to me like Dave's taking the matter seriously and is doing what he can to fix it. I've not yet done any of the above - think I'll see how Java goes for now, but it might be helpful to others.

Pinkshoes