Unable to edit new fields

Do you get the message that the field was updated when you submit your changes? I’m not sure what could be the problem here, but my guess is that there is some issue with the database itself, somehow it may be out of sync. You can try temporarily deactivating, then reactivating the plugin. The plugin will try to fix the problem when it is reactivated. You won’t lose any data or configurations when you do this.

If that doesn’t fix it, you’ll need to look at your php error log. I suggest you turn plugin debugging on (Participants Database settings under the advanced tab) then visit the debugging log page, clear the log, then try to make a change to your field. The database query for that change and any possible errors should appear in the debugging log.

Remember to turn debugging off when you’re done.

Thank you for your suggestions.

I do not get ‘field updated’ message when a change is made. The page refreshes and goes back to the original field values, without the changes.

The extremely odd thing is, that you can make changes to existing fields. You can create a new field, but you cannot edit the new field!!

I have tried deactivating, then reactivating the plugin. This made no difference.

I have run the debugger. It gives this message:

session_start(): Cannot find save handler ‘memcached’ – session startup failedin /var/sites/m/msol.uk/public_html/wp-content/plugins/participants-database/vendor/wp-session-manager/wp-session-manager.php on line 46

We are now on PHP version 7.3
I have tried going back to previous versions of PHP
I have tried rolling back wordpress to the previous version that worked.
I have tried rolling back participants database to previous version that worked.

I have looked in the PHP.ini which has this line:

session.save_handler = memcached

so, I presume that is OK.
I have raised a ticket with the HOST, but they don’t seem to know what is wrong.

Also now, when a page is saved on the multi-form, refreshed page come up with the message ‘No record was found’ so, I assume the sessions are not working correctly. I have tried with ‘Use alternative Session Method’ checked and unchecked.

I realize that no-one else is having these problems, so it is a problem with our site.
I have tried deactivating all plugins and changing theme. Now, I am so truly stuck. We have been using your plugin and the participants database Date plugin and HTML5 form elements plugin for many years, so we have 291 records with a multiform of 33 pages, so really not practical to do a clean build of word press.

Just don’t know where to go from here so if you have any other ideas, it would be more than gratefully appreciated.

Sessions not working will cause these failures. The alternate method still relies on sessions working, it just avoids the use of a session cookie.

The error suggests one of two things that could be happening: either the php memcache handler is not configured correctly, or it is configured correctly, but isn’t active at the moment the plugin is attempting to start sessions. This might happen if memcache is getting managed by a WP plugin for instance.

Have you tried setting the session.save_handler to “files” in the php.ini? (this is the php default: you could also try just commenting that line out) This will avoid trying to load the memcache handler. Memcache is more efficient, but without knowing specifically why it s failing, it will be hard to address the problem.

Thank you for this suggestion. I tried putting session.save_handler to “files” in the php.ini

It still doesn’t work! Now there is no error in the error log. The record just does not save. Existing records can be edited and changed. Then when update Fields is clicked, you get the updated fields message. But if I create a new field, edits are not saved. I can go into phpmyadmin and make the changes and save, then the saved change shows up in the Manage Database Fields table as expected.

I can only think to move the whole site to a new host, which seems a bit radical, but I can’t think of anything else to try now.

Is there by any chance a maximum number of fields allowed all together in the participants database? I know we had a similar problem a long time ago, having too many fields in a Field Group and needed to break the field Groups into smaller Field Groups.

There is a limit to the number of fields you can have in a field group, this is determined by the configuration of your server. This limit does not apply to the total number of fields, only the number in any one group. This is because when a group is saved, only the fields in that group are included in the posted data.

If fields in a particular group won’t save, that could very well be because there are too many fields in the group.

This is something that would show up in the php error log.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by xnau webdesign.

No, I am afraid that is not the answer, as I have created a new field group with one one field in it and I am unable to edit that. I also deleted some fields in another group to check whether it would make a difference, but it didn’t.

Completely at a loss!!

I didn’t think so, but you asked about it.

Debugging this kind of thing is always a matter of catching the error in the php error log. It’s not going to fail at saving a change without logging an error.

If you turn plugin debugging on (plugin settings under the advanced tab) you’ll see the database query that is used to update the fields. This also means that if there is an error with the query, you’ll see that. Clear the debugging log, then try to update your field. See what comes into the log immediately after that.

Oh, I just thought of another thing: javascript errors. Open your browser developer tools to the “console” tab, then visit the Manage Database Fields page. Change a value in a field and see if an error comes up. If there is an error, that can prevent the field from updating because it won’t update fields that have not been altered.

Thank you for continuing to try and help.

I tried both of your suggestions:

The console displayed 2 warnings:
This page uses the non standard property “zoom”. Consider using calc() in the relevant property values, or using “transform” along with “transform-origin: 0 0”. admin.php
Layout was forced before the page was fully loaded. If stylesheets are not yet loaded this may cause a flash of unstyled content.
BUT, these warnings come up on every field group and when I can make changes to exiting old fields.

The debugging shows no errors when set to ‘all errors’ or ‘plugin errors’
The page refreshes. It does not say field updated. All changes disappear.

Really, really most odd and we are unable to make changes to our participants database forms.

OK, so what about in the debugging log?

The debugging log is empty. It shows no errors.

Next thing to check is the network log: open your browser dev tools and go to the “network” panel. Clear it, then make a change to the field. You’ll see a POST item in the panel, there will be an error code if the post failed.

Hi,

I am still desperate! I have tried temporarily removing all my custom templates and all jquery used to hide parts of the forms.
I have downloaded a fresh copy of the latest wordpress and deleted the wordpress core files and replaced them.
I have down loaded the latest copy of participants database, deleted the files and replaced them.
I have tried updating all the permissions on the wordpress files.

Now, I have done as you suggested and checked the network panel. There were no errors. The page simply refreshed, but the edits just disappeared and no field updated message appeared.

The HOST just say they cannot see any errors in the server log, please contact plugin vendor.

There is an error somewhere, a page submission doesn’t just happen with no consequences at all unless there’s no POST data. You’ve done everything I can think of to find out what’s going on. Without me seeing it myself, I don’t know how to help you at this point, I’m sorry.