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I get an error when saving an article

I was logged in as the administrator and spent about an hour typing in two articles -- and when trying to save it, the system gave me that http 403 error.

What happened? Why? How can I avoid this in the future?

Answer from the Web Administrator

Why? Not really sure.

I've had this problem before when I tried to do "really fancy things" in the text. Things that the system may have interpreted as "system calls" within the content. Anyway, I'm not sure why this error occurred.

I also have spent time editing a page, then when trying to save, I'd get a communication error "Can't find server." Or some such...

There are three things you need to be aware of.

1) The internet sometimes gets goofy - the communication routing between servers and PCs is fluid. The routing path from your PC to the server changes in an instant. And there is nothing that can be done. This is a strength and weakness of the internet. Sometimes - for some reason - I go to Google and its gone! Or so says my PC. If this happens while editing, your changes get lost. It is infrequent but sometimes it happens. So...

2) Save your work often. I suggest you click on the Apply Button (blue check mark) or the Save Button (diskette) once in a while, just to be safe.

3) Only one person can edit an article / page at one time. If a second person tries to edit the same content that is locked - they are denyed. When you click the edit button, the system puts a lock on the page and keeps it there until it is Saved or Exited. When an edit session is aborted (not saved, or exited) the system does not have a chance to clear the lock. Subsequently it can't be edited again. This happens under four circumstances: (a) you close the browser while editing (b) your login session times-out (more below), (c) a communication problem happens, and (d) you get an error like you did while saving.

If your edit session is abnormally terminated the lock has to be manually released. It must be done from the "back end" administration menus. If you have authority to get to it - it is easy to do.

Session Time Out: Lets say your session time out is set for 9800 seconds. If your login session has no activity for more than 9800 seconds, it will log you out. This is done for security reasons. 9800 seconds is 163 minutes or 2.7 hours. It can be increased if need be. If you leave your computer for more than 2.7 hours, you'll be logged out. Again - this is 2.7 hours of inactivity - so if you are using it for 4 hours (clicking/editing/viewing) - you wont' be logged out. Just be sure you don't leave the computer for an extended period while editing a page. Before I leave my computer and do a load of laundry, I save and exit.