Can't Add To My Lists

[cuccubear]

Couldn't find a thread addressing this particular problem...but found a solution on my own. Thought I would share this with other readers.

For weeks I have been trying to add a restaurant to my Chow List, and it would never appear. It was in the "database" already, and I was frustrated at the snafu.

My solution: I logged out and logged back in, tried it again and voila! It worked.

Maybe the Chowhound Team could respond or clarify, but my theory is that staying logged in for days affected my account (I rarely officially "Log Out"). The Log Out / Log In somehow "reactivated" or "refreshed" my account info?

So if anyone else has this problem, try out my solution and good luck.

[kattyeyes]

I'm trying to modify one of my lists, too. Each time I enter the name and location of the restaurant and hit SEARCH, I get:

"Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage

Most likely causes:
You are not connected to the Internet.
The website is encountering problems.
There might be a typing error in the address."

Yet, I am connected (I'm typing this now) and can get elsewhere on Chowhound just fine. What's going on?

Here's the list I'd like to modify:
http://www.chow.com/lists/edit/1150

I'm trying to add Coyote Blue Tex Mex Cafe in Middletown, CT...and I know it's in the list of places as I've been able to highlight it previously when I wrote about it:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/637822

[rworange]

Go with option 2 ... The website is encountering problems.

I've been having that error message over the past two days. I sort of chalked it up to the Places database work/testing going on and didn't bother to report.

For me it was happening after I added more than 20 list items. However, when I hit refresh, the addition went through. So ... add to list ... get error message ...hit refresh. See if that does it for you.

[kattyeyes]

I tried--no go. I know you create lots of lists. Are you still able to do so, just can't get past the 20 items? My list only has 5 entries. Maybe I'll just try again in a few days.

[rworange]

I did an addition just before posting to see if I could still post and I could.Adding to a short list was fine but adding to the end of a long list I needed to do a refresh because I got the error message

I'm using Internet Explorere as my browser, if that matters.

It seems like something someone on the Chowhound team needs to look at.

[kattyeyes]

Nope, I still cannot add to my short list. Just checked. I, too, am using IE (7). I know I can edit places that are already on my list (because I did so last night), but I can't add Coyote Blue. Chowhound Team, any suggestions?

[rworange]

You can edit Places? That function has been turned off. I can't do that.

Heh, how much will you take to add some places for me?

[kattyeyes]

Sorry, let me clarify--I can edit things I wrote about other places I had already successfully added to my list several months ago. Example--I added to my description of one of the restaurants in my hometown favorites list. I wouldn't mind editing a place once the new functionality is available, but since I knew it was changing, I didn't make the effort (figuring it'd be lost, anyway).

[Jacquilynne]

The reason they turned off the edit function on Places was to stabilize the database for a conversion to the new format. While it is possible to edit places pages by editing the URL directly, the likelihood is that those changes will be lost in the conversion.

[kattyeyes]

I have a feeling I'm talking about one thing and you're talking about another, so if that's not the case, please excuse me for being dense. I have a list. I wish to add another restaurant (already in the database) to the list. Can I not do that? I am not trying to modify a place by telling fellow hounds the hours or adding pictures. Thanks.

[Jacquilynne]

That you should be able to do -- but only if the place already exists in our database, I believe.

[kattyeyes]

Exactly--and the place does already exist b/c I've included it in a previous write-up. So, any idea why I keep getting bounced to the "website may be experiencing trouble" page?

[rworange]

As mentioned, I am getting the same error adding to lists. The difference is that I can use refresh and the addition goes through.

[rworange]

Thinking about this, if anyone thinks this should be looked at, I'd be happy to change my password and let someone from the Chowhound team temporarily sign on and try to add to the list I'm having problems with. It is an abandoned list by me that I was going to delete. However the error is consistant.

There has always been a problem in lists with certain items getting stuck.

Every now and then, the description cannot be changed. After editing, there is a red 'saving' message that finally times out and the edits don't go through.

If it is a list item, then my work around is just to delete it and and add it again.

I'm wondering if there is some similar glitch with kattyeyes list where lists will just not let another item be added? If that is the case, then she will never be able to add an item to that list no matter how long she waits.

[kattyeyes]

rworange, that's a good idea--and I'll make the same offer you did if anyone from the Chowhound team wants to try to sign on as me and see if the same issue persists.

[rworange]

I hate to suggest this and further screw up your list, but maybe try deleting list item 5 - Fiore and then see if it will allow you to start adding again.

It looks like you have a new list that is letting you add ...at least one record. Have you tried to add the record you are having a problem with to the other list just to see if it is that particular restaurant that is having a problem?

[kattyeyes]

Thanks for trying to troubleshoot with me. I tried to add to the one-item list and also tried again to work on the "real" list. Today, the error is different. When I click on "search" for the location after I type it in, it just lands me back on my list page with no changes. I'm going to give this a break for a while and see if the Chowhound team has any other suggestions. Good luck with your own list issues!

[cuccubear]

Now even _my_ solution isn't working for me. Frustrating when you want to add a restaurant to your list and it won't happen.

[Soop]

Unfortunately, the lists seem to be a target for spam at this time :(

[Soop]

I wanted to use my lists for the stuff I had in my kichen, and the stuff I still wanted to get. Why does it have to be just about restaurants?

I tried just posting a link, I.E. To a pot of a knife, but it just doesn't save.

[The Chowhound Team]

Lists aren't limited to restaurants, but are limited to geographic locations, so to speak. So, you could make a list of your favorite cookware stores, but not items that you wish to purchase. The purpose of the "list" function is to allow you to create lists of places, either for your own use (private lists) or ones that you want to share with others (public lists).

[Soop]

Can you expand it to cookware items?
People could use it for:

Foods they want to try
equipment they have/want
recipes they want to store
cook books they want to buy.

I'd like you to consider it. It would add a lot of value.

[Jacquilynne]

It's not something that's currently on the design radar, but the ability to include links to recipes, stories, blogs, threads, and other sections on CHOW has come up in design meetings as a possibility. I'm not sure whether just letting people link to anything anywhere on the internet would be something we'd expand it to include. It could get a little out of hand.

You can include random links in the description section currently, so you can sort of do this, but if you're not using it link restaurants or other food places, it'd probably be best to keep your list private.

[Stephanie Wong]

I tried your solution & it did not work for me this a.m.

Like you, the restaurant I'm trying to add is in the "database" already, but it's not getting added to my list.

[rworange]

What is the name you are trying to link to, Stephanie. I'll give it a try. There are so many variables about why something is there and doesn't link. I'll try it and let you know what is the problem.

FYI, if you want a working link in your list description use this replacing zzz with the url and xxx with text to appear.

<A href="zzz" hasbox="2">xxx</A>

For the link you have in your Salinas list it would look like this

<A href="http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/622368 " hasbox="2">cecina torta w/ pork & cheese</A>

For each line break you would like, enter this

<BR>

[Stephanie Wong]

I was trying to add Eva's Cafe on Williams Rd., Salinas CA.

Thanks, S

[rworange]

I was able to add it
http://www.chow.com/lists/1830

Try it just entering Eva's as the name and Salinas as the locaton.

Sometimes too much info and Places can't find the record.

There are a bunch of other reasons why it isn't found. Usually waiting a while and trying again works.

[Stephanie Wong]

muchas gracias!