A recent server change fixed problems with "Refresh Shared Solutions". The list of solutions is now refreshed very quickly, but was very slow before the change. Some users weren't able to see shared solutions, but the change also resolved that issue.
Problems persist with certain actions in Open/Share Solutions:
- Selecting a shared solution on the left side under "Shared Solutions", and clicking "Load", results in an "error opening…for read" message. Back in Open/Share Solutions, the solution now appears on the right under "Local Solutions", and can be opened normally.
- Selecting a shared solution on the left side under "Shared Solutions", and clicking "Download" doesn't change the "Local Solutions" list. Closing and reopening Open/Share Solutions reveals the solution is present under "Local Solutions".
- Selecting a solution under "Local Solutions" and clicking "Upload" doesn't change the "Shared Solutions" list. Clicking "Refresh Shared Solutions" reveals the solution made it to the server.
- Selecting a solution under "Shared Solutions" and clicking "Delete" does not change the "Shared Solutions" list". Clicking "Refresh Shared Solutions" does not help, the deleted solution still appears in the list. Closing and reopening Open/Share Solutions also doesn't help, the deleted one persists. It seems necessary to restart Foldit to clear this condition.
The first three problems have been known for a few days, but I just noticed the fourth one.
The function save.GetSolutions() returns a list of local solutions. Using this function reveals the phantom solutions in points 1 and 2 above are in fact present, even though they weren't visible in Open/Share Solutions.
There's no equivalent function for the shared solutions side of the display.
Today, I'm getting popups saying "server response 500" when I try to download a shared solution.
Previously, the "error opening file" message after a download was just a glitch. The solution in question appeared as a local solution after reopening Open/Share Solutions.
Today, the solution really doesn't get downloaded, no matter how many times I try.
As before, the ir_solution file is easy to locate and copy. Solution files can even be shared on Discord. See "downloading solution list" and timeouts in general for an example of what a solution file looks like.
The "server response 500" message also appears when uploading a solution. But there, it appears to be another glitch, and clicking "Refresh Shared Solutions" will reveal the solution did make it to the server.
The "server response 500" message has disappeared, and it's possible to download and open shared solutions again.
Slow update, but "server response 500" is back, and happens on both uploads and downloads.
Downloads just about never work, but just once in a while, one gets through.
I'm copying the ir_solution file manually to get things from one Foldit client to another.
I've found that you can also drag an ir_solution file to a Discord chat channel, allowing those on the channel to download and open it.
I'll post more detail on these alternate strategies for sharing, since things get a little technical. Some of the information can be found in "downloading solution list" and timeouts in general.
Thanks Loci for keeping this topic up.
I cannot download any shared solution no matter how hard I try. I ALWAYS get "server response 500". This is quite frustrating! Please anyone: please fix this issue soon! Thus is really a pain!
Good news, at least in part. There's a new update in devprev that fixes the issue with downloading. With the update, you can download and upload. There's still the problem with having to "Refresh Shared Solutions" after an upload, and having to download twice, or load and load again.
The bad news is that main isn't included in the fix yet. In main, download seems to be fine, but you'll get a "client version too old - update your client" message if you try to upload. In this case, "update your client" means "switch to devprev".
If anyone is reluctant to switch, Galaxie and I just confirmed that dragging the ir_solution file to Discord is an alternate way to share. (We used group chat.)
The release notes for devprev say "fix an issue with the client spamming the server with solutions". It's not clear why that would affect the ability to download, but the fix seems to have worked.
Tested the new devprev release (V41-20240725-72d9ac7f51-win_x64-devprev): it uploads and downloads solutions as Loci described above. To give @jflat06 some peace of mind: it did not "explode spectacularly", at least not with the testing I did.
In addition to what Loci descibed above and in #veteran, the quickest way to load a Shared Solution is as follows:
- Choose Open/Share Solutions (or hit Ctrl+O) to open the "Manage Solutions" panel.
- Select the solution on the left (under Shared Solutions).
- Do not click Load (at the bottom), but click Download (the green arrow at the top)
This will copy the solution to Local Solutions. Due to a multi-threading issue, it will not show up on the right, at least not now.
- Again, select the same Shared Solution.
- This time, click Load at the bottom of the panel.
Apparently, the Download of step 3 did take place, although it was not shown (unless you closed and re-opened the panel).
Since I normally use DevPrev, I still had a very old client (V34-20240506-85f0ab2ee2-win_x64) sitting in my Main folder. Just for fun, I opened it, hit "Skip the update this time", and tried uploading and downloading. Not surprisingly, on upload I get this "Client version too old – update your client." message. But downloading works flawlessly, in one go. Apparently, this multi-threading issue was not present in version 34!
Release 41 has now been pushed to main. With the update, everyone should be able to upload and download. See HuubR's post above for the easiest way to download in two steps.
Upload works in one step, but you have to click Refresh Shared Solutions to see that it worked. So it's two steps unless you're very trusting.
On the download side, if you watch your Foldit directory, you'll see the ir_solution file appear the first time you download or load.
The second load or download replaces the ir_solution file with an identical file of the same name. You may see the timestamp on the file change.
The problem is really that the Open/Share Solutions display doesn't get refreshed after the first download.
