Launchpad itself

Server error contact admin but no clue who/how to contact

Asked by Brian Foster

I just got the pop-up message:

   Server error, please contact an administrator. OOPS ID:OOPS-01304c5f39d236276b5b91c3304de9f5

However, I've no idea who(or how) to contact.

When the above happened, I was:
 * NOT logged-in to Launchpad;
 * browsing the recent bug reports (newest ordering, all other search settings default);
 * had just clicked the "Next" button (several pages in, i.e., "Next" had been working);
 * Firefox 72.0.1 (64-bit);
 * Kubuntu 18.04 (up-to-date).

Clicking the pop-up's "Ok" button and then trying "Next" again worked (after a small delay),
albeit now I'm logged-in (obviously), albeit it's unclear if the browsing (in another tab) knows this.

May I suggest the pop-up text include, at the least, a link to instructions on how to contact an admin?
Then, in addition, an actual contact link would seem to be useful.

Thanks, hope this helps and is helpful.

(I'm currently suffering (known to be unrelated) e-mail problems and so MAY NOT see, or be able
to respond-to, any e-mail...), Sorry!) ;-(

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Launchpad itself Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Colin Watson
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Brian Foster (blfoster) said : 		#1

There was NO traceback or anything else in the pop-up window's message,
just the previous quoted "OOPS" message.

Some (admittedly quick) searching has not located any information on who/how to contact.

Revision history for this message
Colin Watson (cjwatson) said : 		#2

The bug you ran into that caused that OOPS is https://bugs.launchpad.net/launchpad/+bug/1575903.

I wouldn't object to making the error message clearer, but question tickets aren't a good way for us to track requests for making changes to the software itself, as opposed to support requests. Could you please file a bug (https://bugs.launchpad.net/launchpad/+filebug) specifically about the poor "Server error, please contact an administrator" error message?

(We deliberately don't include a traceback in the message seen by users, but the OOPS ID goes to an internal system where we can see tracebacks for reported problems.)

Revision history for this message
Brian Foster (blfoster) said : 		#4

Thanks, sorry for the delay... See https://bugs.launchpad.net/launchpad/+bug/1863360
(Server error pop-up should include instructions and/or contact links on how to "contact an administrator").

I'm still getting these pop-ups under similar circumstances, with the only (visible-to-me)
difference being the ID:OOPS values. Which means one thing, and suggests a second thing:

  1(means). I still have "no idea who(or how) to contact."
The above useful answer does not explain or link to what I am supposed to do... and searches
continue to fail to find any hint.

  2(suggests). The problem is not yet solved, and/or there is at least one additional problem.

Revision history for this message
Colin Watson (cjwatson) said : 		#5

Thanks for filing that bug. In my previous response I linked to the bug that's causing the OOPSes you've been running into; that bug is indeed not yet fixed. (However, it only occurs when you're not logged in; you can avoid it by logging in.)

Revision history for this message
Brian Foster (blfoster) said : 		#6

Thanks for the prompt and helpful reply.
Unfortunately, I am asking a question (apparently not very clearly),
and not getting an answer.
Please let me try rephrasing:

   When I get a "please contact an administrator" pop-up window,
   HOW do I contact an administrator?

I do understand the errors I am currently getting are very probably
all the previously-mentioned bug. (I have no known way to confirm.)

My question is not, however, about that or any other bug.
It is simply, HOW do I DO what I am being ASKED to do?
(That's emphasis, not shouting.)

Revision history for this message
Best Colin Watson (cjwatson) said : 		#7

Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't answer that because you've already successfully contacted us! The way we would probably fix that bug would be to add a (possibly indirect) link to https://answers.launchpad.net/launchpad/+addquestion, and you already got there.

Revision history for this message
Colin Watson (cjwatson) said : 		#8

(It's also possible to email <email address hidden> if the problem is bad enough that answers.launchpad.net isn't working, but that's usually less convenient.)

Revision history for this message
Brian Foster (blfoster) said : 		#9

Ah, Ok! Thanks. To rephrase your answer (i.e., to check my understanding of your kind answer):

  When you get a (known or suspected) pop-up window asking to "please contact an administrator",
  please use this link https://answers.launchpad.net/launchpad/+addquestion and include details
  (what you were doing, whether or not you were logged in, and so on, and ESPECIALLY the full and
  complete "OOPS ID:OOPS-..." identifier).

  N.b. Depending on the resolution of https://bugs.launchpad.net/launchpad/+bug/1863360
        (Server error pop-up should include instructions and/or contact links on how to "contact an administrator"),
        this advice MAY change.

Again, thank you! (Apologies for me being a bit of pedantic bore on this.... ;-\ ).

Revision history for this message
Brian Foster (blfoster) said : 		#10

Thanks Colin Watson, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
Brian Foster (blfoster) said : 		#11

W.r.t. to #9, I did not see #8 in time to incorporate it into my rephrasing of #7. Sorry!

Revision history for this message
Brian Foster (blfoster) said : 		#12

Terribly sorry, I just realised I muddled my rephrasing of #7 in #9.
So here is another attempt, which also tries to incorporate #8:

  When you get a pop-up window asking to "please contact an administrator",
  and you know or suspect (or are unsure if) the specific problem has not been previously reported, then
  please use this link https://answers.launchpad.net/launchpad/+addquestion and include details
  (what you were doing, whether or not you were logged in, and so on, and ESPECIALLY the full and
  complete "OOPS ID:OOPS-..." identifier). If the above link is not functioning, then you can try
  sending e-mail to <email address hidden> but, if at all possible, use the link instead.

  N.b. Depending on the resolution of https://bugs.launchpad.net/launchpad/+bug/1863360
        (Server error pop-up should include instructions and/or contact links on how to "contact an administrator"),
        this advice MAY change.

Massive apologies for me being a pedantic bore on this! ;-\