[1]Principia Cybernetica Web

                             Common problems with PCP web

   The following list provides advice on how to tackle common problems when using
   the Principia Cybernetica Web. If this is not sufficient, please send us a
   precise description of the problem at the email address: PCP [ at ] vub.ac.be
     ____________________________________________________________________________

System asks username and password

   This is unfortunately a bug that has crept somehow in our server software: when
   you request a page requiring a cgi scripts (e.g for entering a comment), the
   server reacts as though the cgi application is part of a protected "realm" that
   requires a password. Since we don't know what the password is supposed to be
   (normal administrative passwords don't work), we haven't been able to reset it
   and thus eliminate this problem. Sorry!

Server does not respond

   If none of the pages of PCP web comes in any more, then the computer on which the
   website is running is probably down. Normally, the server should be restarted
   automatically after a few minutes, or manually after at most a week-end. In the
   meantime you can use the [2]mirror server, which contains a copy of practically
   all PCP-pages. You just need to click on "Server: US" in the menu bar on top of
   the page (or on "Server: EU" if you are already working on the US mirror).

PDF files won't download or open

   Certain large PDF files (e.g. papers or books in our [3]electronic library)
   apparently cannot be downloaded by certain users. We are trying to pinpoint the
   cause of the problem, but it seems to have to do with the browser version.

   If you encounter this problem, try to download the file with a different browser
   (e.g. Internet Explorer instead of Netscape, or version 4.0 instead of 6.0). If
   that doesn't work, try downloading the same file from the [4]mirror server (see
   first section). If that still doesn't work (some PDF files are not available on
   the mirror), please [5]send us the address of the PDF file(s) you need, and the
   precise configuration under which the problem existed (your operating system,
   browser, browser version), and we will send you the PDF file as an email
   attachment.

Links produce error messages

   If you click on a link, and you get an [6]error message saying that the file or
   document cannot be found, this means that the address of the link is not correct.
     * If it is an internal link, within PCP web (in that case the location or URL
       address contains "vub.ac.be"), we should be able to quickly correct the
       error. Please send us a precise description of the wrong link.
     * If it is an external link, to another server (normally indicated by the
       [externallink.GIF] icon), the problem is probably due to the fact that the
       document or website has moved to another location, or disappeared altogether.
       In that case, if you have a little bit of experience you can search for it
       yourself. If you manage to find the new address, please send it together with
       the incorrect address [7]to us, and we will update all links to that address.

Pages come in irregularly

   If it takes a very long time for pages to come in, or if part of the text or
   pictures doesn't come it at all, then the server, or the Internet connection
   between you and the server, is probably overloaded. (This seems to be a common
   problem for users in Latin America). In that case, you can try again later, or
   use the [8]mirror server (see above), which is likely to give you a faster
   connection.

Search engine doesn't react

   If you enter keywords to do a [9]search in PCP web, but you don't get any
   response, then the search program is likely to be down. However, since this
   program is quite slow and easily overloaded by too much demand, it is also
   possible that the connection has simply timed out. Therefore, you should wait a
   minute or two and try again. If it still doesn't work, please [10]send us a
   warning, and we will remedy the problem as soon as possible. (In the meantime,
   you can always use another, external search engine to search PCP web, such as the
   "[11]AltaVista" search at the bottom of our search page).

Form for entering comments does not appear

   If you click on the "Add comment..". link a the bottom of the right side bar, but
   you don't get a response, this is likely to be caused by the same program as in
   the previous problem, and the same recommendations apply.

Annotations are not acknowledged

   After you have filled in and submitted the form to [12]make a comment, you should
   receive an acknowledgment starting with "Your annotation has been added to PCP
   Web..". and including a link to the new annotation. If you don't get an
   acknowledgment, the connection has probably timed out (see previous two
   problems).

   It is less likely that the program is down (otherwise, you wouldn't have gotten
   the annotation form in the first place). Therefore, you should in general not
   resubmit the annotation, because you risk having the same comment being added
   again and again. Try checking directly whether the annotation has been made, by
   entering its address in a different window. The address (URL) of an annotation
   has the form http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/Annotations/FILENAME.NUMBER.html . Replace
   FILENAME by the filename of the [13]node that you were annotating, and NUMBER by
   the number (0, 1, 2, 3, ...) of comments that had already been added to that page
   (or the number in the URL of the last annotation + 1). Only if opening this
   location gives you a "file not found" error should you resubmit the annotation.
     ____________________________________________________________________________

   [14]Copyright© 2005 Principia Cybernetica - [15]Referencing this page

   Author
   F. [16]Heylighen,

   Date
   Jul 15, 2005 (modified)
   Nov 30, 2001 (created)

                                       [17]Home
                                       [up.gif]
                               [18]Navigation in PCP Web
                                       [up.gif]
                                 [19]Web Organization
                                       [up.gif]
                       [20]How to use Principia Cybernetica Web

                                          Up
                           [21]Prev. [4arrows.gif] [22]Next
                                         Down
     ____________________________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________________________

                                    [23]Discussion
     ____________________________________________________________________________

                                  [24]Add comment...

                                      [space.gif]

References

   1. LYNXIMGMAP:http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/COMPROBL.html#PCP-header
   2. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SERVER.html
   3. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/LIBRARY.html
   4. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SERVER.html
   5. mailto:cybernetica%20[at]%20vub.ac.be
   6. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ERROR.html
   7. mailto:cybernetica%20[at]%20vub.ac.be
   8. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SERVER.html
   9. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SEARCH.html
  10. mailto:PCP%20[%20at%20]%20vub.ac.be
  11. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SEARCH.html#AltaVista
  12. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ANNOHELP.html
  13. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/NODEORG.html
  14. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/COPYR.html
  15. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/REFERPCP.html
  16. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/HEYL.html
  17. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/DEFAULT.html
  18. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/NAVIG.html
  19. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/WEBORG.html
  20. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/HOWWEB.html
  21. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/HOWWEB.html
  22. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/NAVIG.html
  23. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/MAKANNOT.html
  24. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/hypercard.acgi$annotform?

[USEMAP]
http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/COMPROBL.html#PCP-header
   1. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/DEFAULT.html
   2. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/HOWWEB.html
   3. http://pcp.lanl.gov/COMPROBL.html
   4. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/COMPROBL.html
   5. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SERVER.html
   6. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/hypercard.acgi$randomlink?searchstring=.html
   7. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/RECENT.html
   8. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/TOC.html#COMPROBL
   9. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SEARCH.html