If you use the HTML/plain text screen, there is a trick to not losing your html content. If you are in this screen and you change any of the advanced options, you *must* make sure you click save in the html editor panel as the last thing you do before leaving the screen. Do this even if you haven't touched the html, as if you don't, you *will* lose your content. I know this is a long standing issue since BT 1.5 and in the latest 2.1.7 self hosted control panel too, but I wasn't sure if anyone had documented how to reliably work around the problem so I thought I would share. I hope it helps somebody, as it took me ages to learn why I seemed to be randomly losing pages.

It uses ckeditor. There is a huge amount of useful information on the ckeditor forums. If you have a problem, chances are that it's already been reported and fixes/workarounds posted.

Thanks raveyd, I have tried this on self hosted and BT hosted control panel. Because of the way the data can be lost without using the editor, my suspicion is that its is a BT related problem and it isn't just me, I presume this is something that affects us all.

I think a lot depends on the hosting set up. I had similar problems with hostgator. Increasing the timeout settings in the root php.ini file fixed my problems. Other hosting will no doubt have their own issues. I would have thought, considering it's an annoying and pretty major problem, there would be a lot more posts about it than there are, so presumably, many users have no issues at all.

It like lighting, not a problem till your hit. Would love to know the source of the problem. @AlanMac, thanks for the tip. @raveyd, any thoughts on on setting up a server to test on. Fred

Wouldn't know where to start Fred, so many variables. I believe the save.js and save_AJAX.php are custom builds by BT. Every host has their own way of working with mysql and their own hosting settings, so I really can't see any easy 'fix all' solution. Personally, I don't have the skills for any extensive troubleshooting. It seems to work adequately for most people and there are various tips like @AlanMac's that help, so perhaps that's enough? It would be better if all the tips were more easily found though.

Hi @raveyd & Fred, I just went back to double check. I am not seeing this on the BT hosted control panel now with a BT 2.0 app, but the problem is definitely still there for my v1.5 app on the BT site and for my self hosted set-up which is 2.1.7. I'd love to know if this affects all self-hosted people out there or just a few and how to fix it. Alan

Well, my solution was to double the default timeout settings in the host servers php.ini file. Depending on your host, you may or may not have access. If not, you'll need to contact your provider. I'm not saying that'll definitely fix it for you. Like I said, there are other similar problems and other suggested solutions on here, and on the ckeditor forums. I don't think it's a situation where one solution fixes all.

I gave up on that editor. Too flaky. I make all my HTML in Dreamweaver/Notepad and use a lot of CSS anyway. Once I have the document all set - I set-up 'fake' one thru the Control Panel. Then I FTP into my server and replace the actual HTML file. You can tell what the actual URL is of this document by looking in your config.txt file.

Good idea @ATRAIN53

I started doing something similar in reverse to back-up my html. I know I can work around this, but my biggest concern is creating apps for customers and letting them edit their content. I'm not sure they would see the problem the same way....

same

Telford UK? Hi!

Damn, first person I've found in the forum on my doorstep turns out to be a spammer! Go away.

This problem no longer exists - @David has fixed the html/text plugin. Download and upgrade!