Product Description Disappears

I have a major problem when using my cart. I have installed the cart and I have added products. They show up on the site correctly. However, when I click "edit" on the product, the description, title and price all disappear from the product. Most of the time, I am just going in to fix a typo, but when I go in the entire description is gone and I have to start again!

Currently running version 1.3.9 with BlackPureFree Template from 12leaves.com. I just opened this site up a few weeks ago. I switched over from ecommerce and I don't want to go back.

I couldn't find this in the FAQ's anywhere and if this is the wrong section I am sorry in advance. I just need to get this store up and running, but I can't afford to have my product descriptions disappear. :blink:

Could you check if post #6 applies to you:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153143

Unfortunately not. I am currently running 1.3.9h, and according to the workaround, I do not need it. Should I try it anyway?

Hang on, read the wrong post. That workaround should work for me. I'll post back here with the result!

Success! Thank you so much!

You are most welcome ... thanks for the update that this fix worked for you on an older version of php ...

Hello,

The same problem came out of blue on 1.5.1 and PHP Version: 5.4.45 (Zend: 2.4.0)

I have no idea when this happen and why, but no any actions on our side to Zen Cart was done.
Maybe, however, ISP made some upgrades. But I do not know what to ask even.

Any attempts to edit product, even change price results in loosing product description.
It is Ok in preview, but disapperes on "update", if I click back.
If I type from scratch, it appears staying there, but, when I am trying to copy and paste - no luck.
I tried to copy from notepad which does not have any formatting of html - no luck.
Tried IE, FireFox, Chrom, no luck.

All posts about this situation are very old 1.3.9 or so, I guess if this is bug it would be fixed buy now.

And I remember that I could add and edit products in the past without problem.

Below is my configuration.

If somebody can be of Help, it would be greatly appreciated.

Database Host: localhost (127.0.0.1)
Server OS: Linux 2.6.32-531.29.2.lve1.3.11.1.el6.x86_64
Database: MySQL 5.5.45-cll-lve
Server Date: 12/31/2015 23:23:12
Database Date: 12/31/2015 18:23:12
HTTP Server: Apache
PHP Version: 5.4.45 (Zend: 2.4.0)
PHP Memory Limit: 256M PHP Safe Mode: Off
PHP File Uploads: On Max Size: 2M
POST Max Size: 8M
Database Data Size: 46,750 kB
Database Index Size: 10,074 kB

idtags,

Your php version is not compatible with your ZenCart version

Zen Cart v1.5.1 is compatible with PHP 5.2.14 thru PHP 5.3.x. Requires some patches to work with PHP 5.4, and upgrading is a better idea.

Thank you for the fast respond.

Is there temporary (and simple) work around to return description of the product?

Alternative for immediate fix is retyping from scratch, which is durable.

You will have to search here for the patches which might take more time than upgrading
You can start with these
https://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?202319-PHP-5-4-warnings-Illegal-string-offset&highlight=patches+v1.5.1

I found another respond for this problem below, if somebody will be in need:

https://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?204390-Product-Description-is-Disappearing

I suspect you have in the past used Microsoft Word or similar to create product descriptions and paste them in. This page for example (http://www.monstersinmotion.com/cart...ion-cd-p-18058) has a ton of invalid characters such as ’. So if you were to edit this page in your admin it would likely disappear as well if you re-save it.

The problem is when a character, code, javascript or similar is in the product description your admin cannot display the description. It's there, but to erred to be displayed. If you save it "eats" it if you don't it remains.

We have seen this a great deal. **The fix is to copy and clean the text from the catalog side and completely clear out the admin in source view and then re-add the cleaned code.
**
~Melanie

Those I do not understand what does it mean "...clear out the admin in source view and then re-add the cleaned code."?

Also, how to check for invalid characters such as ’.?
In what software?

[QUOTE=idtags;1300202]I found another respond for this problem below, if somebody will be in need:

https://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?204390-Product-Description-is-Disappearing

Those I do not understand what does it mean "...clear out the admin in source view and then re-add the cleaned code."?
[\quote]
When you are editing your description in the admin view, look for the toggle button the switches between viewing the text as text, or viewing it in source view. Source view will show all of the formatting and hidden stuff.

Also, how to check for invalid characters such as ’.?
In what software?
You will be able to see this is source view from your admin. Hope this helps. Happy New Year!

idtags:

I found another respond for this problem below, if somebody will be in need:

https://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?204390-Product-Description-is-Disappearing

Those I do not understand what does it mean "...clear out the admin in source view and then re-add the cleaned code."?

Also, how to check for invalid characters such as ’.?
In what software?

The clear out the code part is referring to entering/editing text in say ckeditor, there is an option to view the source code (allowing seeing the html used to generate the page). Thing is, based on the current setup I would agree that upgrade is best, as to the "lost" content, if you are able to log nto phpmyadmin you could restore the partcular text, but is no way to operate on a routine basis.

Thank you mc12345678 for explanation. This helped to find quick fix for this issue.
This solution was tested on 1.5.1 and PHP Version: 5.4.45 (Zend: 2.4.0).

Again, this just "quick fix" and will not substitute update of Zen Cart.

If you are looking on this post, probably, this problem, happened at your store.

You probably lost description of one product and wonder what is going on.
Unfortunately, this product description gone and can not be returned, unless you have copy somewhere.
But you may copy description from another similar product and modify.
And, of course, other products which you need to edit will be possible to salvage.

1. Being in admin area on "Categories / Products" page, click edit link as shown:

[Attachment no longer available]

2. Click on "Toggle HTML Source" button <> to convert text to HTML format:

[Attachment no longer available]

3. Select all text and copy to Notepad as is in HTML format.

4. Click "Cancel" to return back. At this moment most likely text will disappear from description.

5. Switch Text Editor in upper right corner from "EDITOR_HTMLAREA" to "Plain Text" and click "**edit **" link again:

[Attachment no longer available]

6. Copy text from Notepad back into text editor. Click "Preview" and "Update".

7. Text should show now in description correctly and text editor can be returned back to "EDITOR_HTMLAREA" .

From this point you should be able to edit this product normally.

Unfortunately it should be repeated for all products which need to edited at this circumstances.