Can't open projects.

[Tom De Boeser]

Hi,

  I haven't used App Inventor since Feb, and now I can't open any of my projects.    

The message is "Server error: could not load project. Please try again later!".  This happens even after an hour.  

Are my projects gone? 

Thanks

[Ghica]

Quite a bit has changed since februari and that could (but should not) prevent you from opening projects.

Things to try: Another browser (FF is you use Chrome and Chrome if you use FF). Empty the cache of your browser.

Do you have an .aia of your project? (you should :-), then load that one.

If all this fails, someone at MIT could try to restore your project, but try the above first.

Cheers, Ghica.

[Tom De Boeser]

Thanks for the tips.  But it didn't work.  I have a new desktop, my old hard drive failed.  I thought I had a back up on one of my "cloud" drives, but no luck so far.  

[Ghica]

Provide more information about your project: google user id, name of your project ,and its number in the URL.

I will forward th information then. No guarantees though.

Cheers, Ghica.

[SteveJG]

Can you see the AI2 Designer Projects screen Tom.   When you click Projects, then select MyProjects from the pop up, can you see a listing of your Projects?   If you can see a listing of your Projects, you Projects are still OK most probably and you either do not have the latest Companion (2.35) loaded on your device or the emulator    or   there are issues with your Projects that probably relate to the last time you used App Inventor.

Are you trying to use WIFI, the emulator or USB?   It makes a difference in the advice you get.  If you are using the emulator to Connect, the issue might be how you installed aiStarter, you did not tell us what operating system you are using...yeah, it makes a difference.

Sometimes Server Error means just that.   Tell us more about exactly what you see on your screen and someone can probably provide specific advice to get you coding again.

Regards,

Steve

[Tom De Boeser]

I get the "my projects" page, and can click on a project, but I get the error to try again.  The app was built  and was installed on phones.  I'm just trying to open the project via the browser.  

My google id is tdeboeser and the project is called fcps_ESS_servers.

Thanks

[SteveJG]

Aha.  So you can see your blocks.  Tom, you have a programming issue probably on that Project.

This advice might help:  https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/mitappinventortest/fLiMEfPh09Q/1Ia0AaQEXogJ 

You might get the Project to compile if you update Companion.  Can you confirm you are using Companion 2.35 please?  A copy of your Screen1.Initialize blocks might also help us get you started.

Since you can see your Blocks project, the advice Ghica mentioned is not the way to get your project running.   Your blocks are there and probably well.

You might have to change from Fixed sizing to Responsive   or reduce the size of images in your app  see here why (http://ai2.appinventor.mit.edu/reference/other/usingImages.html)

Regards,

Steve

[Ghica]

@Steve: if you read this well, no project can be opened, and he cannot se any blocks.

[SteveJG]

@ Ghica ..what Toms tells us is unclear to me. He says "I get the "my projects" page, and can click on a project, but I get the error to try again. " but he does not say specifically if he can see the Blocks editor.  If he can see the blocks the issue is very different.   Projects not displaying the Blocks or designer screen for a Project are rare.

@Tom  when you click on a Project, can you see your blocks in the Blocks screen?    If not, you may have a corrupted Project and loading the Project may require MIT intervention.

[Tom De Boeser]

@SteveJG When I click on a project I get "Server error: could not load project. Please try again later!".  

[SteveJG]

OK so you do not see any blocks or designer screen.    

Then, this might be the issue:  You have a new computer.  You did not tell us what browser you are using.  Are you trying to use the new version of Exlporer with AI2.   It will not work.    You need to use Chrome or Firefox.Try loading your Project using Chrome or Firefox.

You can perform a simple test.  Create a new Project.     Projects>Start new project  ;    Name it perhaps MyTest  ;    Now, build the Project -- place a Button on the Designer screen.  That is the entire Project.   Run the Project... does it run on the device or the emulator?

Now, exit from the AI2browser.   View the browser again and select MyTest.   Does that load properly and can you see the designer?

[Tom De Boeser]

Yes a new project can be created and it works with AI2 companion.  I can close it, and re-open it without an issue.   I use chrome and I've tried FF.  

Thanks

[msherman]

What is the most recent modified date on a project that won't open?

[Tom De Boeser]

If the blocks have changed, then my code from Feb probably won't load.  

Thanks

[Tom De Boeser]

Feb 2015.

Thanks

[Tom De Boeser]

So I'm trying to recall my block config using a new project, and I remember using a "web component" which doesn't seem to be available any longer.  This might be why my project will not load .

Does that sound possible?

Thanks

[SteveJG]

You can see all the changes made in App Inventor here shown in chronological order http://appinventor.mit.edu/ai2/ReleaseNotes.html 

A Web component still exists, it is in the Connectivity drawer of the Pallet (the left side of the Designer).

[msherman]

Hi, Tom.

I'm really sorry that something is causing you trouble. To help you out, I made a custom instance of App Inventor, which is a copy of the version that was running on Feb 1, 2015.

You should be able to export your aia files to your computer from regular App Inventor, and re-upload them into the custom instance, which will allow you to open the projects and see the blocks, so at least you can rebuild them.

I don't have a build server hooked up, but this should let you see your code so you can rebuild in the real app inventor. I hope this is helpful.

Here is the custom instance: http://ai-feb1-2015.appspot.com/

-Mark

[jis]

Just to be clear. Projects from older versions of App Inventor should always load into newer versions (but not the other way around). We carefully write project "upgraders" that should take care of any needed changes.

That said, programs have bugs, including ours.

I'm going to see if I can access your account (I can if I have the gmail address you use, in particular I need to have the exact case).

If I cannot load your projects, I can probably figure out why they aren't loading and either fix them or the system.

-Jeff

[jis]

I can confirm that this is caused by a bug in our system. I'm working now to determine the exact conditions when it will happen.

I know that it can only happen when attempting to load old projects. The problem is not the project, but how we have projects stored.

I'm working on a fix.

-Jeff

[jis]

I haven't fixed the bug yet, but I was able to patch your project "fcps_ESS_servers" so it should work.

Let me know if there are other projects that are not working that you need immediate access to and I can patch them as well.

Once the bug is fixed, all projects effected will load again.

-Jeff

[Tom De Boeser]

Wow, thanks guys.  I can open my project now. And save it :).