The last few weeks, every time I upload a picture (with comment) in the rank advancement and/or merit badges, but the picture after I post it will not open. It shows a broken link. I have tried this on my phone and on a laptop. I have cleared my browsing history and tried using in private mode, but it is still happening. I have spent hours trying to post the things I need to post to no avail.
This was reported to developers last week.
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I assume everyone is still having this problem (I know I am)?
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When this is fixed it will be reported in the change logs.
In case you aren’t already familiar with the process, there’s a post in this thread about how to subscribe to the change logs:
https://discussions.scouting.org/t/unable-to-access-internet-advancement-all-of-a-sudden/311001/30
If it helps, it appears that pictures on older comments are still accessible. I also tried using the URL of the image copied directly into my address bar, and that worked for pictures on older comments. The example I tried was from two years ago.
For pictures I am posting tonight, I get the broken link, and when I copy the URL of the image there directly into my address bar, I get the following:
<Error>
<Code>AccessDenied</Code>
<Message>Access Denied</Message>
<RequestId>3J5QT72AW6EM5PRX</RequestId>
<HostId> there was a value here I snipped out </HostId>
</Error>
I compared the URLs of the working and broken images, and they looked similar… the only part I couldn’t compare was an 8 character hexadecimal value near the end of the filename. So, unless that value is broken, I don’t think the URL is getting munged. If I were to guess, maybe there’s something about file permissions or ownership when the file is getting saved that is no longer set correctly. I suspect the problem isn’t on retrieval because I can retrieve another image, and both images are in the same URL path, though I suppose the back end could be parsing the filename into some sort of path structure as well.
Obviously, I don’t actually know how your software works; I’m just hoping that my observations and guesses make figuring out this bug easier.
Edited post to get the XML response to show tags, and to get it to be formatted like code, which I didn’t know I could do the first time.
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It has been 26 days or so. Is there any ETA on a fix for this? This functionality is an important piece of our process. Because the interface for recording advancement is inconvenient at best, we typically mark a rank 100% complete and then stash a picture of the Scout’s handbook page in the comments. Similarly, for merit badges, we put pictures of the MB card in the comments, just in case the Scout’s copy is destroyed or our Troop records perish in a flood (it happens).
This is especially bothersome, since the broken functionality represents a regression. I’m not sure what new features came with the break, but I would prefer reverting to a previous version of the software with the picture upload functionality intact (not that I get a vote). Thanks!
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The BSA does not comment on when issues will be scheduled for development work. When it is fixed, it will be announced in the Scoutbook change log.
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I came here to see if I was doing something wrong … but it looks like other people are having this problem and that it’s been known for a month or so. I’m just chiming in that this is an important part of the process for us, too.
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I have been watching this for a while now and am disappointed that nothing has been done about this for over a month? I have checked the change logs and it doesn’t seem that this issue has been addressed at all? Our troop uses this function to verify blue cards when MB counselors cannot or won’t connect to a scouts Scoutbook page and instead send them a PDF Blue card or a physical BC. If it’s documented this way, there is no question that the scout has completed the requirements of the MB. Without this function it disrupts the process making things more difficult. It would be nice to see a response from the development team that the issue is at least being looked into, and not just a generic comment that National doesn’t comment. That just tells us as volunteers that we don’t really matter and is very frustrating.
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@KarenMeury - that would be additional requirements and that goes against the guide to advancement
Sarcasm? If not what exactly goes against GTA?
@KarenMeury - this quote here:
If you are using the blue card and the MBC signs off that something is done then it is done.
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No council, committee, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to, or subtract from, advancement
requirements. There are limited exceptions relating only to members with special needs. For details see Section 10,
“Advancement for Members With Special Needs.”
The GTA still allows use of the Blue Card. If a counselor DOES NOT sign off a Scout in Scoutbook the Blue Card is the only way to know that the Scout earned credit from his MB Counselor–whether it be the traditional Blue Card or PDF form. If the Counselor signs of in Scoutbook there’s no problem. Your point is mute as my argument was for verification when Scoutbook is not used by counselor. The scout needs some type of documentation (BC,PDF, Council Form) that shows his counselor has approved the badge.
BSA IT does not have unlimited $ to hire developers and Scoutbook is not the only program they work on. This issue is in the backlog and is being prioritized. The BSA does not make the backlog or priority list public. When BSA IT feels this issue can be scheduled for developer time based on this and all the other items in the backlog, it will be worked. We cannot predict when this will happen. All we can say is be patient.
As for Blue Cards, the unit should be holding on to their copy of the physical Blue Card. An image in Scoutbook should only be used as a backup in case the original, physical copy is lost. Until this issue is fixed, you could use Google Drive or another cloud storage provide to maintain electronic copies of Blue Cards.
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GET it. That is what we are doing, but it makes the process more difficult/confusing having to use more resources. I didn’t think that by posting a concern I would be attacked so vociferously. GTA Section 7 lays out the MB process pretty clearly.
If the Scout turned in the signed blue card, there is no question the scout has completed the requirements of the MB.
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I think all you are saying is that attaching an image of the blue card provides redundancy in case the physical card and all portions of it disappear. Sounds reasonable to me.
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@jacobfetzer - i wold agree that it is reasonable but should not be required.
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