Missing Feeds on Restart in 1.8.0.862?

Mo 10 Nov, 2008; by dareo - Blog

A number of users have stated that they are seeing a problem where v1.8.0.862 of RSS Bandit loses their feeds on every restart. Specifically, after each restart it states that the number of subscribed feeds is 0 after loading the feed list even though feeds were added on the previous run. I am unable to reproduce this error on my own so I need information from people who are hitting this problem to see what the conditions are on your machines.

The first step is to ask if you look in C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\RssBandit (if in Windows Vista) or C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\RssBandit (if on Windows XP) and see if there is a feedsources.xml file. If so can you look and see if it has an entry that looks something like

</source>

The id value should be different on your machine. Then can you see if you have a DirectAccess.<id>.subscriptions file in that folder? If so, does the ID match that in feedsources.xml? That file should contain your subscriptions starting from when a 1.7.0.x or 1.8.0.x version of RSS Bandit was first installed.

Secondly, is there a subscriptions.xml file in that folder?

Finally can you provide your error.log and trace.log files from recently running the application so we can see if there are any errors that correspond to not being able to save the file? Send the files to the following email address;

#1 ppit on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 3:20

Thanks for taking actions to identify the bug.

I run Windows XP, and my database is not in C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\RssBandit but in a different folder L:\Data\

feedsources.xml has the id 52915 in it and I do have a DirectAccess.52915.subscription file in the same folder. The ID matches.

Secondly, yes, there is a subscriptions.xml (and subscriptions.xml.bak) file in the folder.

I do have an error.log file in the same folder, but it dates back to January 08 and its size is zero. Opening the file in a text editor gives me an empty file.

I cannot see a trace.log file.

#2 Stephen on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 3:58

1. Yes the feedsources.xml file is there.

2. Yes there's a DirectAccess.<id>.subscriptions file in that folder where <id> matches the id in the feedsources file.

3. Yes there's a subscriptions.xml file in the folder too with my subscriptions listed in it.

4. Finally, there's an error.log file too, but it's empty.

I deleted it, restarted RSS Bandit, saw it recreated but it's empty still.

#3 Stephen on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 4:08

Could not find file 'C:\Users\stephenm\AppData\Roaming\RssBandit\shortcutsettings.xml'

Lots of this error in the trace.log file

#4 Steve on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 4:30

Found the shortcutsettings.xml file 1 level higher in 'C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\RssBandit\shortcutsettings.xml' and copied it to the subfolder /RssBandit/ but that did not resolve the lost feeds issue.

Trace.log has the following error: 2008-11-10 10:22:53,375 [1] ERROR RssBandit.RssBanditApplication [(null)] - OnThreadException() called

Exception: System.ArgumentException

Message: Empty file name is not legal.

Parameter name: destFileName

Source: mscorlib

at System.IO.File.Move(String sourceFileName, String destFileName)

at RssBandit.RssBanditApplication.MigrateOrInstallDefaultFeedList(String currentFeedListFileName)

at RssBandit.RssBanditApplication.LoadAllFeedSourcesSubscriptions()

at RssBandit.WinGui.Forms.WinGuiMain.OnFinishLoading()

at RssBandit.WinGui.Forms.WinGuiMain.OnTasksTimerTick(Object sender, EventArgs e)

at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.OnTick(EventArgs e)

at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.TimerNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)

at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

#5 Brian on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 5:49

1. ID's do match

2. Yes

3. Nothing in the error.log but the following exception is in the trace.log.

Exception: System.IO.FileNotFoundException

Message: Could not find file 'C:\Users\bbull.RKARCHER\AppData\Roaming\RssBandit\shortcutsettings.xml'.

Source: mscorlib

at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)

at System.IO.FileStream.Init(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, Int32 rights, Boolean useRights, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, FileOptions options, SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES secAttrs, String msgPath, Boolean bFromProxy)

at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share)

at RssBandit.Utility.Keyboard.ShortcutHandler.Load(String path)

- Nested Exception --------------------------------------

Exception: RssBandit.Utility.Keyboard.InvalidShortcutSettingsFileException

Message: The Shortcut Settings File was not found.

Source: RSSBandit

at RssBandit.Utility.Keyboard.ShortcutHandler.Load(String path)

at RssBandit.WinGui.Forms.WinGuiMain.InitShortcutManager()

2008-11-10 11:44:31,163 [6648] ERROR RssBandit.RssBanditApplication [(null)] - OnThreadException() called

Exception: System.ArgumentException

Message: Empty file name is not legal.

Parameter name: destFileName

Source: mscorlib

at System.IO.File.Move(String sourceFileName, String destFileName)

at RssBandit.RssBanditApplication.MigrateOrInstallDefaultFeedList(String currentFeedListFileName)

at RssBandit.RssBanditApplication.LoadAllFeedSourcesSubscriptions()

at RssBandit.WinGui.Forms.WinGuiMain.OnFinishLoading()

at RssBandit.WinGui.Forms.WinGuiMain.OnTasksTimerTick(Object sender, EventArgs e)

at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.OnTick(EventArgs e)

at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.TimerNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)

at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

#6 skehl on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 6:14

I was having the problem where my feeds would vanish on every restart. I uninstalled RSS Bandit and then deleted the C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\RssBandit directory. I then installed RSS Bandit again and imported my feeds. The problem seems to be gone. I can restart RSS Bandit without loosing my feeds.

#7 Mj on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 6:34

yes to feedsources.xml, yes to an id match, no subscriptions.xml though. starting rssbandit shows "loading feedlist..." in the status bar and the message doesn't go away. there's no error log or trace.

#8 sirrocco on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 6:39

Same as Mj ... no subscriptions.xml yes on the rest, and the log looks like other logs shown here.

#9 sirrocco on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 6:44

When rssBandit starts the error is :

2008-11-10 19:43:48,468 [1] ERROR RssBandit.RssBanditApplication [(null)] - OnThreadException() called

Exception: System.ArgumentException

Message: Empty file name is not legal.

Parameter name: destFileName

Source: mscorlib

at System.IO.File.Move(String sourceFileName, String destFileName)

at RssBandit.RssBanditApplication.MigrateOrInstallDefaultFeedList(String currentFeedListFileName)

at RssBandit.RssBanditApplication.LoadAllFeedSourcesSubscriptions()

at RssBandit.WinGui.Forms.WinGuiMain.OnFinishLoading()

at RssBandit.WinGui.Forms.WinGuiMain.OnTasksTimerTick(Object sender, EventArgs e)

at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.OnTick(EventArgs e)

at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.TimerNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)

at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

#10 Steve on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 7:47

Work Around Found!

Per skehl's above suggestion:

1) Uninstall RSSBandit

2) Manually delete the C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\RssBandit folder

3) Re-install RSSBandit 1.8.0.862

4) Import RSS feeds

The feeds are kept after existing and restarting RSSBandit.

#11 Stephen on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 8:31

Yes, above works for me too.

#12 dareo on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 8:44

For those having problems with feeds being lost, can you install downloads.sourceforge.net/.../RssBandit1.8.0. and see if it addresses the problems?

#13 Adam Hill on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 10:19

I have downloaded and installed 1.8.0.868. But it did not solve the problem.

I have the required "DirectAccess.XXXXX" file.

My trace.log has the missing shortcut.xml exception and the "Empty file name is not legal." exception.

#14 dareo on Mo 10 Nov, 2008 at 11:08

1.8.0.868 was supposed to fix the empty file name issue. Are those entries from after you installed the new version?

#15 Adam Hill on Di 11 Nov, 2008 at 1:19

Yes. You are correct. Those were the errors I was getting *before* .868.

I cleared my trace.log and

now I am only getting the "The user defined shortcut settings file is invalid. Using the default instead." error followed by a Nested exception of:

Exception: RssBandit.Utility.Keyboard.InvalidShortcutSettingsFileException

Message: The Shortcut Settings File was not found.

Source: RSSBandit

at RssBandit.Utility.Keyboard.ShortcutHandler.Load(String path)

at RssBandit.WinGui.Forms.WinGuiMain.InitShortcutManager()

2008-11-10 19:14:35,116 [8700] ERROR RssBandit.RssBanditApplication [(null)] - OnThreadException() called

Exception: System.IO.IOException

Message: Cannot create a file when that file already exists.

Source: mscorlib

at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)

at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError()

at System.IO.File.Move(String sourceFileName, String destFileName)

at RssBandit.RssBanditApplication.MigrateOrInstallDefaultFeedList(String currentFeedListFileName)

at RssBandit.RssBanditApplication.LoadAllFeedSourcesSubscriptions()

at RssBandit.WinGui.Forms.WinGuiMain.OnFinishLoading()

at RssBandit.WinGui.Forms.WinGuiMain.OnTasksTimerTick(Object sender, EventArgs e)

at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.OnTick(EventArgs e)

at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.TimerNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)

at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

#16 dareo on Di 11 Nov, 2008 at 4:16

Thanks for trying it out Adam. How about installing downloads.sourceforge.net/.../RssBandit1.8.0. and seeing if it fixes the problem?

#17 sirrocco on Di 11 Nov, 2008 at 6:10

Yeah, installing 1.8.0 solved the problem.

Please test a bit better the install process - seems the problem happens allot so it's not some random thing

#18 Elja Trum on Di 11 Nov, 2008 at 9:50

Hmm, I would like to go back to the previous version, is there still a place where I can download it?

The new version uses way to much space for each feed. The used to fit exactly on my screen. Now the don't by far..

#19 Elja Trum on Di 11 Nov, 2008 at 10:43

Found version 15. here:

download.chip.eu/.../RSS-Bandit-1.5_

In case someone else wishes to downgrade as well..

#20 ppit on Di 11 Nov, 2008 at 5:59

1.8.0.869 did not solve the problem for me. I still have "Feeds subscribred: 0".

Could the RSSBandit team give a link to the last working version, I am seriously considering downgrading (to 1.6?, 1.5 seems too far back), and would like to know how to do this. Should I un-install first? Will this erase the database for ever?

#21 Stephen on Di 11 Nov, 2008 at 6:11

I installed 1.8.0.869 over an installation of 1.8.0.862 that had the feeds problem and it corrected it.

#22 Tomislav on Mi 12 Nov, 2008 at 2:16

to ppit: I downgraded to 1.6.0.2. First I exported feed list (just for backup) and copied cache folder from C:\Documents and Settings\<YourUserName>\Local Settings\Application Data\RssBandit on XP. The I uninstalled new RSS Bandit 1.8.0.862 and in the same folder installed old and good RSSBandit 1.6.0.2.All feeds was there. I only need to copy cache folder back.

#23 Ariel Popovsky on Mi 12 Nov, 2008 at 2:33

This is what I did to recover my feeds without importing from a backup. As skehl suggested, I uninstalled RSS Bandit and then deleted the C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\RssBandit directory. But before deleting it I backed up DirectAccess.<id>.subscriptions. After reinstalling RSSBandit I opened the app once and closed it. Then replaced DirectAccess.<id>.subscriptions with my backup (changing the id accordingly).

All my feeds were there again and I didn't lost my feeds after closing.

#24 Dave on So 23 Nov, 2008 at 3:06