h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I typed up an entry in Guide ML, and when I push the preview button, all I get is the title header. Nothing else shows up.

I typed the entry in Brunel, and did not get any warnings that I did not close tags. I am fairly proficient in HTML, and the difference between that and Guide ML aren't enough for me to have made some horrible mistake. I did press the Guide ML, so I did not write the entry in plain text. I also tried to preview the entry in Classic Goo, and it doesn't show up there either.

I hate to have to submit this entry to the writer's workshop in plain text, as the first thing anyone will say is that it needs to be in Guide ML - duhhh!

I deleted my entry until I could get the problem fixed; any suggestions?

madmum22

Hmmm... do you have the < GUIDE > and < BODY > tags intact at the very beginning, and as the last tags to be closed?

Yes I do.

Then it might be a bit difficult to tell without seeing the Guide-ML itself - perhaps you could copy&paste it into a posting?

I would do that if I could find it! !!! It must be that my headache's come back again & I've suddenly gone brain dead; how do I get back to my cancelled entry? (I know it's still there - somewhere, wherever!)

Did you press the 'Update Entry' button to create an entry, and then delete it?

If you did, then you can see your 'deleted' entries here (only you can see them): <./>MA3281210?type=3</.>

If you didn't press the update button, then it's all gone

Okay, I found it! Thanks!

I'm going to put the entry inside parentheses, just in case. I tried to model my entry after other guide entries:

( How Not To Go A-Ghost HuntingWith the advent of so many television shows on the paranormal and ‘ghost hunting,’ it seems that anyone with a fancy for the paranormal is out there looking for ghosts. Unfortunately, not all ghost hunters have the slightest idea of how to research the paranormal, much less how to appear serious and scientific while they’re doing paranormal research. This, then, is an important guide about what not to do should one decide to hop on the ghost-hunting bandwagon.To Prove Or Not To ProveMost professional paranormal investigators begin an investigation with the premise that no haunting exists unless undeniable, scientific evidence can be found during the investigation. Investigating on such a premise can be boring. Instead, begin your investigations by attempting to prove – rather than disprove – hauntings. Paranormal phenomena that are actually the results of bad plumbing or faulty electrics are the realm of plumbers and electricians; if the clients had wanted home repairs, they certainly wouldn’t have contacted you!ResearchThere are two types of research that every bad ghost hunter must never do: client interviews and location research. Both types of research will take hours out of your day (or night), and are definitely not recommended for the impatient.Interviewing clients is tricky. People who live in haunted locales are full of stories, both secondhand and personal. Ghost stories are always interesting and creepy, but it certainly won’t look good later if you’ve found out that Mrs. Smith – whose home you’re investigating – spent five years in a sanitarium for a split personality disorder, or that her son, John Smith, who has also seen ghosts, tends to take hallucinogenic drugs. Knowledge like this will almost certainly invalidate your investigation; thus, client interviews should be avoided like the plague!Location research can likewise be disheartening, and should be avoided whenever possible. A bad ghost hunter should assume that most American hauntings can be attributed to the area sitting atop an old Indian burial ground. In other parts of the world hauntings are most likely caused by secret mass burials or restless monks. If you should decide to actually go to all the bother of doing location research, do it before your investigation; this way, you will know what to expect, and you will be much more likely to find evidence to fit your research.Appearance (Your Own)Even an amateur ghost hunter wants to be taken seriously. One way to insure that you’re not taken seriously is to dress like a psycho killer. It’s perfectly respectable to wear a T-shirt with the name of your ghost hunting organization emblazoned across the front. Old, tattered, smelly jeans can complement this attire, assuring that you (and everyone else involved) will encounter an olfactory experience.So you’ve opted for a loud Hawaiian shirt or something that looks like a mu-mu and a hat that would only look great at Ascot? Good. Perhaps now you can scare the ghosts out into the open, as well as your clients.Keep in mind that dressing outlandishly will ensure that all the neighbors are aware of your presence, and that the name of your organization will be foremost on the minds of the community.PersonnelOne should never investigate an alleged haunting alone; thus, it is necessary to bring friends along on an investigation. Make sure that your friends tend toward the hysterical: those who run screaming from a cold spot, unexplained noise, or imagined touch will most certainly alert you to proof of the paranormal. It might be a good idea, though, to caution your client to remove any breakables prior to your visit.The Psychic ConnectionBy all means, bring along a psychic to add to the fun! Psychics definitely leave an impression on clients, and they are great for heightening the drama and creepy atmosphere. Psychics can provide a wealth of information during an investigation, even if you should find absolutely no references to this information during your research stage. If, for any reason, your investigation turns up nothing, you can always leave smug in the knowledge that your psychic ‘felt something’; after all, vague evidence is better than no evidence at all!EquipmentProfessional ghost hunters will attempt to obtain the most modern, scientific equipment that they can afford: EMF’s (electromagnetic frequency detectors); digital or analog audio recorders for picking up EVP’s (electronic voice phenomenon); digital cameras (for both video and stills); IR (infra-red) thermometers for detecting cold spots; and night vision gear.A ghost hunter on a budget will decide against the financing of such fancy-schmancy technology, and will probably opt for a small outdoor thermometer, a video camcorder, an instant camera, and a chunky 70’s-type tape recorder. Tapes for the camcorder and tape recorder should be continuously recycled, as new ones cost good money, and one should never waste time labeling the tapes.If you do not own an instant camera, camcorder, or tape recorder, than a sure-fire way to locate ghostly energies is to use dowsing rods. The rods are held apart, one in each hand, and will cross in the presence of a ghost. While metal rods are the choice of those experienced with this method, using two sticks from the tree outside is a much cheaper alternative.Sifting Through The EvidenceWhen you have finished your investigation, zip through your evidence as quickly as possible, to avoid any lengthy waste of time. Though professional paranormal investigators rule out many orbs as insects, or refractions of light or dust, assume that every orb captured on your video or camera shot is a ghost. The same goes for unexplained mists and lighting phenomenon, as they could not possibly be attributed to faulty equipment. Assume also that any voices recorded are those of ghosts, unless you can clearly discern the voice of a client screaming at you to shut the bathroom door and get out.Now that your investigation of a haunting is finished and you’ve found enough evidence to convince yourself that there is indeed ghostly activity, make sure that you never allow your evidence to be scrutinized by sarcastic disbelievers such as scientists and professional paranormal researchers, who too often find other, more rational explanations for hauntings. You should probably steer clear of plumbers and electricians for the same reason! )

Not sure why it wouldn't work for you - it worked for me...

I copied all the text between the < BODY > and < /BODY > tags, and here it is: A9767154

So the body worked; looks good. The subject and article tags look alright - in theory. (Is that article tag necessary? I only used that because the other entries I looked at had them.)

What would you recommend I do now? Try it again?

By the way, thanks so much for your help!

No, the article tag is only visible after you have created the entry, it's not anything you put in yourself.

The only text and tags I copied was the ones between the BODY tags, nothing else, since the GUIDE and BODY tag are inserted automatically when I switch from plain text to GuideML and push the Change Style button

I finally got it to work. I deleted the article tag, and I also deleted the subject tag. Seems that there already was a subject line, so I hadn't needed to put in another one. (Actually, I got a warning, something about how there couldn't be more than one top level; once I figured out what that meant, I was fine!)

Once again Tatiana (and Ripley), thank you so much for your help! My article is now at the Writer's Workshop, awaiting review. Thanks again!

madmum22

Glad you got it to work, and good luck with your article! I've deleted the contents in my test entry, so yours is the only one left