Fretting about formatting: help!

[Jaye]

Just had my first and second submissions rejected due to formatting problem. Apparently both times it opened to a blank file. The first time I thought it was in .doc format because I'd written the article on Office Word 2003 and just saved it as it was. Obviously not the right thing to do. So next time, I opened a new file in WordPad, copied and pasted the article in, then saved it. The file definitely said Rich Text Format after it (and still does). But again, obviously not right. So .... I have opened the file again in Office (original file) and re-saved it in .rtf (in file menu). But being slightly technophobic, I have no confidence whatsoever that it is actually saved in .rtf. I'm afraid to press the submit button again, because this is my last chance, isn't it, 3 strikes etc, etc. Help! Have I done the right thing this time? Would I be better off re-typing the whole thing in WordPad?

[Ed]

The problem is that you are uploading the temporary file that your computer creates. If your original file looks like this:

ThisIsMyArticle.doc

The temporary file looks something like this:

~$sMyArticle.doc

You have to make sure that the file you are uploading contains the full file name. The temporary file is no good for CC's purposes.

If someone has done this in the past, or almost done it, and knows how to avoid it, please share the steps Jaye needs to take.

Thanks,
Ed

[Debbi]

Make sure your article file is closed before you upload it. If there are two versions of the file in your article folder, don't click on the file with a ~$ in front of it when you browse to your folder to upload it.

[Lysis]

Something to remember is that the file is not uploaded until you hit the "Submit" button. So, any changes you do after choosing the file on the submit form will reflect on the upload. This includes changing the file name or moving it to a different directory, which will result in a bad/blank upload. It sounds like you had the file opened and accidentally chose the temp file. I usually have the Word doc opened when I submit to CC, but if you have problems like this, like Debbi said, close the file first. Word automatically deletes the temp file when you do this, so you won't accidentally pick the wrong file.

I don't recommend copy/pasting between formats. It doesn't always work well. I think it's better to use "save as" in the application, close the file, then open it in the new format to verify its layout.

[Jaye]

Thanks all. I did have the file open whilst submitting, so hope that solves the problem. Just another quick question. I've just re-submitted the article with the file closed, but I had to open it to copy and paste in the content excerpt bit, then I closed the file again before submitting it. Hopefully this is ok, because how else would I paste in the excerpt? Will find out in due course if it has worked!

[Lysis]

Thanks all. I did have the file open whilst submitting, so hope that solves the problem. Just another quick question. I've just re-submitted the article with the file closed, but I had to open it to copy and paste in the content excerpt bit, then I closed the file again before submitting it. Hopefully this is ok, because how else would I paste in the excerpt? Will find out in due course if it has worked!

Yeah, that won't hurt anything. As long as you don't make a mistake. For instance, you accidentally delete info, save the file, correct the mistake and don't hit save before submitting. Something like this will reflect a bad upload even though you fixed the mistake. I hope that makes sense. Explaining tech stuff is hard! Basically, whatever you have in the file from the last save is what will upload. Opening/closing the file doesn't do anything except make sure you don't accidentally upload the wrong one.

[Debbi]

I save my completed article file and then leave it open as I fill out the submission form (except attaching the article), copying and pasting into the Long Summary. Tthen I close the file and attach it after the rest of the form is complete.

Can't wait to see if your articles get accepted!

[4rumid]

Another thing you might do: it sounds like you have your "hidden" files showing, which would include temporary files. If you change your settings so they don't show, you don't have any chance of clicking the wrong one. I'd be happy to tell you how to do that, if you need.

[Jaye]

4rumid - You're right - I do have those files marked as hidden. When I open My Documents, I go to Tools, Folder Options, View, then change the 'show hidden files' thing - is this what you're talking about? When I submitted the article to CC, I would have had those files un-hidden. Don't know if this caused the problem - still awaiting news on 3rd submission, but if it's rejected for same reason, I'll be back to you for help! (Unless I'm excommunicated)

[4rumid]

Yes, that's what I'm talking about. What I'm saying is make sure the "hidden" files are hidden when you're ready to upload your article. If they're hidden, there's no way you can select them accidentally. Feel free to come back for help, but it looks like you don't need any! Good luck!

[Jaye]

Thanks, all, for your help. Article was accepted!

[Debbi]

Hooray!!

*Happy dancing little creatures a la Phil*

Debbi