Skip to main content

Not All bX Error Codes Are Temporary

Everybody who has owned or read a Blogger blog, for more than a week, surely knows about the infamous bX codes - and has probably asked how to fix one.

Some people have fixed one - but immediately, seen another. Others have seen theirs go away, then later discovered that the blog is broken.

Some folks see the errors as major problems, others minor annoyances.
it's disheartening to see that the bx error code problems are still existing.
Not everybody realises that the codes are not the problems - they are simply a method to identify the problems. Many Blogger problems cannot be identified easily in language.

Many problems, many "solutions"
There are many known "solutions" for the codes, because there are many different problems, with many different causes. Here, we have 5 examples.
  • Some codes are caused by an inconsistency in private data. These codes can generally be cleared by "clearing cache, cookies, and sessions".
  • Some codes are caused by over enthusiastic template customisation. These codes can be cleared by getting a new template, or restoring the template from backup, for the blogs that are issuing the code.
  • Some codes are caused by bogus custom domain addressing, for the blogs that are issuing the code. These codes can be cleared, only, by correcting the DNS addressing, for the blogs that are issuing the code.
  • Some codes are caused by trying to use an unsuitable browser. Right now, Blogger does not support Internet Explorer V11 These codes can be cleared only by using a different browser.
  • Some codes are caused by dodgy Blogger code. These codes cannot be solved by blog owners or readers. The bX codes, in many cases, are simply from Blogger Engineering adding "break points" into their code, so they can diagnose a known problem.
Above, we see just 5 examples. There is one rule, which you may want to consider, when diagnosing bX codes.
There are no rules, in diagnosing bX codes.
That is the plain truth.

History
Before they started issuing bX codes, Blogger would simply issue one universal error, that was incredibly annoying, to everybody seeing it.
We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are unable to process your request at this time. Our engineers have been notified of this problem and will work to resolve it.
Replacing that error, with the unique bX codes, was so simple - and elegant. The program, that issues a bX error report, simply takes the address of the failure point in the Blogger code library, where an unacceptable condition has occurred, and hashes the address into a 6 character alphanumeric code. And there is the bX code. Yes, that simple.

Blogger keeps a database listing of bX codes that are currently active, and a running count for each code. When a given code becomes more noticeable than others, an engineer simply uses the 6 character code to locate the failure point in the Blogger code library, and diagnoses the cause of the error. Fixing the code will vary, depending upon the cause of the code.

A hypothetical example
If you add an extra "<div>" tag in your template code, using the Template Editor, it's possible that the Template Editor code may detect it, and specifically advise you.
Don't add a "<div>" tag there!
In many cases, through, an extra "<div>" tag won't be noticed until you try to save the changes - or even until a reader views the blog under specific conditions. Either of the latter two cases may result in another bX code.

When you report your bX code in Blogger Help Forum: Get Help with an Issue, if other people have reported that same code, it's possible that we might have a known solution, ready for you.
Don't add a "<div>" tag, there!
In many cases, though, you will be advised to
Restore the template from backup - or get a new template from the dashbooard Template wizard.
In either case, though, the advice to get a backup or new template is not a solution - it's a workaround. The proper solution is for you to figure out what you did, that was wrong, and correct what you did.

In some cases, if we see enough of the same code, as we do now with the "bX-w7tr63", currently being reported in Blogger Help Forum: Get Help with an Issue - we may advise you.
Blogger cannot support you, using Internet Explorer, right now.
Internet Explorer V11 has too many internal changes, for Blogger Engineering to update the Blogger dashboard utilities, and remove all known problems. That may be vaguely similar to the problems where we alternately advise.
Restore the template from backup - or get a new template from the dashbooard Template wizard.
In either case, we provide most advice based on feedback from other blog owners.

Reality
Be aware that each bX code may have a different solution. Be wary of advice that simply instructs.
Most bX errors are temporary and will usually go away on their own.
You may read [FAQ] What Are The Mysterious bX Codes? and try clearing your cache and cookies.
Some errors may go away, on their own - but most require somebody to take some action. Not all that many are temporary.

Comments

Magpie Sue said…
thanks, this was helpful

Popular posts from this blog

Adding A Link To Your Blog Post

Occasionally, you see a very odd, cryptic complaint I just added a link in my blog, but the link vanished! No, it wasn't your imagination.

Embedded Comments And Main Page View

The option to display comments, embedded below the post, was made a blog option relatively recently. This was a long requested feature - and many bloggers added it to their blogs, as soon as the option was presented to us. Some blog owners like this feature so much, that they request it to be visible when the blog is opened, in main page view. I would like all comments, and the comment form, to be shown underneath the relevant post, automatically, for everyone to read without clicking on the number of comments link. And this is not how embedded comments work.

What's The URL Of My Blog?

We see the plea for help, periodically I need the URL of my blog, so I can give it to my friends. Help! Who's buried in Grant's Tomb, after all? No Chuck, be polite. OK, OK. The title of this blog is "The Real Blogger Status", and the title of this post is "What's The URL Of My Blog?".