Confirmed: FFN is automatically stripping file names
Yes, it's true, folks. FFN has done yet another thing to tick us off and make writing difficult. File names are being automatically stripped from stories when you post them to the site. Normally, I'm fairly passive about the changes that FFN makes, but this really is too much for me to take and keep silent.
So, I wrote a letter. Fear my politely worded rage. ;p
To whom it may concern,
I have recently noticed that Fanfiction.net has begun stripping file names from stories posted on its site, e.g. homework.txt, image.jpg, and program.exe. To confirm that it really was FFN that was the cause and not the authors, I composed the following test in FFN's Document Manager:
URL test: www.fanfiction.net
Character names test: Rockman.EXE, Blues.EXE and Haro.EXE
Cramming words test: I.just.don't.get.it.
File extension test: Roll.doc homework.txt music.mp3 song.mid and image.jpg.
When I clicked Save, this is what was left:
URL test: .net
Character names test: , and
Cramming words test: .don'.it.
File extension test: 3 and .
I write for the Rockman/Megaman series, which features characters that are robots and computer programs. In the Rockman.EXE/Megaman Battle Network/NT Warrior series, many of the characters' names are, in fact, their file names, such as Rockman.EXE, Roll.EXE, and Blues.EXE. As computer programs, their lives revolve around other computer programs, files, and commands. Stripping file names from a story based on this series would have a devastating effect.
I am certain that this is not the only series that is being influenced by this automatic file name stripping. Any series or story with roots in modern computer technology will be negatively affected. If it's possible, I would like to ask that the automatic file name stripping be removed or modified to account for this. If nothing else, an announcement should have been made to alert FFN's users so that they can take measures to work around the loss of file names when writing their stories.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
B.C.
FFN username: Burenda
So, I wrote a letter. Fear my politely worded rage. ;p
To whom it may concern,
I have recently noticed that Fanfiction.net has begun stripping file names from stories posted on its site, e.g. homework.txt, image.jpg, and program.exe. To confirm that it really was FFN that was the cause and not the authors, I composed the following test in FFN's Document Manager:
URL test: www.fanfiction.net
Character names test: Rockman.EXE, Blues.EXE and Haro.EXE
Cramming words test: I.just.don't.get.it.
File extension test: Roll.doc homework.txt music.mp3 song.mid and image.jpg.
When I clicked Save, this is what was left:
URL test: .net
Character names test: , and
Cramming words test: .don'.it.
File extension test: 3 and .
I write for the Rockman/Megaman series, which features characters that are robots and computer programs. In the Rockman.EXE/Megaman Battle Network/NT Warrior series, many of the characters' names are, in fact, their file names, such as Rockman.EXE, Roll.EXE, and Blues.EXE. As computer programs, their lives revolve around other computer programs, files, and commands. Stripping file names from a story based on this series would have a devastating effect.
I am certain that this is not the only series that is being influenced by this automatic file name stripping. Any series or story with roots in modern computer technology will be negatively affected. If it's possible, I would like to ask that the automatic file name stripping be removed or modified to account for this. If nothing else, an announcement should have been made to alert FFN's users so that they can take measures to work around the loss of file names when writing their stories.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
B.C.
FFN username: Burenda