Filter subscriptions not auto-updating

[gilstar]

I've had a search of the forum but didn't see any obvious reference to this issue.

Having previously used Filterset.G and found it now apparently moribund I switched to Easylist, but my subscriptions (to EasyList and EasyList/EasyElement) are not updating and I can't figure out why. The versions I have currently installed are 3 days old and a quick visit to rick752's site shows both have been revised in the meantime. The 'Update automatically' option is of course checked. Manual update works fine.

I have tried uninstalling Adblockplus and reinstalling (having edited out all previous references to Adblock, Adblockplus and Filterset.G Updater from prefs.js so as to try and get a clean install). I have even tried uninstalling all other extensions.

Any suggestions for what might explain this behaviour? Thank you

[Master X]

Easylist/Easyelement is set to be updated every five days (it is set in the http-header). So this is wanted. Every five days adblock plus will check for a new version. This is made in order to save bandwidth and reduce connections.

[rick752]

I've had a search of the forum but didn't see any obvious reference to this issue.

Having previously used Filterset.G and found it now apparently moribund I switched to Easylist, but my subscriptions (to EasyList and EasyList/EasyElement) are not updating and I can't figure out why. The versions I have currently installed are 3 days old and a quick visit to rick752's site shows both have been revised in the meantime. The 'Update automatically' option is of course checked. Manual update works fine.

I have tried uninstalling Adblockplus and reinstalling (having edited out all previous references to Adblock, Adblockplus and Filterset.G Updater from prefs.js so as to try and get a clean install). I have even tried uninstalling all other extensions.

Any suggestions for what might explain this behaviour? Thank you

If the EasyList or EasyElement filters are being served from the adblockplus.org server (subscription and link default), the filters now only update every FIVE days.

Wladimir adjusted this for the EasyList because the load on his server was getting to maximum limit ... mostly because of the EasyList downloads.

ps: I'm glad you started this topic because I'm sure others would like to know that it's not something wrong on their end. My verizon.net server still updates everyday, but I will be phasing that download server out in the future ... I just haven't figured out how to do it yet as new updates of ADP do NOT change the server address . I figure I still have 50,000 EasyList and 5,000 EasyElement subscription serves being done daily from there and really didn't want to redirect the verizon ones to here after Wladimir's 'shock' over the download numbers from just his server alone.

[rick752]

On the other hand:

Having previously used Filterset.G and found it now apparently moribund I switched to Easylist,

3 days (easylist) is not like 3 months (g) is it

[gilstar]

Okay! Whew that's a relief that I don't have a bent Fx profile.

It's kind of misleading that the Edit Filter Subcription dialog states that auto-updates will still happen daily. AFAICS the http-header info about the 5-day update period is not exposed anywhere in the UI. Presumably it's buried in pattern.ini in some form. Perhaps an Adblockplus enhancement request then for the (fixed) update period for each subscribed filter to be shown in the Edit Filter Subcription dialog?

Thanks guys for the quick response.

[rick752]

Okay! Whew that's a relief that I don't have a bent Fx profile.

It's kind of misleading that the Edit Filter Subcription dialog states that auto-updates will still happen daily. AFAICS the http-header info about the 5-day update period is not exposed anywhere in the UI. Presumably it's buried in pattern.ini in some form. Perhaps an Adblockplus enhancement request then for the (fixed) update period for each subscribed filter to be shown in the Edit Filter Subcription dialog?

Thanks guys for the quick response.

I don't think it's in the UI at all. I think Wladimir set it on the server itself.

If you want the daily updates, you can always edit the EasyList download address to be:

Code: Select all

http://mysite.verizon.net/rick752/firefox/adblock_rick752.txt

EasyElement to:

Code: Select all

http://mysite.verizon.net/rick752/adblock/easylist-element_rick752.txt

...as for the time being, I update both of those sites.

*** Be forewarned however that the verizon serves may terminate without warning (just keep that in the back of your mind). I really don't suggest changing to it.

[gilstar]

I don't think it's in the UI at all. I think Wladimir set it on the server itself.

Yes but assuming it must be stored locally in the client (presumably in the patterns.ini file) to prevent over-aggressive server polling, the server-side preset for the update period could subsequently be displayed in the client UI somewhere.

[Peng]

Yes but assuming it must be stored locally in the client (presumably in the patterns.ini file) to prevent over-aggressive server polling, the server-side preset for the update period could subsequently be displayed in the client UI somewhere.

Yes, it's stored in patterns.ini:

Code: Select all

[Subscription]
url=http://easylist.adblockplus.org/adblock_rick752.txt
title=EasyList
autoDownload=true
disabled=true
external=false
lastDownload=1157742249
lastSuccess=1157742249
downloadStatus=synchronize_ok
lastModified=Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:35:05 GMT
expires=1158174249

The last line.

Edit: Hey, you posted post # 6500.

Edit: And that "The last line. " is not meant it any way....

[rick752]

Yes, it's stored in patterns.ini:

Hey, I didn't know that. Thanx Peng.

[John Gray]

Okay! Whew that's a relief that I don't have a bent Fx profile.

It's kind of misleading that the Edit Filter Subcription dialog states that auto-updates will still happen daily. AFAICS the http-header info about the 5-day update period is not exposed anywhere in the UI. Presumably it's buried in pattern.ini in some form. Perhaps an Adblockplus enhancement request then for the (fixed) update period for each subscribed filter to be shown in the Edit Filter Subcription dialog?

Thanks guys for the quick response.

I don't think it's in the UI at all. I think Wladimir set it on the server itself.

If you want the daily updates, you can always edit the EasyList download address to be:

Code: Select all

http://mysite.verizon.net/rick752/firefox/adblock_rick752.txt

EasyElement to:

Code: Select all

http://mysite.verizon.net/rick752/adblock/easylist-element_rick752.txt

...as for the time being, I update both of those sites.

*** Be forewarned however that the verizon serves may terminate without warning (just keep that in the back of your mind). I really don't suggest changing to it.

I have 6 users on this one machine using WinXP. That means 6 Firefox profiles that will call for updates to these subscriptions. Perhaps adding an option to Adblock Plus to automatically export to a Shared Folder. The most active profile could be set to update from the internet, and the rest could be set to update from the local copy. That alone would reduce the bandwidth a lot, as I'm sure that others have the same setup. I have an older machine on this LAN that could read the same text file for it's update.

[Wladimir Palant]

@John Gray: If you have a local Apache - setting up a caching script would be easy.