Ever since I upgraded to Moodle 1.6.3 (from 1.5.2) I have been unable to run existing quizes or create new one.
I get 'Error creating a default category!' message whenever I try to view, modify or create this activity.
The database seems to be fine. The category table exists and is not empty.
Hi!
I have the same problem. You have found some solution?
Thanks
No, I haven't.
And I'm beginning to lose any hope
And I'm beginning to lose any hope
Hi Marcin, Hi Emilio,
the error you got seems to come from the "question/editlib.php" script, specifically from the "get_default_question_category" function.
If you are using a MySQL database, you can identify why your Moodle cannot create a new default quiz category by doing the following:
Gordon
the error you got seems to come from the "question/editlib.php" script, specifically from the "get_default_question_category" function.
If you are using a MySQL database, you can identify why your Moodle cannot create a new default quiz category by doing the following:
- open "question/editlib.php" with a text editor
- locate the following line (around line 89)
notify("Error creating a default category!"); - change the above line to:
notify("Error creating a default category!".mysql_error()); - try viewing a quiz again and report back on the new error message
Gordon
It turned out there was no mdl_question_categories in the database.
I copied the table mdl_quiz_categories (structure and data) into a new mdl_question_categories and the quizes can now be displayed and edited.
I have lost all the questions and answers in all of my quizes however. Do I need to rename all mdl_quiz_*** tables into mdl_question_*** tables?
I copied the table mdl_quiz_categories (structure and data) into a new mdl_question_categories and the quizes can now be displayed and edited.
I have lost all the questions and answers in all of my quizes however. Do I need to rename all mdl_quiz_*** tables into mdl_question_*** tables?
> It turned out there was no mdl_question_categories in the database.
Oh dear. That seems like a serious problem to me. This "question" tables should have been created by a previous Moodle upgrade, so if you haven't got them, then the previous upgrade didn't work properly from some reason.
I am going to suggest something very drastic. Please, please, please take a back up of you entire Moodle database before you attempt the following. If you cannot take a backup, then STOP and DO NOT TRY what I am about to suggest.
Did you take a full backup? If this goes wrong, are you confident you can quickly and easily restore your database to its current state? If NO, please stop and seek advice. If YES, please continue ...
If there were any major problems, please restore to your backup.
I really hope this works for you, but even if it does not, please let us know what happened.
good luck!
Gordon
Oh dear. That seems like a serious problem to me. This "question" tables should have been created by a previous Moodle upgrade, so if you haven't got them, then the previous upgrade didn't work properly from some reason.
I am going to suggest something very drastic. Please, please, please take a back up of you entire Moodle database before you attempt the following. If you cannot take a backup, then STOP and DO NOT TRY what I am about to suggest.
Did you take a full backup? If this goes wrong, are you confident you can quickly and easily restore your database to its current state? If NO, please stop and seek advice. If YES, please continue ...
- login to Moodle as administrator, access Admin -> Variables, and in the "Miscellaneous" section set "Debug" to "Yes". Then logout from Moodle.
- start up and login to your favorite database administration tool, e.g. phpMyAdmin
- confirm that the MySQL username that Moodle uses has sufficient privileges to rename tables in the Moodle database. If it does not have these privileges, please add them
- if you copied the "mdl_quiz_categories" to "mdl_question_categories", please delete "mdl_question_categories"
if you renamed "mdl_quiz_categories" to "mdl_question_categories", please rename it back to "mdl_quiz_categories" - select the "mdl_modules" table then locate the "quiz" record. Make a note (= write down) the current "version" and then change the "version" field to "2006022399"
- login to Moodle as administrator. The upgrade of the quiz module should start. If it does not start, please access "admin/index.php" on your site. If the upgrade still does not start, please STOP and seek assistance.
If there were any major problems, please restore to your backup.
I really hope this works for you, but even if it does not, please let us know what happened.
good luck!
Gordon
Wow, super. This advice is as brave as it is wise and vice versa, and in any event super.
Has anyone tried to do this? Any results, comments?
I'm afraid I don't have the guts to risk my system and perform all this. Instead, I'm thinking of another upgrade. Perhaps if I try to upgrade to 1.7 now everything will get back to normal?
For the time being, I switched off the quiz module
I'm afraid I don't have the guts to risk my system and perform all this. Instead, I'm thinking of another upgrade. Perhaps if I try to upgrade to 1.7 now everything will get back to normal?
For the time being, I switched off the quiz module
If a previous upgrade failed it is very, very unlikely that another upgrade will fix it. In fact it will probably get worse - sorry
Howard,
in the general case you might be right, but in this particular case, I think there is a good chance that what I suggested will help. At least I am hopeful it will allow us to see an error about why the upgrade failed, which could well pinpoint something about the quiz module, or Marcin's setup, that does not allow the upgrade to succeed.
I do not think that what I suggested will make the situation worse. For I start, I was very clear about taking a backup, and restoring from the backup if the suggested action did not work. But more importantly, I looked inside "mod/quiz/db/mysql.php" and saw that the upgrade actions of the quiz module on or after 2006022400 are solely concerned with renaming the tables from "mdl_quiz..." to "mdl_question...". That seems to be exactly what we need to do in this situation. If you do not agree, I invite you to look inside "mod/quiz/db/mysql.php", after line 940, and explain what you see that leads you to say the situation will "probably get worse", if we try this upgrade.
Marcel,
I understand that you are worried about "experimenting" on your live Moodle site, so I advise you to download a copy of your live Moodle database and your Moodle directory from your server to your own PC, where you can install a "Complete install" from the Moodle downloads page, which includes Apache+PHP+MySQL. Then import your database to your MySQL on your PC and try to upgrade, using the suggestions I gave earlier. You will not make the situation worse and you will probably find out some information which will help you repair your live site.
Alternatively, if you would like me to try to upgrade your site on my machine, please send me details of where i can download a dump of your Moodle database. My contact address is: gordon at-sign kanazawa hyphen gu dot ac dot jp
good luck
Gordon
in the general case you might be right, but in this particular case, I think there is a good chance that what I suggested will help. At least I am hopeful it will allow us to see an error about why the upgrade failed, which could well pinpoint something about the quiz module, or Marcin's setup, that does not allow the upgrade to succeed.
I do not think that what I suggested will make the situation worse. For I start, I was very clear about taking a backup, and restoring from the backup if the suggested action did not work. But more importantly, I looked inside "mod/quiz/db/mysql.php" and saw that the upgrade actions of the quiz module on or after 2006022400 are solely concerned with renaming the tables from "mdl_quiz..." to "mdl_question...". That seems to be exactly what we need to do in this situation. If you do not agree, I invite you to look inside "mod/quiz/db/mysql.php", after line 940, and explain what you see that leads you to say the situation will "probably get worse", if we try this upgrade.
Marcel,
I understand that you are worried about "experimenting" on your live Moodle site, so I advise you to download a copy of your live Moodle database and your Moodle directory from your server to your own PC, where you can install a "Complete install" from the Moodle downloads page, which includes Apache+PHP+MySQL. Then import your database to your MySQL on your PC and try to upgrade, using the suggestions I gave earlier. You will not make the situation worse and you will probably find out some information which will help you repair your live site.
Alternatively, if you would like me to try to upgrade your site on my machine, please send me details of where i can download a dump of your Moodle database. My contact address is: gordon at-sign kanazawa hyphen gu dot ac dot jp
good luck
Gordon
Gordon,
I don't think I was clear - I agree with you. I was answering the bit of his question which I took to be about doing another upgrade (to 1.7) of the complete Moodle site as opposed to (your suggestion) of trying to isolate the particular problem.
He needs to do what you suggest - or something like it.
I don't think I was clear - I agree with you. I was answering the bit of his question which I took to be about doing another upgrade (to 1.7) of the complete Moodle site as opposed to (your suggestion) of trying to isolate the particular problem.
He needs to do what you suggest - or something like it.
Oh sorry Howard, I completely misunderstood! I see what you meant now though, and quite agree: it would be unwise to upgrade to 1.7, knowing that the Moodle 1.6 upgrade has not yet successfully completed.
Thanks for clearing that up
Gordon
Thanks for clearing that up
Gordon
The only thing is that he doesn't say that he has *no* mdl_question... tables just that he's missing mdl_question_categories. You could well be right all the same, but I would want to make sure.
If that turns out to be the case then the rolling the version number back plan is worth a try - I doubt you can make the situation any worse than it is now
Just to reinforce though - if anybody tries this do make sure debugging is on and check the output very carefully for errors (and record them!)
If that turns out to be the case then the rolling the version number back plan is worth a try - I doubt you can make the situation any worse than it is now
Just to reinforce though - if anybody tries this do make sure debugging is on and check the output very carefully for errors (and record them!)