Hi archonic!
To clarify, we do not ask for donations (there isn’t even a way to give us a donation :), and the basic version of SexyBookmarks is completely free.
We like to continually improve SexyBookmarks to make it perfect vs. sit on updates/bug fixes/compatibility upgrades… better than no updates/buggy plugin, right?
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/sexybookmarks/changelog/
Btw, it is important to understand why we ask users to re-save settings:
When you save your settings, the plugin grabs a custom sprite png file (based on which services you pick) from our servers and saves them on your server (/spritegen directory). The master sprite image that ships with SB contains over 60+ buttons and is over 200kb big. Since most publishers choose to display <10 buttons on their webpages why load 60 buttons when 10 buttons are enough. Using custom sprites makes everything a lot faster for your readers.
When you update SexyBookmarks, the custom sprite unfortunately gets deleted by WordPress. This is why we ask you to re-save your SB settings on update. Note: starting with v3.3.12 – if you choose not to re-save your settings, SB will still work. It now defaults to the master sprite file automatically.
We’ll look into whether can just automatically do the custom sprite step on upgrade behind the scenes.
FYI, I updated the plugin for the last time today. Then I deactivated and deleted it. Annoyance factor finally reached the breaking point.
Find a better way to consolidate your updates so they don’t come so often (unless security related, of course); include ‘sprites’ in the update. Do *something* to make using your plugin less annoying, and I’ll happily give it another look.
I am ok to re-save settings to regenerate the sprite.
What is much worse is that every time there is a tiny update, I also need to boot up the FTP, login to my all sites that use this and re-set the permissions to 755, as somehow the entire spritegen folder gets replaced. This takes too much time and effort.
This is the number one reason I am now looking for a better solution.
SexyBookmarks no longer needs the spritegen directory. Although it will be much faster if it did.
Well, I just updated to 4.01 and it appear that it is still as annoying:
– On top of the settings page:
“Help
NOTICE: Shareaholic was just updated… Please visit the Plugin Options Page and re-save your preferences.
Shareaholic Plugin Health Status
Directory Permissions To Fix: Please appropriately CHMOD your /spritegen directory. “
When saving settings, yet another CHMOD reminder + a few bonus errors:
“
WARNING: Your spritegen folder is not writeable by the server! Need Help?
Warning: fopen(/home/public_html/wp-content/plugins/sexybookmarks/spritegen/jquery.shareaholic-publishers-sb.min.js) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/public_html/wp-content/plugins/sexybookmarks/includes/helper-functions.php on line 175
Warning: fopen(/home/public_html/wp-content/plugins/sexybookmarks/spritegen/sprite.css) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/public_html/wp-content/plugins/sexybookmarks/includes/helper-functions.php on line 175
Warning: fopen(/home/public_html/wp-content/plugins/sexybookmarks/spritegen/sprite.png) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/public_html/wp-content/plugins/sexybookmarks/includes/helper-functions.php on line 175
Changes saved successfully. However, settings are not optimal until you resolve the issue listed above.
This was when using “new” version. When switching back to “old” version, the errors disappear, but still the CHMOD warning:
WARNING: Your spritegen folder is not writeable by the server! Need Help?
So why would I get this warning of the directory is not needed?
It is highly recommended that you do run the most optimized version of SexyBookmarks (which requires ). However, the plugin will work if you don’t. In earlier releases, the plugin did not work in this case.
Wow, there really are some ungrateful people on here. Not you ‘webmasterdesigner’ Just the fellows above bitching.
I am having the same problem btw.
Anyone having a problem with CHMOD spritegen errors, please read the following article in our FAQ:
http://support.shareaholic.com/customer/portal/articles/212815-frequently-asked-questions#errors
Hope this helps! 🙂
I’m having the same problem and the last solution doesn’t not work either. None of them work. And why did the plugin disappear from the WordPress plugin directory? What is going on?
