Site's code mangles text

[Norm Radder]

I would add a comment to the code here:

        SimpleDateFormat sdf = new SimpleDateFormat("dd-MM-yyyy HH:mm:ss"); // NOTE: SPACE between date and time

Look at SPACE in above

See my last post on this thread: https://coderanch.com/t/80/744361/java/errors

[Stephan van Hulst]

I see no issues. Can you describe the problem?

[Norm Radder]

In this text in the above:

// NOTE: SPACE between date and time                                                                           text after the boxed ?

The C in SPACE is replaced by an icon: box containing ?

An observation:  The ? box is at the last shown character of the text displayed for the code.  When the code is shifted to the left, the ? box stays over the C instead of going to the end.  Clicking on the ?box brings up the SyntaxHighlighter display window.

[Campbell Ritchie]

I can't see that, but I can see a buff box containing a ? instead of the first / before the comment. Only in the thread you quoted, not here. No idea what is causing it. Sorry.

[Tim Holloway]

Yeah, I've seen that artefact before.

What's interesting is that the "?" box is actually a hyperlink to this topic.

[Norm Radder]

Changing the Chrome browser's zoom factor changes what is displayed in the [code] box and moves the place where the boxed ? is shown relative to the text.  The boxed ? is always at the end of the [code] box.

[Campbell Ritchie]

There is a ? at the top right of every [code] box.

System.out.println("? at top right→");


System.out.println("Nothing at bottom right.");

If you click the ?, you get a pop-up with acknowledgements to whoever wrote the UBB for code boxes. Do you mean that if you write long lines, the ? is embedding itself into the code?

[Norm Radder]

write long lines, the ? is embedding itself into the code?

Yes.  It looks like the ? location is set for the initial display and may be in the midst of the text.  When the line is shifted to the left, the ? stays positioned in the text.  It seems like the ? should not move and stay at the right end of the code box.

[Jesse Silverman]

Norm Radder wrote:

write long lines, the ? is embedding itself into the code?

Yes.  It looks like the ? location is set for the initial display and may be in the midst of the text.  When the line is shifted to the left, the ? stays positioned in the text.  It seems like the ? should not move and stay at the right end of the code box.

Hey, I'd noticed this but hadn't got anywhere on creating an actionable bug report.
It was really weirding me out.

I tried to get used to it until someone else noticed or I could say something more...actionable about it.

[paul wheaton]

I've been out for a week and am now catching up.

Please help me to understand the issue.

[Norm Radder]

The ? at the end of the text on the first line inside of code tags moves with the text. If the text is moved while viewing, the ? moves with the text instead of staying at the end of the line.

[paul wheaton]

// some comment

// some comment ? more comment

// some comment ?

[paul wheaton]

// a very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very long line of code

[paul wheaton]

Okay, I see it now.  

And of our staff devs see how it can be mended in the code?