Wordpress HTML has gone rogue, doesn't keep formatting

June 30, 2010 3:46 AM

Recently, I updated to Wordpress 2.9 and the html formatting on my blog went nuts. Now when I save all lines of code run together.

Previously, when I entered HTML in to the HTML tab I could hit return and a space would naturally appear. The lines were separate and distinct.

Now, every time I leave the HTML tab or save, suddenly all lines of code run together in to one blob of a paragraph. Making it close to impossible to decipher the mess.

I am running WP 2.9 and am not ready to update to 3. I know a lot about computers and can code HTML but php is beyond me and I don't even know where to look to solve this problem.

Please kind gurus, shed some light. I'd be extremely appreciative.

posted by captainscared to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

This could be in a number of places, some of which I can't even think of. Here's a few

1. The texturize (info) phase might be shut off or short circuited by a plugin or your theme. Maybe try turning off plugins, and make a new post, then see.

2. Something with your theme is peculiar CSS-wise. Try using the default theme and seeing if you get the new result with a test post.

3. Does other html work? Try addding bolding, or links, or italics, do those work?

4. Try adding explicit <br /> tags, does that help?

5. If you use the visual editor instead, do you get a different result?
posted by artlung at 6:07 AM on June 30, 2010

(gah, the "shut off" link was meant to be on the word (info), sorry)
posted by artlung at 6:07 AM on June 30, 2010

My first instinct is that it doesn't sound like you're using break tags (see #4 on Artlung's list).
posted by royalsong at 6:17 AM on June 30, 2010

Response by poster: Just to clarify. I am using
and other tags. They work fine. The issue is after I save, all the code runs together in to a single paragraph. The blog looks fine as does the visual editor, all spaced out nicely. It's just the code in the html editor that collapses in to one paragraph.
posted by captainscared at 7:26 AM on June 30, 2010

4. Try adding explicit <br /> tags, does that help?

5. If you use the visual editor instead, do you get a different result?
posted by artlung at 7:46 AM on June 30, 2010

Response by poster: If I use the visual editor, I get the same output as the HTML editor. Same thing. Again, only difference is the formatting WITHIN the HTML editor.

How do I check to see if wptexturize() is turned off?

Thanks for all your help.
posted by captainscared at 8:41 AM on June 30, 2010

It would be your theme, or a plugin that could do it. Change to the default theme and turn off all your plugins and see if you get a different result.
posted by artlung at 8:47 AM on June 30, 2010

Wordpress uses TinyMCE to "drive" the editing window. I suspect you have a bad, weird, or mismatched version of TinyMCE. I would try installing the advanced version of the TinyMCE plugin.

And not to be all naggy and stuff, but you really should update to 3 soon. It patches a lot of security vulnerabilities in earlier versions. There are some very unpleasant bits of malware floating around which seek to infect Wordpress blogs, then pass the infection on to visitors.
posted by ErikaB at 11:29 AM on June 30, 2010