Syntax error

[propjock]

I got an email from a potential employer with a link which is supposed to send me to another window so I can complete an assesment form. However, when I click on that link I get an error message:

Problems with this web page might prevent it from being displayed properly.......

In the box under the message:

Line: 1
Char: 9
Error: Syntax error
Code: 0
URL: to long...........

The problem is that when I clic OK the error box goes away but does not open the link. Nothing happens! What can I do to open this link? I use IE 6.0. Thank you very much.

[gohankid77]

Can you right-click on the link? If you can, choose Properties from the popup menu. Copy the link location and paste it into your address bar. That may or may not solve the problem.

[propjock]

Yes, I can right clic on the link but when I go to properties it shows "javascript:OpenWin(" as the url. Any other ideas? Thanks.

[gohankid77]

Oh, boy... This is a big problem.... If a JavaScript function named OpenWin or something like that, chances are that it uses variables externally. I would email the employer and ask him/her to resend the message.

<!-- Edit -->
Unless it has an "http://...." in there. If it does, just copy and paste that part.

[propjock]

yea, not good. No http and I have already asked them twice to resend the email. I am gonna get fired before I even get hired. Thanks for the info. If you have any other ideas let me know. Thanks again.

[tbear]

Hi, Welcome to the webmasters forum that rocks.....

Did you explain the problem to the e-mail sender (detailing your browser and o/s)?
Did you try to access the page with alternative browsers to your normal one?
One would assume they will also see the problem.
Did you offer to rebuild the specific page for them ;)?

[MozMan]

Best to let the employer know exactly what the problem is; because it is likely on their end...

Yes, I can right clic on the link but when I go to properties it shows "javascript:OpenWin(" as the url. Any other ideas? Thanks.

If the only thing in the link is "javascript:OpenWin(" then there is a typo in the javascript code that is generating the link, not allowing it to form completely, and it will never work. There should be something more there; it's like an unfinished thought. It's actually trying to call a function, but not sending the function the data it needs to open the window...

-Moz

[Lance]

This could be a case of your mail software filtering what it thinks is a potentially harmful embedded javascript. First suggestion: turn off any filtering your email software has.

[propjock]

Thanks everyone. I am going to call the sender one more time because I am convinced it is a problem on there end. The sender is a big corporation and that is why I was trying to avoid calling them again. It's almost useless. I did try turning off all pop-up stopper, email filters, etc, but no luck. Thanks again for all the help.

[vkaryl]

Could this also be one of the XP SP2 problems? Did you install the updates?

[propjock]

I have W2000 so your suggestion is not possible. Sorry I didn't specify my operating system before. Thanks.

[vkaryl]

Well, that's GOOD, y'know! Anything you can rule out at this point....

[alexmc]

Can we assume that you have been sent this link in an html email? Some email clients strip out the javascript from html emails. So the function OpenWin has been stripped out. Which is why it doesn't work when you click on the link.

Sometimes OpenWin type functions include the url e.g. "javascript:OpenWin("http://...."). If you can see the url (you might have to view source), copy it into your browser address bar.

Good luck with the new job.

[propjock]

Thanks alexmc. I talked to them (corp) and they told me they were having problems with their system and not to worry about the link. So, it was definitely a problem on their end although they were not specific as to what that problem was. Thank you.