Error message text for netError.dtd

Firefox 1.5 will feature user-friendly error messages to help users when they encounter various network errors that result in pages not loading. Due to some overlap and checkin depedencies between the rendering of the error messages (bug 280190), and the error message text (bug 301208) this wiki is being used to synchronize the error text changes until it's time to patch the file itself.

We're now back to discussing this in bug 301208

The latest proposed patch to the netError.dtd file is here.

Open Issues & Questions

• will we have access to the attempted URL for use in the error messages?
  • Yes, the URL is available.
  • ok, using %address to refer to the attempted URI. --Beltzner 14:26, 27 Jul 2005 (PDT)
• will we have access to the product name for use in the error messages?
  • Not yet, but we will have (bug 302309)
  • ok for now will assume "Firefox" will resolve to some environment variable that's accessable from these messaages --Beltzner 14:26, 27 Jul 2005 (PDT)
• not sure about redirectLoop's recommendation to turn on cookies; security/privacy issues?
  • That does seem to be the correct solution the redirectLoop problem in my experience, security/privacy issues aside. (weather.com is/was a particularly bad offender, as blocking cookies from one of its subdomains would cause the infinite redirect loop.)--Sardisson 20:35, 28 Jul 2005 (PDT)
  • My original wording suggested that "disabling cookies or blocking them from this site may cause this problem" (paraphrased) to inform about a cause without actually telling the user that they should turn them back on. --Wrprice 06:56, 30 Jul 2005 (PDT)
• not sure about deniedPortAccess's recommendation about plugins/3rd party apps; could that happen?
  • I don't think so; plugins should affect protocols, not port security when browsing HTTP. Could be wrong. --Wrprice 12:27, 28 Jul 2005 (PDT)
• Should some distinction be made for firewall/proxy possibilities between the browser's settings vs. the proxy/firewall's settings? (somewhat critical distinction)
  • Proxy allows Firefox, but Firefox not set to use proxy.
  • Firefox set to use proxy, but proxy/firewall does not allow the browser?
• Can't reference "Preferences" as an absolute because on Windows builds it's "Tools" > "Options" (not to mention it's in the Firefox menu on Mac).
  • Firefox Help uses some decently clean hacks to make this work (see bug 254982). If you want help with this, just let me (Jeff Walden, already on CC list) know and I'll see what I can do.

Error Page label & retry button label

• loadError.label = "Problem loading page"
• retry.label = "Try again"

connectionFailure

Can't connect to this address
Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at %address.

• The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few moments.
• The site could be listed as 0[.0.0.0] (and thus blocked) in your "hosts" file.
• If you are unable to load any addresses, check the computer's network connection.
• If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web as we have found.

deniedPortAccess

This port is restricted
This address (%address) specifies a network port which is normally used for purposes other than Web browsing. Firefox has canceled the request for your protection.

• You might need to install a plugin or other software to view this address. Go back to the previous page and check the site for any special requirements.

• Go to about:config in your Firefox browser.
• Right click somewhere, and choose "New => String"
• In the setting Name box type "network.security.ports.banned.override"
• In the Setting Value box, type "1-65535". Or whatever you need..
• Click OK

(I really doubt that mentioning plugins is helpful here. I can't actually think of any situation when I've encountered this error and it's been fixed with a plugin. - Chris C)

(I'm a web developer with many different apps on my localhost web server. This message is preventing me from working on these sites in Firefox. I don't have a problem with this protection, but let me know how I could turn it off. The retry button is also unhelpful in this situation - when would retrying ever change the port number? - benjaminm)

(A way to get around is to use the ssh port forwarding. For instance, I need to acess a site such as http://111.123.123.111:22 but firefox will block the connection. What I did is to open a ssh port forwarding, such as ssh -N localhost -L 8080:111.123.123.111:22, then type your password to establish the connection. While the connection is still opening, go to your browser and do https://localhost:8080. This time, firefox will get you to there cause you just blinded firefox by using 8080 instead of 22, but indeed, you go to port 22. - i3dmaster)

(Is there any straight way of fixing this? Without just work arounds?)

(This is a common error during ASP.NET development where the built-in web server dynamically changes the port number. The correct workaround is adding a new string value to about:config called network.security.ports.banned.override Then enter a comma-separated list of port numbers to allow. - msturek)

I (User:DavidGreaves) raised this as a bug : bug 341636

(Linux: trying to access [set printer options] via CUPS interface, ( localhost:631 ) gave me this problem. this seemes to have 2 solutions. 1: use 127.0.0.1:631 or 2: if using localhost:631 , ensure that the line " 127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost " is included in the /etc/hosts file . i had "myhost" only, not localhost, in there. - kern)

My problem is simple - I connect to the Washington Post every day - starting a couple of weeks ago the site only downloaded it's banner head and sometimes a bit of the front page - what is (are) the potential fixes???

dnsNotFound

Can't find this server
Firefox can't find the server at %address.

• Check the address for typing errors such as ww.mozilla.org instead of www.mozilla.org
• If you are unable to load any addresses, check the computer's network connection.
• If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.

fileNotFound

Can't load this file
Firefox can't find the file at %address.

• Check the file name for for capitalization or other typing errors.
• Be sure that you have the required access to see the file at this address.
• Check to see if the file was moved, renamed or deleted.

generic

Can't complete the request
Firefox has experienced a problem, and can't complete the current request right now.

malformedURI

The address isn't valid
%address isn't in a recognized format.

• Web addresses are usually written like http://www.example.com
• Make sure that you're using forward slashes (i.e. /).

shouldn't that be i.e. instead of e.g.? --Biesi 06:34, 27 Jul 2005 (PDT)

yeah, I think you're right; but maybe we don't need to use either? "..backwards slashes (\)? Addresses need to use forward slashes (/)"? --Beltzner 07:52, 27 Jul 2005 (PDT)

netInterrupt

The connection was interrupted
The connection to the server at %address was interrupted while the page was loading.

• The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few moments.
• If you are unable to load any addresses, check the computer's network connection.
• If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.

netOffline

Offline mode
Firefox is currently in "offline mode" and is unable to browse the Web.

• Uncheck "Work Offline" in the "File" menu to take the browser out of offline mode.

netReset

The connection was reset
The connection to the server at %address was reset while the page was loading.

• The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few moments.
• If you are unable to load any addresses, check the computer's network connection.
• If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.

netTimeout

The connection timed outxxxxxxxxx
Firefox got tired of waiting to hear back from the server at %address.

• The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few moments.
• If you are unable to load any addresses, check the computer's network connection.
• If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.

This seems to happen with everytime i try to load facebook.com. It's only happening for this site only.

protocolNotFound

That protocol isn't recognized
Firefox isn't sure what protocol is being specified by %address.

• You might need to install a plugin or other software to view this address. Go back to the previous page and check the site for any special requirements.

(again with the plugins. And "view this address"?

How about:

This link doesn't lead to a web page. it is meant to be passed to another program to view, and Firefox cannot find a program which handles this kid of link ("%protocol") on your computer. You may need to install software to access this link.

Thumperward 13:13, 7 Dec 2005 (PST))

proxyConnectFailure

The proxy server is refusing connections
Firefox is configured to use a proxy server, but that proxy server is refusing connections.

• Check the proxy settings in "Preferences" to make sure they are correct.

This problem arose for me directly after downloading Spyware Doctor, scanning and removing some adware,spyware infections it said I had. After that Mozilla Firefox refused to load and gave me the "Proxy server refused connection" error message. I solved the problem by simply clicking on "Tools" on top of the error message page, went to "Options", and where it said "Connection" configure how Firefox connects to the Internet>> I simply clicked on "Settings" and ticked the option which said >> "auto detect proxy settings for this network" then clicked "OK" or ""Apply".... after which I tried opening Firefox again with no problem from that point on :-) It worked for me... I hope it works for others as well.

cm

catsrevenge@yahoo.com

proxyResolveFailure

The proxy server can't be found
Firefox is configured to use a proxy server, but that proxy server cannot be found.

• Check the proxy settings in "Preferences" to make sure they are correct.
• Check to make sure you computer has a working network connection.
• If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.

redirectLoop

The page isn't redirecting properly
Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for %address in a way that will never complete.

• Change your cookies settings in "Preferences" to accept cookies for this site.

unknownSocketType

Unexpected response from server
The server at %address responded to the request in an unexpected way, and Firefox cannot continue.