The Latest MP3 File Upload Problem has been Fixed
I was unable to upload MP3 files to the forum earlier today and spent many hours finding and fixing the problem. I didn't realize during most of that time that the problem was limited to Internet Explorer. I normally post to the forum from Firefox, but happened to use IE today or I wouldn't have known anything was wrong.

Microsoft normally posts software updates the second Tuesday of each month, but they recently posted an "out-of-band security update for Internet Explorer" to correct an attack vector against Google and other businesses that conduct business with China. That upgrade caused a subtle incompatibility that proved difficult to find and fix. However, it is now fixed.

A New Forum MP3 Audio Player
I installed an MP3 audio player before the forum went on-line about a year and a half ago, but it was somewhat difficult to use and most members probably haven't known how to use it. After I fixed the file upload problem tonight I decided to install a better audio player and to write some computer code that automatically embeds it in posts whenever MP3 files are uploaded and attached. It isn't necessary to do anything different than in the past when uploading MP3 files, but now in addition to a file download link an audio player will automatically display for each attached file.

In addition to playing MP3 files that have been attached to posts, the new player also is capable of playing MP3 files located on other servers (much like the video player plays YouTube video files located on Google servers). To do that, simply type the URL to the file you want visitors to be able to play in your message, select the URL with your mouse, and click the MP3 button above the text entry window. Of course, you should obtain permission from the file owner before embedding a remote audio player in a post.

-Bob

The sequence of downloadable files attached to forum posts has been opposite to the sequence of audio players placed within posts. I corrected that today, so players and file download links now display in the same order.

-Bob