Requiring new user validation - blank screen, then fails to send email

Software Support
1

I have freshly installed OJS 3.4.0.4 and set the config file to validate new users (require_validation = On). For some reason when a new user hits the ‘register’ button after filling in the fields there is a blank screen (using Firefox; in Chrome there is this message: This page isn’t working. [domain] is currently unable to handle this request. HTTP ERROR 500).

When I check the users I can see the new user has been registered (but not enabled, because verification is pending).

Registration is otherwise not a problem if the option to require validation is set to Off.

I am running PHP v. 8.2 (I’ve tried 8.0 and 8.1, with same issue). I can’t seem to find PHP error logs in our version of cPanel.

Help much appreciated, as we want to launch this new journal within the week.

TR

2

I neglected to state that a verification email is never sent out by the system, and that the new user therefore has no ability to verify his/her account (and is none the wiser about it).

(This wouldn’t appear to be a problem with the email configuration as ‘announcements’ can successfully be sent to registered users. I have tested this.)

3

Hi @thilor,

It can be difficult to say exactly what is going on here without seeing PHP error log issues. This might provide some clues as to where your error log is located: https://support.cpanel.net/hc/en-us/articles/4414072152471-Where-are-the-PHP-error-logs-located
(although not knowing which version of Cpanel you’re using, it’s hard to say)

Also, you might want to review your email configuration, to ensure that it is setup properly: https://docs.pkp.sfu.ca/admin-guide/en/deploy-email

-Roger
PKP Team

5

Many thanks for your advice. In fact, after two days the issue appears now to have disappeared — and for no apparent reason! I get the impression that some changes are not instantaneous and may require time to percolate through the system. I don’t know if PHP or SQL servers work this way? Or else I can only conclude that it was caused by a glitch with our hosting provider.

If it returns I’ll delve into the PHP error logs, as you suggest.

TR