In the course of posting so many Static FBML tutorials on our blog, and then responding to visitors' questions in the comments, I now have a good idea of what are the most common problems people encounter when either adding Static FBML to their Fan Page or trying to get the tab to look and function as they wish. So I've put together this list of common questions and my answers.
NOTE: Check out our popular Static FBML Tutorial and, if you don't see a solution here or you want more detailed information, check out our Static FBML FAQ which also has links to all our Static FBML tutorials.
NOTE: When I refer to "FBML box" I mean the box/field where you put your CSS/HTML/FBML content:
The Most Frequent Problems with Static FBML ... and the Solutions
- I can't add the Static FBML application to my Facebook profile, group or fan page.
Static FBML can only be added to Facebook Fan Pages (aka Public Profiles, aka Business Pages). You cannot add the Static FBML application to a personal profile or Group.
A Fan Page administrator must be logged in to their personal profile in Facebook in order to add Static FBML to the Fan Page for which they are an admin (a Fan Page can have multiple admins). In order to add applications to your Fan Page, you MUST have a personal profile associated with the Page and be logged in as that user.; the Admin can add applications when logged in.
- I clicked on "Edit page" but I don't see the Static FBML application there.
If you don't see Static FBML listed under "Applications" then perhaps you haven't yet added it to your page. Go to
the Static FBML application page, click on "Add to my Page", click the "Add to Page" button next to your page in the popup window. Then click "Close" and go to your Page. The Static FBML application should now be listed.
-
I created my Static FBML tab, but I don't see it in my tabs!
You need to edit the application's settings to include it as a tab:
Click "Edit Page" and under "Applications" scroll down to locate the tab you have created. Click "Application settings" and, in the popup window, make sure that next to "Tab:" it says "Remove" (this means it's been added as a tab and the option is then to remove it from your tabs). If it says "Add" then click to add it.
-
I want to have 7 tabs on my Page, but after 6 they're put under the "»".
Facebook allows a maximum of 6 tabs on Pages. You can re-order the tabs to display your preferred 4 tabs (the Wall and Info tabs can't be moved or removed), but a total of 6 is all you are allowed.
- I pasted sample FBML code I found on another website into my FBML box, but it's not displaying correctly.
When code you've put into your FBML box isn't displaying properly (or not at all), it usually has to do with one of the following:
- The text you pasted in includes "formatted" quotes or other non-ASCII characters: If you've copied code from this blog (or wherever) and pasted it into your FBML box, you must make sure that the text is in plain-text format, NOT rich text. This is especially crucial with quotation marks; if they're angled or curly or anything other than straight up and down, they're not plain text.
The best way to edit your code is in a plain-text editor like Notepad on PCs and Text Edit on Macs — NOT Microsoft Word!
- Your URLs are incorrect: Make sure that the URLs to your images, external stylesheet, Flash, video, whatever, are correct. You can test a URL by copying and pasting it into your browser's address bar at the top of your browser screen, then hitting the Return key to access the URL directly. If your URL is correct, this will result in the content (video, image, SWF, photo gallery, slideshow, CSS) rendering in your browser. If you get a "file not found" error or the file does not otherwise display, then your URL is probably incorrect.
- You didn't change the example values in the sample code: Make sure you replace my (or anyone else's) placeholders in their sample code with the actual values (URLs, file and directory names, etc.) for the files you're pointing to.
Also, when embedding media such as Flash (video, slideshows & galleries), make sure you modify the dimensions in the FBML tag to be the actual dimensions of your media.
- You included HTML tags that should not be included: With the exception of the call to an external stylesheet using the <link> tag (which should be the first code in the FBML box), include ONLY the HTML/CSS that would go between the <body> and </body> tags; DO NOT INCLUDE <html>, <body>, <head> or meta tags. Facebook provides these tags when it renders your Page.
- I'm trying to have content that only Page fans can see, but I'm seeing content for both the fans and the non-fans.
When using the fb:visible-to-connection FBML tag, which allows you to have Page content that only fans can see, REMEMBER: if you're an administrator of the Page, you will see the content for both fans and non-fans when viewing the tab while logged in.
When working with this FBML tag, the best way to test it is to set up a test-user account and log in to that account to view the tab and experiment with liking/unliking the tab.
- I want my embedded media to begin playing when my tab loads.
Unfortunately, you can't auto-run JavaScript or Flash in an FBML tab — a user action is required to trigger it, usually a click. This is why the FBML tags for embedding media — eg Flash (
fb:swf), Flash video (
fb:flv) — requires an "activation" image the user must click to load the video or Flash file.
- I want my video to start playing after the visitor clicks the activation image.
Try adding "&autoplay=1" to the URL of your SWF (Flash) file (.swf is the format of many YouTube videos, or all Flash objects except Flash Video) will cause the file to start playing when it loads. (If it doesn't, it may mean that the file itself is "hard-coded" to not autoplay):
http://www.youtube.com/v/JOt2Qp0H9G8&autoplay=1
or http://www.someDomain.com/flash-file.swf&autoplay=1
- My embedded Flash file uses XML to pull in content, but it's not working.
You should make sure the URLs to the XML files are full/absolute URLs (that they include the "http://"). Facebook doesn't play the Flash file that's on your server. Instead, it makes a copy of it which is stored on a Facebook server and it serves that. So any URLs to XML files need to be absolute in order to work.
- I'm using JavaScript on my Static FBML tab and it doesn't work.
First, remember that Facebook requires a user action (usually a click) to trigger any JavaScript. So you can't have JavaScript run when the tab loads without that user action.
Also, Facebook has its own proprietary flavor of JavaScript — FBJS (Facebook JavaScript) — and you should become familiar with this and use it in your Static FBML. If you're already comfortable with JavaScript, FBJS should be very easy for your adapt to.
- I'm making changes to my external stylesheet, but when I re-save my tab, I don't see the changes.
Facebook does not render the images and stylesheet you call in your code. Instead, it makes a "proxy" (a copy) and stores that on its own servers.
In order to force Facebook to refresh its stored (cached) version of your stylesheet, you need to append "?v=10.0" to the end of the stylesheet URL:
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://URL-TO-YOUR-STYLESHEET/stylesheet.css?v=10.0" />
Each time you update your stylesheet, you must increment that number and then re-save your Static FBML tab. Thus, 10.0, then 10.1 ... 10.9, 11.0 .....
- I want to embed an iFrame in my Static FBML tab, but it's not working.
Facebook does not allow iFrames within Static FBML tabs. You can use iFrames in a canvas application, and even then it requires a user action to actually load it. I've seen
one hack that facilitates iFrames in Static FBML, but I wouldn't recommend using it as Facebook will likely soon catch on and it'll be disabled.
- I can't set my Static FBML Welcome tab to be the default tab for fans and non-fans.
Facebook allows you to set a custom tab as the default landing page for non-fans. However, the default tab for fans is the Wall, and this can't be changed.
- I put an animated GIF on my Static FBML tag, but it doesn't animate!
Facebook no longer allows animated GIFs on Static FBML application tabs or canvas applications.
- My Page looks good in most browsers, but not Internet Explorer.
Internet Explorer, particularly the old-and-in-the-way Internet Explorer 6, are very "buggy" in interpreting CSS. But other browsers have their quirks, as well. Here is
a good place to start when debugging your CSS.
- I can't add RSS feeds to my Static FBML tab using the usual JavaScript or PHP methods.
In order to import an RSS feed you need to use a scripting language — eg PHP, ASP — and Static FBML boxes cannot parse any scripting languages, period. There are a number of third-party applications for adding RSS feeds, and you can also create a canvas application.
Read more in my post on RSS feeds and Static FBML »
Facebook, facebook fan page, fan pages, FBML, fbml faq, Static FBML
This entry was posted by timware on Monday, July 12th, 2010, 4:47 pm and is filed under Social Media / Inbound Marketing, Static FBML & FBML, Web Coding.
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Static FBML Code Templates for Sale!
#1 by Ingmar Boddington - July 13th, 2010 at 04:25
I have been trying to add a static FBML to a fanpage but cannot reach the FBML application page to "Add to my Page" as described in your article. Tried with AV off, through different connections and every browser going.
Is anyone else experiencing this?
#2 by MImi - July 18th, 2010 at 21:44
i am unable to even ge to the Static FBML page, it is redirecting to the Facebook Homepage/Newsfeed page. I wonder if it is down.
#3 by Nate - August 9th, 2010 at 06:11
I am having the same problem. Anybody have a solution?
#4 by timware - August 9th, 2010 at 08:17
The link to the Static FBML application is working fine:
If you're logged into the personal profile that is an admin of the page to which you want to add Static FBML, you should see "Add to my page" under the "?" logo on the top left. And clicking that link should pop up a window with a list of all fan pages you admin. When you click the "Add to Page" button next to the page where you want it added, then that page disappears from the list. Click "Close" button and go to your page, click "Edit page" and look under the list of applications for the Static FBML app.
If none of this is working for you, I'm not sure what's going on.
#5 by Interactive Marketing - July 13th, 2010 at 08:15
Did you first create a personal FB page and then create a business page off of that? If you try to build a business page w/o the personal page, you won't be able to add SFBML.
#6 by Ingmar Boddington - July 14th, 2010 at 02:15
Ah, I was not aware of there being these 2 version of FB page.
Is the business page added to the personal or in addition to it or does it convert into the new one? Have over 1000 fans / likes on current page. Don't really want to start from scratch.
Thanks for your help.
#7 by Ingmar Boddington - July 15th, 2010 at 02:38
Is this not a Business Page?
http://tinyurl.com/Bunches-Facebook
Still don't get why I cannot add static FBML app, logged in as page admin of the fanpage which is listed as a 'shop' under search result link.
Anyone?
#8 by timware - July 15th, 2010 at 09:30
Ingmar, Whether you get it or not, that's the way it is. Pages have to be associated with a personal profile. Them's the rules, man. We didn't make 'em, we just follow 'em.
#9 by Ingmar Boddington - July 16th, 2010 at 01:24
Yes that is true Tim, but not very helpful....
How do I 'associate the page with my personal profile?'
#10 by Analisa - July 16th, 2010 at 12:28
Ingmar,
In order for us to answer your question, we need to know a few things (since we can't look at the behind-the-scenes of your page to determine the problem):
-Are you the only admin of the page?
-If so, did you create this page while logged into your personal profile?
-If you created this page without a personal profile, you will have trouble adding applications.
Facebook requires that you login as a human (not a fake persona or a business) in order to fully administer your pages. Their goal is total transparency and to avoid businesses spamming their users.
Let me know if you still have questions!
-Analisa
#11 by Ingmar Boddington - July 26th, 2010 at 03:13
Hi Analisa,
Thank you for your response (apologies for the slow reply due to being away).
In answer to your questions:
- I am the only page admin.
- The page was created whilst logged in with this profile which I am now again using to try to add the FBML app.
What I am trying:
- Under 'Edit Page'
- Under 'More Applications' (or by searching for 'Static FBML')
- Click Static FBML link (http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=4949752878&from=6629891475)
This actually direct me to my home page instead, and seems to do nothing else.
#12 by timware - July 26th, 2010 at 05:54
Ingmar, That link definitely goes to the Static FBML app. I'm not sure why you're having the issues you're having. Sorry we can't be of more help!
#13 by nicolas - July 26th, 2010 at 10:30
for the life of me, i can't get facebook to read ANY external css i give it. HELP!
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://herandkingscounty.com/styles/style.css" />
<body>
<p>This is a test</p>
<a href="http://herandkingscounty.com">And this is a link.</a>
<p>
<p>
</body>
that's the facebook code.
the "style.css" looks like this
body
{
background-image: url(hkcfbbg.jpg);
color: #000000;
background-color: #FFFFFF;
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-attachment: scroll;
background-position: top left;
}
p { font-family: 'Arial', Helvetica, sans-serif; }
a { font-family: 'Arial', Helvetica, sans-serif; }
a:link { text-decoration: underline; }
a:hover { text-decoration: none; }
a:active { color: #FFFFFF }
a:visited { color: #7F7F7F }
for simplicity's sake, i've put the background image right with my css file.
what on earth is wrong? it couldn't be more basic and yet all i get is the text. no formatting, no background image.
#14 by timware - July 26th, 2010 at 10:38
NO <body> tags allowed! Facebook creates the <body> tag on its end so you just put everything WITHIN the <body> tag. That's your problem, mate!
#15 by nicolas - July 26th, 2010 at 10:58
but the body tag needs to remain in the css file?
having removed the body tags in the fbml tab code, and trying with "body" in or out of the CSS file... no go. currently it's present in the example above.
https://www.facebook.com/herandkingscounty?v=app_6009294086
that's the url
i tried opening up a different browser, clearing out the cache, history etc...
and i incremented the css call in the fbml code like so:
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://herandkingscounty.com/styles/style.css?v=11" />
<p>This is a test</p>
<a href="http://herandkingscounty.com">And this is a link.</a>
<p>
<p>
#16 by timware - July 26th, 2010 at 11:23
No. Get the "body" out of the CSS! Facebook handles the <html> and <body> stuff. And make sure you increment that number after ".css" to "11.1"...
#17 by nicolas - July 26th, 2010 at 11:26
just want to add that i've tried this all outside facebook, with html and css on different servers. it works as expected. no change to the css.
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://herandkingscounty.com/styles/style.css" />
</head>
<body>
<p>This is a test</p>
<a href="http://herandkingscounty.com">And this is a link.</a>
<p>
<p>
</body>
</html>
#18 by timware - July 26th, 2010 at 11:28
That's great, but this isn't outside Facebook, so the rules are different, as I explained. I see nothing particularly wrong with your markup other than the illegal <html> and <body> tags.
#19 by nicolas - July 26th, 2010 at 12:54
ok i have a small victory. the bottom half of my css is working.
is there another way to format this first part that facebook might be more inclined to accept?
{
background-image: url(http://herandkingscounty.com/styles/hkcfbbg.jpg);
color: red;
background-color: #7F7F7F;
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-attachment: scroll;
background-position: top left;
}
#20 by nicolas - July 26th, 2010 at 12:55
all body tags removed (just to be clear)
the font family tags, the underline for links works etc.
#21 by timware - July 26th, 2010 at 13:01
Hopefully, you have a name for that property with the styles? That would be essential; otherwise, to what do those rules apply? If you're trying to style the "body" then you still haven't heard me about *forgetting* the body element or at all trying to style it.
#22 by nicolas - July 26th, 2010 at 14:08
yup that was it. being a beginner at css/html i didn't realize that. but what i did was this:
#hkcfb-body
{
color: #000000;
background-color: #666666;
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-attachment: scroll;
background-position: top left;
background-image:url('http://herandkingscounty.com/styles/hkcfbbg.jpg');
background-repeat:no-repeat;
}
and then i wrapped my content in a
<div id="hkcfb-body"></div>
sorry for seeming so dense about it. thank you for your patience.
#23 by Paul McCann - August 3rd, 2010 at 09:25
I just stumbled across your site and all I can say is WOW, what a lot of helpfull posts. Im about to embark on a facebook page so these posts will help.
I know your busy, but I have one quick question. Facebook FBML tabs seem to be quick and easy to add as tabs to a page, but if you want more features (and iframes) you need to create an application. However what im not clear about is if you create an app, can you still add it as an app and can everyone else add it to their page? I just want to create an app that pulls in our live tracking data, and display it on a tab on our page and only our page
Thanks
Paul
#24 by timware - August 3rd, 2010 at 09:33
Canvas apps can be private. If you don't submit it to Facebook it won't show up in searches. If someone somehow finds it (unlikely) they *could* add it to their page. You do want to check the box that enables the adding of the app to a Page or you won't be able to add it to yours. Hope this helps! And thanks for the kind words!
#25 by Paul Mccann - August 4th, 2010 at 13:32
Thanks for taking the time to respond to me, mucho helpful
#26 by judy - August 3rd, 2010 at 09:44
I'm trying to add a newsletter signup "form" submit action to my static FBML tab. It uses a When I hit the submit button after adding my email address to subscribe I get the error message "Sorry, your request could not be processed." I'm thinking this falls under the FBJS, but wasn't sure and couldn't find a definite solution on the Wiki. Do I need to change my code for the form?
#27 by judy - August 3rd, 2010 at 09:48
here's the
<form method=post action="url"><input type="submit">#28 by timware - August 3rd, 2010 at 09:54
You need to have a URL for the action parameter which should point to a form processing script. Check my tutorial on a couple email form services, and there's also Response-o-Matic. FBJS has nothing to do with your issue, I don't think.
#29 by judy - August 3rd, 2010 at 10:55
I have a URL for the action, I just didn't include it in my code.
#30 by Mike Morgan - August 3rd, 2010 at 15:10
I have successfully uploaded a few FB Static pages, and now that a client wants a RSS feed and Audio player included I'm having a problem.
The audio player and the rss feed is not showing up. I DO NOT have the tags in. I have some styling - which I see I should just take out as it probably does nothing seeing how the page is all graphic.
Not sure if I'll fix it by the time you reply but I still would like your opinion...
#31 by timware - August 3rd, 2010 at 18:08
Read my post about RSS feeds not working in Static FBML. You can only embed RSS feeds in a canvas application. I'm not sure what audio player you're using. Facebook provides MP3 plays via the fb:mp3 FBML tag.
#32 by Leah Young - August 5th, 2010 at 12:21
I figured it out! Thanks
#33 by RJ - August 7th, 2010 at 06:42
Ok, so I am logged into my personal page, my business page was created under my presonal profile, but when I click add to my page, it shows no results. What's wrong???
#34 by timware - August 7th, 2010 at 11:13
So you click on "Add to my page" and nothing happens? No popup of your list of Pages you admin? I wouldn't think a popup blocker would block that but you might want to check. Otherwise, I don't know.
#35 by Jen - August 10th, 2010 at 12:11
Hi there - Your info is great! I'd like to build a custom tab, but I want it to function exactly the same as the Wall tab does - people can upload photos and comments, etc. I'd like it to be a tab separate from the main Wall tab (for marketing reasons). Is there a way to "copy" the Wall tab and then give it a different name? Or is it possible to rename the "Links" or "Notes" tab?
#36 by timware - August 10th, 2010 at 13:09
You can't do anything with the Wall or Info tabs. You could add a custom tab using Static FBML and then use fb:comments so that users could add comments to the page and others could respond. This would somewhat replicate the Wall, although users can't comment on another user's comment.
#37 by Rory - August 10th, 2010 at 12:25
Facebook no longer allows animated GIFs on Static FBML application tabs or canvas applications.
I have noticed that .gif still displays in blocks.
BOX TAB:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scene-Out/124263960919036?v=box_3
FBML TAB:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/#!/pages/Scene-Out/124263960919036?v=app_4949752878
#38 by Jean-Charles van der Bruggen - August 13th, 2010 at 02:36
Hello,
I just red all the comments and i don't see anyone talking about dynamic images?
So, i have a simple contest page with 3 images that represent the top 3.
Those image are generated in php and named 1.jpg,2.jpg, and guess what ... 3.jpg
The problem is that for the moment i need to update the html code manually each time to put a cachebreak system. (example : 1.jpg?x=10).
I tried adding this fbjs code
<script>
<!--
var d=new Date();
var t=d.getTime();
var obj=document.getElementById('p1');
document.getElementById('p1').setSrc('1.jpg?x='+t);
document.getElementById('p2').setSrc('2.jpg?x='+t);
document.getElementById('p3').setSrc('3.jpg?x='+t);
//-->
</script>
I also tried with facebook.fbml.refreshImgSrc but it's not supported anymore.
But i red on your blog that we need an user interaction to activate js (wtf?).
I don't want to make an app just for this simple html page. Any idea?
#39 by timware - August 13th, 2010 at 09:31
Yes, Facebook requires a user action (eg click) to run JS or Flash. And you can't run PHP at all in Static FBML. As for troubleshooting your FBJS, I can't do that.
#40 by Jean-Charles van der Bruggen - August 13th, 2010 at 11:22
Let mer rephrase then
Is there a way to stop facebook from caching specific image(s) in the Static FBML app?
#41 by timware - August 13th, 2010 at 12:13
Jean-Charles: Yes, you can force a refresh of your external CSS by adding "?v=10.0" to the end of the CSS URL:
mystyles.css?v=10.0
Then incrementing that number by .1 whenever you want FB to refresh your cache.
For images inlined in the HTML, try adding: ?fbrefresh=1201226472
Eg: myimage.gif?fbrefresh=1201226472
Then increment that number to refresh.
#42 by Jean-Charles van der Bruggen - August 15th, 2010 at 12:53
Ok sorry, i rephrase again(what you explained is already what I'm doing) :
Is there an AUTOMATIC way to stop facebook from caching specific image(s) in the Static FBML app?
Because I can't change the number each time the data change.
Thanks for your time.
#43 by timware - August 15th, 2010 at 14:02
I don't know of a way to stop Facebook from caching files, and I doubt there is one. Forcing a refresh of the cache is the only method I know to keep FB's cache current.
#44 by Jean-Charles van der Bruggen - August 16th, 2010 at 01:52
Ok, it seems that the only solution for me is to create a facebook app then.
Thanks again for your time.
#45 by timware - August 16th, 2010 at 07:52
Jean-Charles: Facebook is very aggressive in holding on to its cached version of images called in custom apps. If you intend to replace an image with another image but keep the same name, you'll need to use the cache-breaking code I suggested above.
#46 by Jean-Charles van der Bruggen - August 16th, 2010 at 07:57
I think I have a beginning of solution, it will not respect entirely what the client wants but ...
By forcing an user action to see the images, then use the cache breaking system generated automatically in FBML by adding a timestamp at end of image name.
I'll keep you updated
#47 by timware - August 16th, 2010 at 08:04
Definitely let me know here what you figure out. Good luck!
#48 by Beth - August 17th, 2010 at 09:04
Is there a way to link to the Wall page from an FBML page?
I realize it's pretty redundant as a person can just click on the Wall tab, but I'm curious.
#49 by timware - August 22nd, 2010 at 16:26
Yes. just append "?v=wall" to your vanity URL. Example:
http://www.facebook.com/HYPERARTS?v=wall
#50 by EPLfans - August 17th, 2010 at 13:26
Hi. I have been trying to increase the length of my page's profile picture but I have not succeeded in change it even a little bit. I want it to be the same length as the one on your facebook fan page. My page is http://facebook.com/EPLfans.
How can I do it, please give me a step by step tutorial on how to increase it.
I have this FBML code on the page but it does not work.
#51 by Nick - August 18th, 2010 at 11:17
Facebook seems to be compressing my images into lower-quality JPEG when it caches them, which muddies some smaller text. Is this expected behaviour? Any ideas for a workaround?
#52 by theComplex - August 21st, 2010 at 03:49
Not sure what I am doing incorrectly. My page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/theComplex-Media/120893471261049?v=app_4949752878
When I use the TABLE tag the images that are linked break within the table. And when I use DIV nothing appears at all.
Any advice you can give would be much appreciated.
My code:
<div style="position:absolute; left:0px; top:0px; width:514px; height:564px;"><div style="position:absolute; left:0px; top:0px; width:514px; height:212px;"><a href="http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/landing/facebook/images/fb_logo.png" alt="Welcome To theComplexMedia on Facebook" width="514" height="212" border="0"></a></div>
<div style="position:absolute; left:0px; top:212px; width:514px; height:236px;">
<a href="http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/landing/facebook/images/fb_cta.png" alt="Visit theComplexMedia.com" width="514" height="236" border="0"></a> </div>
<div style="position:absolute; left:0px; top:448px; width:514px; height:116px;">
<a href="http://twitter.com/thecomplexmedia" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/landing/facebook/images/fb_twitter.png" alt="Follow us on Twitter at theComplexMedia" width="514" height="116" border="0"></a> </div>
</div>
#53 by timware - August 21st, 2010 at 07:40
It appears that you may not be that versed in CSS and HTML? Using absolute positioning exclusively to position elements is tricky.
You should wrap all your above code in a DIV that is "position:relative" and set its width to 514px.
DIVs that are position:absolute are positioned relative to their containing DIV which must be set to position:relative. See this link for more info.
#54 by theComplex - August 24th, 2010 at 09:09
I had tried that and the images were still not showing, I often had to refresh the page 4 or 5 times before anything showed at all.
Either way I was able to fix the problem with my tables by using this in the image tag:
style="display: block;
Thanks.
#55 by Michele - August 22nd, 2010 at 14:01
I am also unable to get to the Static FBML app. The link also redirects me to the home page. I am an administrator of both of the pages I am trying to add the app to. Both pages were created by me while logged into my account. I am able to add other apps, just not this one. Did anyone ever find a solution? Does this have anything to do with the changes coming on the 23rd??
#56 by Bryan - August 23rd, 2010 at 18:13
Michele,
You are not alone.
I have done everything to spec, and this problem is global. I have created both a community page and a business page. When I try to add the FBML app to either of them, I am redirected to my main Facebook profile page.
Yes I created them while logged into my main profile page. Yes to all of the questions asked thus far.
There is NO solution. Facebook will always be a convoluted mess, which is a shame as they have such potential.
#57 by Michele - August 23rd, 2010 at 21:12
It is a crazy problem. I made a friend admin for my page and she was able to go in and add the program. How odd!
#58 by Bryan - August 24th, 2010 at 03:28
Michele,
That is interesting. I tried adding myself using a different email addy with no luck, however, maybe I should add my wife and just use her credentials to make changes.
I think it is insane resorting to these methods just to put a page up, but I guess that is the only solution.
Thanks for the info.
Bryan
#59 by amy - August 25th, 2010 at 11:04
i made 3 custom tabs via fbml, had to edit one ! and now i am stuck with an empty tab with nothing on it, if i try to edit it it shows me a message that the application developer does not allow it , what should i do ! i need to fix it urgently, rest of my tabs are working fine, but i can't add a new tab neither can update or delete the corrupted one ! help !
#60 by timware - August 25th, 2010 at 11:36
Are these Static FBML tabs? If you're logged in as a Page admin there's no reason you can't delete a tab in the "Edit Page" area, under "Applications". If you're not getting any editing permissions, I can only surmise that you aren't logged in with the personal profile that is a Page admin.
And a URL to the Page in question would help
#61 by Bryan - August 25th, 2010 at 14:59
Tim,
You continually blame the user for the FBML not working, yet, there are at last four to five posts that I noticed that all have the same problems.
We have all created pages "logged in" to our main profile page, and when we try to add the FBML app, we are taken back to our profile page, which is useless.
Is anyone else seeing a pattern here, or will it continually be the users fault?
#62 by timware - August 25th, 2010 at 15:17
I'm doing the best I can, Bryan, providing free support and advice to strangers. I can only ask questions and suggest solutions based on my own experience.
You are certainly free to contribute your own knowledge here, if you wish.
Please understand that I'm not paid by Facebook or anyone to help with Static FBML. I do it because I like providing the help.
#63 by amy - August 26th, 2010 at 00:25
http://www.facebook.com/TheDesignHub?v=app_4949752878&ref=ts
yes they are static fbml tabs, here is what i did, i couldn't delete the corrupted tab neither can add a new one(still ca't add a new one btw) so i renamed that tab to test tab and then tried to edit it and i was able to do so,i really don't get what happened there, because the body of the tab wasn't changing no matter what i did but i was able to edit after i changed the tab name !
i was logged in as page administrator !
Tim thank you for your efforts that you have done ! it's a very helpful application i really appreciate your hard work !
i would like my tab display are to be bigger though !
#64 by Bryan - August 28th, 2010 at 10:30
Tim,
My apologies. I appreciate the free help you provide.
I put a very short screencast together so you can see my dilemma, perhaps a visual will help?
I can't seem to put my finger on it.
The screencast can be viewed at:
http://bryanjzimmerman.com/fbml.mov
Thanks again Tim, and hopefully this will help.
Regards,
Bryan
#65 by timware - August 28th, 2010 at 11:19
Bryan. That's weird.
Try going directly to the Static FBML application page and adding to your Page from there ("Add to my Page" under the Question Mark logo). Otherwise, if you make me a temporary admin of the page, I'll check it out. tim at hyperarts dot com.
#66 by timware - August 28th, 2010 at 15:10
Bryan, You made me a temporary admin and I was able to easily add the Static FBML app to your Page. However, your video clearly demonstrates that there's something buggy going on with Facebook.
As you noted, others are having this problem of not being able to add the Static FBML app, getting bounced to their profile page after clicking the "Static FBML" under "More applications" in the Page admin area. Then they add a friend as an admin and there's no problem!
It's buggy. I have reported the bug on Facebook's Bugzilla reporting platform.
#67 by amy - August 26th, 2010 at 00:29
what is the maximum length of display we can get? width is 520px , if you see my tab and the picture i've used there, can i get 3 more pictures like that under one tab? my width remains 520 px but do i get the freedom to get more vertical space?
#68 by amy - August 26th, 2010 at 04:29
http://www.facebook.com/daamandesigns?v=app_6009294086
how come these pages still have a display this big? i don't really know how to use html coding, can anyone help me with a basic html code to enlarge my tabs display graphic?
#69 by timware - August 26th, 2010 at 05:46
Facebook has been making images 760px wide, sort of randomly. The way to fix this is to add the height and width of the images to the <img /> tag. Example:
<img src="URL TO IMAGE" width="520" height="80" />
So you need to add the width/height parameters of your image, as above (but with the actual dimensions, NOT the ones I used as an example).
Don't add "px" to it, just the numbers, as demonstrated above.
#70 by J B - August 26th, 2010 at 16:48
Thank you for this great resource. I am experimenting with a static FBML tab for the first time, but I can't simply enter HTML in the FBML box. Nothing worked until I wrapped everything in cumbersom "fb" tags (like and ). Am I missing something. My HTML was pretty simple (a wrapped around a and tag) but nothing seemed to work until I started using the fb tags.
Thanks again.
#71 by timware - August 27th, 2010 at 09:24
You shouldn't have to wrap HTML in any "fb" tags.
BTW, as the big red bold type says below the comment box: Be sure to wrap all code in <code> </code> tags!. I couldn't see your code examples, so can't see if you're doing anything right or wrong.
#72 by Michele - August 28th, 2010 at 15:29
Thank you for reporting the Static FBML app bug to FB. Bryan's issue is exactly the same as mine but if I sign in under my daughter's account, I can do whatever I need to do. The other odd thing is that once I do what I need to do in my daughter's account and I log back in under my own, I can't see the pages I added at all. Others can, but I can't.
#73 by Pooja Gandhi - August 30th, 2010 at 04:43
Hello
Static FBML problem , I have tried adding it from being logged in from my profile , also from my other admin profile , but when i click on add to my page(for my fan page) , all i get is a pop up which shows me "no results" for the pages .
Any idea how to help this
#74 by subail sunny - August 31st, 2010 at 13:48
i want to suggest my page to my friend.to select all of my friends i used the code
javascript:elms=document.getElementById('friends').getElementsByTagName('li');for(var fid in elms){if(typeof elms[fid] === 'object'){fs.click(elms[fid]);}}i paste this code in the address bar of the browser during selecting friend. but it is not working.
NEED SOLUTION, why this code is not working?
#75 by Michele - September 1st, 2010 at 07:55
I am so excited. I THINK I might have figured out the reason so many are having trouble with the static FBML app on Facebook. Stumbled upon it quite by accident, never occurred to me that this would be the case, and it fixed the issue for me. Hopefully, it will fix the issue for others as well.
I'm guessing that some program/app out there that annoyed me used static FBML to create it. I was checking on some privacy things related to something else and just happened to think WOW I have a lot of apps blocked (I block every game, quiz, etc. as soon as I see it). Crazy - the static FBML was one of them at the very bottom of my list. I never knowingly blocked it. I use it on the first business page I created months ago and it works fine there. But the last two I tried it on recently it didn't so somewhere in the middle is where I must have blocked it. I unblocked it and it works like a charm. Everything shows up right on my page and I am a happy camper. Let me know if it works for you.
#76 by Bryan J Zimmerman - September 1st, 2010 at 08:32
Michele,
I just found the list under Privacy ->>Blocked Apps, and guess what? My FBML was blocked as well, which makes sense as to why others were able to use the app. They were logging in as themselves to administer your page, and their privacy settings were obviously not the same.
You are a freakin' genius, and I want to thank you for "stumbling" across this fix!
Regards,
Bryan
#77 by timware - September 1st, 2010 at 17:22
Yes! Michele, Thanks so much for running this down! We're all a tad smarter now because of you.... Cheers!
#78 by Michele - September 1st, 2010 at 17:58
I'm not gonna lie. I feel a little like a genius right now LOL. It was an incredible find and I encourage people to share it wherever they might have seen people post about this issue. Easy fix for an incredibly frustrating problem!
#79 by timware - September 1st, 2010 at 18:07
Today, my dear, you ARE a genius! Celebrate it. Do the crazy things that geniuses (genii) do. I'm definitely going to make this solution available and, if possible, throw a little credit your way
Thanks again.
#80 by Michele - September 1st, 2010 at 18:15
Credit not important:) Just enjoying the feeling of "yeah me"!
#81 by Kim - September 2nd, 2010 at 00:07
Probably a dumb question but how do I set the background color on my static FBML page?