Incomplete Summary in Profile Featured Box

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   Marie Flintposted 10 years ago

   My email to Hub Pages' Team was sent 6/1/14 and read as follow:
   
   Dear Team:
   
   I have noticed that the entire summary for my hub article does not always show completely in the "featured" box under my profile page. Then, when you click on the article from that section, you can't finish reading the summary because it disappears.
   
   Would technical support or the web designer do something to correct this problem? When I construct my hub, the number of words for the summary is limited. That number should be adjusted so that the entire summary will appear in the Profile Feature Box.
   
   Thank you for your consideration.
   
   Truly,
   
   Marie Flint
   Jacksonville, FL

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      The Examiner-1posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Has the number been decreased less than the normal minimum of 200 Marie?

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         Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I didn't actually do a word count, Examiner. I just see that my summary isn't complete in the feature box on the profile page. I always carefully observe the number of words for the summary. One would think the edit mode and feature box would be in agreement. I will recheck to be sure there wasn't a change in the allowed word count. I may have to change a few of the summaries to accommodate any change that may have occurred. I spend a fair amount of time on summaries, trying to get in as much information as possible while making every word count. Thanks for pointing out the possibility of a change.

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            Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Rechecked. The hubs I'm having problems with are -1 character (2), -12 characters, and -25 characters, according to the prompt in edit mode.

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   The Examiner-1posted 10 years ago

   Perhaps there is a temporary flaw in yours Marie. I just compared a couple of mine in the profile with the edit versions and they were okay. There does not seem to be a reduction in the count at my end. All you can do is wait and see if any other Hubbers have the same problem - or if the staff replies.

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   The Examiner-1posted 10 years ago

   You are saying that they are a number of characters below the total allowed?

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      Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, and I just did a review with Word (using the character count feature).
      
      Results (problem summaries):  199 characters with 5 words in the title (2 hubs); 188 characters with 9 words in title (length of title affecting presentation in feature box?); and 175 with 7 words in title.
      
      The largest summary that works shows 193 characters, but only 3 words in the title.
      
      So, I'm suspecting that room to accommodate the title is cutting off the allowed words in the summary in the profile feature box.

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         The Examiner-1posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I have never considered the length of the title compared to the summary. I just try to choose a good title - brief if possible - but sometimes it is not.

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            Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Just received a response from Hub Pages Team (Nathan). Of course, he couldn't see the problem because I already fixed the summaries. I did refer him to this Forum post, however.
            
            I see two possible solutions; 1) adjust the character-plus-space count to 150 (this would also please Bing), or 2) program the selected hub that's featured "In the Spotlight" from the profile page to where that particular hub appears farther down on the page where the entire summary is readable.  The first solution may not guarantee that the summary will be complete because the title length will vary from hub to hub and writer to writer.
            
            A long shot would be to limit the character-space count in the title as well to ensure that the combination of title and summary will fit in the "In the Spotlight" section on the profile page.
            
            I do hope the HP webpage designer feels inspired to make a change and is easily able to implement the best solution. ***

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   The Examiner-1posted 10 years ago

   That is strange. When I first began, I would use up the 200 and go over so I had to delete characters.
   Then I read in FAQ/Learning Center how it was better to have short summaries. I now try to use approximately 100 characters - give or take.
   In fact, one I counted tonight was about 100.

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      Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I was able to fix one by using 167 characters. The title still has nine words.
      Now, I'll have to use the same Word character count method to adjust each summary that's showing as incomplete. (What a pain!)
      
      I hope the WP web designer can do something to fix this. If they only want us to use 100 (plus or minus words), that's what the limit should be in edit mode. ***

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   The Examiner-1posted 10 years ago

   When you write it in Word, replace several words with a keyword/kewords (if you have not already). They often replace quite a few.

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      Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That's what I'm trying to do, Examiner. First, I copy the incomplete lines from the feature box (you have to be quick). I paste these in Word to find out how many characters are working with the title (I don't want to have to change the title). I keep rewriting the summary in Word until I get it down to the character-plus-spaces count that worked for that hub title. Then I go back into edit mode on the hub and fix it. So far, so good--but no one should have to do this, and the general public should be able to read a complete hub article summary when viewing a profile page. I did a follow-up email to HP Team to let them know the problem, i.e. variable character allowance less than permitted, depending on title. I do hope the web designer-programmer can do something for everyone's sake.

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         Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I finished editing my summaries, and they are all acceptable now. Writers should not have to go through this.
         
         Tip: Note last word  of summary that appears in the "Featured" box. Then, go into edit mode and copy your summary. Paste into Word. Delete all words following the point showing in Featured Box's summary. Highlight incomplete summary (in Word). Note character count WITH SPACES (CCWS). Revise summary. Highlight again and check new CCWS. If equal to or less that what the system can accommodate with your title, the summary will now work. (Repeat as necessary until you get a working summary.)  ALTERNATIVE: Try shortening the title. If title fits on one line in the profile's Featured box, summary should fit, but check to be sure. ***

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            Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            edit: less that [than} what

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   The Examiner-1posted 10 years ago

   As long as you were able to fix it. I have been searching to find where I read that but I am also trying to finish a Hub.

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      Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      God bless you, Examiner!

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   The Examiner-1posted 10 years ago

   I found it! It is on the page for th Stellar Hub.
   At this link: http://hubpages.com/learningcenter/Elem … tellar-Hub
   Scan down to A Custom Summary. It says that "The summary should be no longer than 150 words..."

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      Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Word count and character count with spaces are not the same. Allowed CCWS is 200 at present, and  I had less than that.  The problem results when the title takes up more than one line in the Featured box on the profile page. Note: A 5-word title might take up two lines, depending upon the number of letters in each word. Thank you for your time, Examiner. I do appreciate it, but the Stellar Hub link doesn't really apply. God bless!

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   The Examiner-1posted 10 years ago

   Speaking of quick Marie, how do you copy/paste?

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      Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Alt  a (to select), then Alt  c to copy OR highlight, then right click; select "Copy."
      When on the blank Word program, right click and select "Paste." OR Alt v.
      
      If you have trouble in the Featured box due to the changing hubs, just note the last word on your incomplete summary, then go into edit on the hub you're trying to fix. Copy the summary and paste into Word. Delete the words from the point where the Featured box ended. (I explained this above.)
      
      I just always assumed that the summary would always be complete and never bothered to look before, but now that I've begun grouping hubs and presenting a particular group as "highlighted," the problem became evident. (Makes me wonder how many incomplete summaries I had before.)
      
      The hubs that are not highlighted (featured) on my profile page, of course, look fine with summaries. The problem only occurs in the "Featured" box. ***

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   starme77posted 10 years ago

   Bing webmaster SEO tool told me 160 characters and dinged 11 of my hubs because my description was too long

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      The Examiner-1posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Did you see the post I put in just a couple up? It has a link to where your summary should be only 150.

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         Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, did you see my answer?
         
         Thanks for interacting on this one, Examiner. I appreciate every effort. Blessings!

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      Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      This is good to know, starme77. Thank you for sharing that.

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