Separate editions not working?

[Andréa]

Has anyone else run into error messages when trying to separate editions? I have been trying to separate the Ghostwriter edition of Frankenstein, as it is a children's adaptation and not the original text. Every time I select it and click the "separate editions" button, I get an error message that the request can't be performed. (Specifically, it says "This page isn’t working
www.goodreads.com is currently unable to handle this request.
HTTP ERROR 500")

Anyone know why this is happening or how to prevent it? Or, at minimum, is anyone able to get that edition separated out from the rest?

[Scott]

It's probably because there are 5 billion editions of Frankenstein. The combine/separate functions tend to get choked up. If you send a message to support they can do it more easily, I think.

[Andréa]

Scott wrote: "It's probably because there are 5 billion editions of Frankenstein. The combine/separate functions tend to get choked up. If you send a message to support they can do it more easily, I think."

That was my guess, too. Although for me, at least with the combining, it gives a different error message (the "request took too long" one), and I can usually get it to eventually go through after trying enough times. For this, it's not taking any time at all, just immediately giving that error, so it seemed like it might be a different factor at play.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

It might have some internal programming to do with the fact that that edition has a different primary author.

Error 500 is not one I get, but I do get another in the 400 series, even though it actually performs the action.

[Scott]

I just moved the authors around so it wasn't that.

[Andréa]

Scott wrote: "It's probably because there are 5 billion editions of Frankenstein. The combine/separate functions tend to get choked up. If you send a message to support they can do it more easily, I think."

Scott, I haven't had to contact support in ages. Is the best way through the "ask a question" in the Help section, or is there a better way?

[Scott]

About>Contact

https://www.goodreads.com/about/conta...

[Emily]

Don't click Ask a Question. Click "Contact Us."

[Andréa]

Emily wrote: "Don't click Ask a Question. Click "Contact Us.""

Scott wrote: "About>Contact

https://www.goodreads.com/about/conta..."

Perfect, thanks! I had not found that.

[Arenda]

I've had similar experiences with the separating tool for very popular books. Separating an adaptation from a popular book will sometimes work better when you approach it from the combine page. After each edition where it says: "details | edit | separate", choosing 'separate' will often separate the adaptation.

I've just done so for this Frankenstein adaptation that was also incorrectly combined with the original: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
This edition is now separated, although I still have a page saying it is processing.

[Andréa]

Arenda wrote: "I've had similar experiences with the separating tool for very popular books. Separating an adaptation from a popular book will sometimes work better when you approach it from the combine page. Aft..."

I thought that was possible, but then I wasn't seeing it on the combine editions page. I'll try that next time.