Corrupted main.vmd

Question

Hello, I'm trying to improve searching in conflunence by adding addsearch-category (see below) to main.vmd. I have tested it in our dev environment and it worked fine but when I tried to apply it in my production environment something went wrong (most likely while copying it over) and as a result of I'm not able to access admin pages for layouts. The addition I've made is in bold: ... #else $title - #siteTitle() #end ##Set AddSearch category #requireResource("confluence.web.resources:print-styles") #requireResourcesForContext("main") ... When I try to access /admin/listdecorators.action I get System Error: Cause org.apache.velocity.exception.MethodInvocationException: Invocation of method 'hasTemplate' in class com.atlassian.confluence.admin.actions.lookandfeel.EditDecoratorAction threw exception java.util.concurrent.CompletionException: java.lang.IllegalStateException: Duplicate key com.atlassian.confluence.core.PersistentDecorator@4b592a3b at /includes/common-listdecorators.vm[line 31, column 30] at org.apache.velocity.runtime.parser.node.ASTMethod.handleInvocationException(ASTMethod.java:337) caused by: java.util.concurrent.CompletionException: java.lang.IllegalStateException: Duplicate key com.atlassian.confluence.core.PersistentDecorator@4b592a3b at java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture.encodeThrowable(CompletableFuture.java:273) caused by: java.lang.IllegalStateException: Duplicate key com.atlassian.confluence.core.PersistentDecorator@4b592a3b at java.util.stream.Collectors.lambda$throwingMerger$0(Collectors.java:133) And when I try to access /admin/editdecorator.action?decoratorName=decorators/main.vmd I get this System Error: Cause java.util.concurrent.CompletionException: java.lang.IllegalStateException: Duplicate key com.atlassian.confluence.core.PersistentDecorator@4b592a3b at java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture.encodeThrowable(CompletableFuture.java:273) caused by: java.lang.IllegalStateException: Duplicate key com.atlassian.confluence.core.PersistentDecorator@4b592a3b at java.util.stream.Collectors.lambda$throwingMerger$0(Collectors.java:133) I have found the main.vmd file on the server but it doesn't reflect any changes made via the web interface. Any ideas how can I fix or revert main.vmd back? Thanks in advance.

Mariusz_it8jkr · Answer

Morning Stephen,

Unfortunately, I couldn't edit the layouts via the URLs (I've tried that already)and had to do it the dirty way... with help from my work colleague.

After showing the content of decorator table we found duplicated decorators/main.vmd so we removed both of them and were back in business in no time.

Steps to fix the issue:

Show decorators:

SELECT decoratorid, decoratorname FROM decorator;

Copy the correct IDs and issue:

DELETE * FROM decorator WHERE decoratorid='xxxxxxxxx' OR decoratorid='yyyyyyyyy'

Thanks for all your help!

Best regards,

Mariusz.

Stephen Sifers · Answer

Hello Mariusz,

Thank you for the clarification and comparing your main.vmd files to ensure there is no issue there. As you’ve explained, the problem is with the edits you’ve made within your layout.

These edits will need to be reverted for you to see the page again.

First, you may attempt to access the “reset default” button via URL before moving into the SQL work. Here is an example of what the URL would look like:

View your default for Global:

http://localhost:8090/admin/viewdefaultdecorator.action?decoratorName=decorators/main.vmd

View your default within a Space:

http://localhost:8090/spaces/viewdefaultdecorator.action?decoratorName=decorators/main.vmd&key=SPACEKEY

Edit your Global layout

http://localhost:8090/admin/editdecorator.action?decoratorName=decorators/main.vmd

Edit your Space layout:

http://localhost:8090/spaces/editdecorator.action?decoratorName=decorators/main.vmd&key=SPACEKEY

If the above does not allow you to view your default then edit the existing layout you will need to perform the removal of the layout via the SQL commands from the link you provided.

I would suggest you backup your Confluence instance and database before attempting the workaround within the post you linked. As you’ve done before, test this on your dev instance to ensure it does remove your layout edits (even though you don’t have the same result, you can ensure the layout is removed). Once tested in your dev instance then move to production (After you’ve completed your backups).

I have had to do a similar task in the past, it was slightly different, but in the end, I did have to drop my changes to the layout to resolve the issue. You may need to adjust the SQL queries within the referenced post to ensure you delete only the changes which are impacting the loading of your page.

Please let us know how the removal goes.

Regards,
Stephen Sifers

Mariusz_it8jkr · Answer

Thank you, I really appreciate your reply.

I'm not sure if this will work as I haven't edited the physical file on the server (which is located: /atlassian-confluence-6.6.11/confluence/decorators/main.vmd) instead I've made the change via confluence interface "General configuration -> Layouts -> and clicked edit next to Main Layout"

In the dev environment, the physical file doesn't contain the changes that I've made in the web interface.

Following your advice, I downloaded the v6.6.11 archive and used diff to compare both main.vmd files and the files are identical! Am I right by thinking that this shouldn't cause the issue and that the physical file is only used as a template for the database?

I was going to try this:

https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Confluence-questions/Space-Tools-does-not-show-How-to-reset-layout/qaq-p/87818

Do you think this may work?

Best regards,

Mariusz