Fix: Pre/Post-Test Edits Lost During Editing

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Fix: Pre/Post-Test Edits Lost During Editing

Hey guys! Let's dive into a tricky bug we've encountered that's causing some serious headaches for our users. We're talking about the pre-test/post-test variable editing feature, where it seems like edits are just vanishing into thin air. It's super frustrating when you've spent time tweaking questions, only to have your work disappear when you navigate away. This article is all about unraveling this mystery, explaining why it's happening, and most importantly, how we're going to squash this bug for good.

The Nitty-Gritty: What's Going Wrong?

So, picture this: you're in the user test editing section, creating or modifying a pre-test or post-test variable. You make some changes, maybe you edit an existing question or add a brand-new one. You click into the question or variable title, make your edits – all pretty standard stuff, right? The problem kicks in when you try to navigate between the different tabs or sections of the test before hitting that big ol' "Save" button at the bottom. Here's the kicker: the data you've been working on doesn't persist. It feels like it's saved, you're probably thinking, "Yep, all good!", but nope – it's lost. This leads to a really poor user experience because they genuinely believe their work is safe, only to be met with disappointment when they realize their edits have been wiped out. It’s a classic case of "expected behavior vs. actual behavior" gone wrong, and it’s definitely something we need to fix ASAP.

Why is This Happening, Anyway?

Let's get a bit technical, shall we? The root cause of this pre-test/post-test edit loss seems to stem from how we're handling validation and state management in the UserVariables.vue component. Right now, it appears that even when you're in the middle of typing or making changes, if some variables are in a temporarily invalid state (which is totally normal during the editing process!), the component isn't syncing those latest edits to the Vuex store. This means that the store, which is supposed to hold the current state of your test, isn't getting updated with your most recent work. Then, when you do hit that "Save" button, it's saving an outdated state because the live edits were never properly captured. Furthermore, the responsibility for validation seems to be a bit mixed up. The component is trying to validate things on the fly, but it's doing so in a way that prematurely discards user input if it's not perfectly valid at that exact moment. This is where the proposed fix comes into play – by shifting the validation burden entirely to the parent EditTestView.vue, we can ensure that no user edits are ever lost, even if they're in a temporary invalid state. The parent component can then handle the final validation before sending the data to the backend, ensuring data integrity without sacrificing the user's immediate input. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between immediate feedback and robust data handling.

Steps to Reproduce: Let's See It in Action!

To really understand the problem, let's walk through the exact steps that trigger this pesky bug. It’s pretty straightforward, but crucial for anyone trying to replicate and fix it. So, grab a coffee, and follow along:

  1. Navigate to the Pre-Test Tab: First things first, you need to be in the user test editing environment. Head over to the specific tab dedicated to Pre-Test questions or variables. This is where the magic (or in this case, the mishap) happens.
  2. Edit or Add a Pre-Test Question: Once you're in the Pre-Test section, you can either select an existing question and start editing it, or you can go ahead and add a completely new one. Either action should trigger the same behavior.
  3. Modify a Question/Variable Title: Now, this is key. Click directly into the title of the question or variable you're working on and start making your modifications. This is a standard editing action that shouldn't cause any issues.
  4. Attempt to Navigate Away Without Saving: Here’s where the trouble starts. Without explicitly clicking the "Save" button located at the bottom of the page, try to navigate to another tab or section within the test editor. You might click on a different section, or perhaps try to switch to the Post-Test tab.
  5. Encounter the "Unsaved Changes" Popup: As soon as you try to leave without saving, you should see a popup warning you about "Unsaved Changes." This is the critical moment.
  6. Select "Save" from the Popup: When this popup appears, choose the option to "Save." This is what the user expects to do to preserve their work. However, because of the bug, this action will save an incomplete or outdated state, leading to the loss of your recent edits.

By following these steps, you should be able to consistently reproduce the issue where pre-test/post-test edits are lost simply by attempting to save through the navigation prompt after making changes.

Expected vs. Actual Behavior: The Disconnect

It’s always helpful to clearly define what we expect to happen versus what's actually happening. This contrast really highlights the severity of the bug and why it needs our attention.

What We Expect (The Ideal Scenario) 🤔

In an ideal world, any edits made to pre-test/post-test variables should be treated with the utmost respect. Whether you're tweaking an existing question, adding a new one, or simply changing a title, those changes should be immediately preserved, at least temporarily, as you work. The system should be smart enough to understand that you might be in the middle of typing, or that a new variable might not yet meet all validation criteria. The core expectation is that your work never gets lost due to normal editing actions or navigation. Even if you decide to discard changes later, the system should first have those changes to discard. Temporary invalid states while you’re actively typing should not result in lost data when you eventually decide to save or navigate away. The user should always feel confident that their input is being captured.

What's Actually Happening (The Frustrating Reality) 😱

Unfortunately, we're not living in that ideal world just yet. The current behavior is quite the opposite. When you're busy editing your pre-test/post-test variables, the system gets tripped up by temporary invalid states. For instance, if you're typing quickly, or if a newly added variable doesn't yet have all its required fields filled out, the component fails to sync these ongoing edits to the central store (Vuex). This means that while you're actively working, the application's internal memory isn't being updated with your latest progress. Then, when the "Unsaved Changes" popup appears and you hit "Save," the system doesn't have your actual latest edits to save. Instead, it saves whatever outdated state was last properly registered. Consequently, all those recent, unsaved (but visible to you!) edits are completely lost. It’s a jarring experience that erodes user trust and creates a lot of unnecessary rework.

Environment Details: Where is This Happening?

To properly diagnose and fix bugs, it's essential to know the environment in which they occur. This helps us pinpoint specific browser compatibilities or feature interactions. For this particular issue concerning the loss of pre-test/post-test edits, here’s the breakdown:

  • Feature: The bug manifests specifically within the Edit Test section, particularly when interacting with the Pre-Test and Post-Test variable editing interfaces.
  • Browser: We've observed this behavior primarily in Google Chrome (latest version). While it's possible it might occur in other browsers, Chrome is our confirmed environment for this bug.
  • User Role: The issue affects any logged-in user who has the role of a test creator. This means anyone actively trying to build or modify a user test is susceptible.

Understanding these environmental factors is key to ensuring our fixes are tested thoroughly and don't introduce new problems elsewhere.

The Path Forward: Our Proposed Fix

Alright team, we've identified the problem and pinpointed the cause. Now, let's talk solutions! We have a clear plan to tackle this pre-test/post-test edit loss bug and make the editing experience much smoother for our users. The proposed fix focuses on refining how we handle edits and validation within the component structure.

Key Proposal 1: Always Sync Latest Edits

Our primary goal is to ensure that the UserVariables.vue component is designed to always sync the latest edits to the Vuex store. This means that even if some variables are in a temporarily invalid state – for example, while a user is actively typing into a field, or when a new variable is just being created and hasn't met all criteria yet – those changes should still be captured and stored. We don't want to discard user input just because it's not perfectly validated at that nanosecond. The Vuex store should reflect the user's current actions, providing a more resilient state.

Key Proposal 2: Centralize Validation

Secondly, we want to move the responsibility for validation entirely to the parent EditTestView.vue component. This parent component already has the logic in place to validate data comprehensively before it gets saved to the backend. By consolidating validation here, we achieve two critical things:

  1. No More Lost Edits: User edits are never lost because the UserVariables.vue component will faithfully pass along whatever the user has entered, even if it's temporarily imperfect.
  2. Robust Data Integrity: The EditTestView.vue component will act as the final gatekeeper, ensuring that only valid data is actually persisted. If the data fails validation at this final stage, the user will be informed, but their interim work won't have been discarded.

This approach essentially separates the concerns: UserVariables.vue focuses on capturing user input as it happens, and EditTestView.vue focuses on ensuring the data is correct before it's finalized. It’s a cleaner, more user-friendly way to handle the editing process, ensuring that pre-test and post-test edits are both captured and validated effectively.

Looking Ahead: Collaboration and Next Steps

I'm really excited to dive into this fix and make sure this pre-test/post-test edit loss bug becomes a thing of the past. I'll be taking another look at the code, and I'm planning on opening a Pull Request (PR) soon to implement these changes. If anyone has any pointers, suggestions, or insights, please don't hesitate to share them! Collaboration is key, and I'm totally open to feedback to make this the best possible solution. I'd like to formally request that this issue be assigned to me so I can dedicate my full attention to it. Thanks in advance for the support, guys!