I've been using DotComments for visitor comments on this site for some time. Also, I've recommended this system to anyone who has asked. With the new switch-over to the new Blogger interface, my comments still worked, but the number of comments stopped appearing on my blog.

It turns out that Blogger is using a new, longer string to identify archived posts, and this was confusing the JavaScript-based DotComments. The hack is very simple, and I found it via phil ringnalda dot com:



Thanks, Phil! I've dumbed-down his instructions for us non-programmers, but it works. Since the change-over, I've had people posting comments which, now that I've modifyed things, have disappeared. I know that they are still on the server, but (without going into a long explanation) I am confident that I can hack them back into the game.

One really nice improvement to the new Blogger is that it archives your posts automatically, so your permalinks always work without a fuss. That improvement alone is worth the trouble trying to struggle with a few glitches with third-party tools. Keep up the good work, Blogger. And give me a job!

UPDATE: All systems are restored. Bugs, be gone!