Delete content (from database) is stuck

This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:
The client is experiencing an issue where the 'Delete content' routine from the WPML plugin is stuck and not completing. This is happening while trying to remove all WPML data from a development site that is a clone of a production server. The client has already disabled all plugins except for WPML String Translation, WPML Multilingual CMS, and WP Cerber Security, without changing the theme (Storefront).
Solution:
We recommend checking for incorrect code that might be causing the issue, as indicated by a screenshot showing a potential error. To troubleshoot further:
1. Switch the theme to a default WordPress theme and attempt the deletion process again.
2. If the problem persists, disable all plugins except for the WPML plugins and try again to see if the issue resolves.
This process will help determine if there is a conflict with a specific plugin or the theme that is preventing the WPML 'Delete content' feature from working correctly.
If you're not comfortable performing these steps or if the site is live, we advise against making these changes without ensuring that there is no custom code that could break the site. In such cases, or if the solution provided here does not resolve the issue, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins.

If the problem persists, please do not hesitate to open a new support ticket with us for further assistance. You can reach the WPML support forum here: https://wpml.org/forums/forum/english-support/.

This is the technical support forum for WPML - the multilingual WordPress plugin.

Everyone can read, but only WPML clients can post here. WPML team is replying on the forum 6 days per week, 22 hours per day.

Tagged: Not WPML issue

This topic contains 8 replies, has 3 voices.

Last updated by Alejandro 1 year, 1 month ago.

Assisted by: Alejandro.

Author	Posts
April 19, 2024 at 1:42 pm #15544078
thomasH-153	Following your instructions on how to delete and remove WPML from a site, the "Delete content" (red box in image) from the database routine is stuck. I've waiting over 30 mins for the process to complete, but it is just stuck. I've tried cancel and reclick the delete button. Same thing happens. The document I follow: https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/language-setup/deleting-languages-and-plugin-data-by-doing-a-wpml-reset-on-your-site/ I need to deactivate/remove all of WPML from this new dev site (subdomain), which is a fresh clone of a production server where WPML is currently working fine. On the dev site WPML is not needed.
April 20, 2024 at 5:05 am #15545415
Andreas W. WPML Supporter since 12/2018 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) German (Deutsch ) Timezone: America/Lima (GMT-05:00)	Hello, A quick solution might be to try to clear any custom post types manually from the backend and then try to run the dialog again, but I would like to ask you not to do this now, as I would like to figure out which post type is causing the issue. I would like to offer to have a closer look at the problem and request temporary access (wp-admin ) to the website to investigate this issue further. You can find the required fields below the comment section when you log in to leave the next reply. The information you provide is private, which means only you and I can see and access it. IMPORTANT Please be sure to make a backup copy of the website and database before allowing us access. If you can't see the wp-admin / FTP fields, your post and website credentials are set as PUBLIC. DO NOT publish the data unless you see the required wp-admin / FTP fields. I may have to install a plugin called "All In One WP Migration" to make a copy of the website where I can investigate the issue further. However, I would also be very grateful if you could provide a staging site or copy of the website from your server yourself for this purpose. If you have any questions about creating such a staging site, you can consult your hosting provider. Just take note that WPML should be registered on this site again. If you are unable to provide such a copy of the site for testing, please let me know on this ticket. The private response form looks like this: hidden link Next time you reply, click "I still need assistance." Video: hidden link Please note that we are obliged to request this information individually on each ticket. We may not access any access information not specifically submitted on this ticket in the private response form. Best regards Andreas
April 22, 2024 at 12:54 pm #15550573
Alejandro WPML Supporter since 02/2018 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano ) Timezone: Europe/Rome (GMT+02:00)	This is what i see when i access your site: hidden link It's the same if i clear the cache, check it out on incognito, etc. this issue is created by a server-side cache and i suspect that the entire issue here is cache related. I see you use Litespeed, so could you try to flush the cache, disable it and any other cache you have on your site and then try the same procedure again? In alternative, if you access with the link you provided to me, could you let me know if you also see the page like that? I'm mentioning this, because i can't do much on your site and when i do, i always get a ton of errors in the JS inspector (jQuery is not defined among others: hidden link ) I suspect that when this is fixed, the issue will go away. ------------ At the same time please: 1) Kindly add this code into your wp-config.php file, right after the database information to meet our minimum requirements: define ('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); define ('WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); 2) Go to WPML -> Support -> Troubleshooting Press the following buttons: • "Clear the cache in WPML" • "Remove ghost entries from the translation tables" • "Fix element_type collation" • "Set language information" • "Fix post type assignment for translations"
April 22, 2024 at 2:13 pm #15551135
thomasH-153	I see you problem. It's funny, I have an admin with the same problem, yet myself and another admin does not. I'm sure it's server site, but we can't figure out why it works for some and not all. We will look further into this. Also we will change the mem limit.
April 22, 2024 at 3:56 pm #15552128
Alejandro WPML Supporter since 02/2018 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano ) Timezone: Europe/Rome (GMT+02:00)	Thanks! Yes, this has to do with caching on the server side, I'm not entirely sure WHERE but usually disabling the cache after flushing it should fix it. Anyway, you can try it out and let me know when i can access again so i can check what else we need to do 🙂 Regards.
April 23, 2024 at 10:09 am #15554943
thomasH-153	Turns out, inserting the good old define( 'CONCATENATE_SCRIPTS', false ) in wp-config fixed the problem backend-looks-funny issue. So back to the original problem: Delete content from the database get's stuck. You can still use the same temp login to see the problem in action (backup done)
April 23, 2024 at 11:06 am #15555434
thomasH-153	Btw, I went through your instructions: • "Clear the cache in WPML" • "Remove ghost entries from the translation tables" • "Fix element_type collation" • "Set language information" • "Fix post type assignment for translations" Didn't help. It still seems stuck when trying to delete the language (waited for 5 mins for it to complete).
April 23, 2024 at 11:10 am #15555440
thomasH-153	Don't know if it helps, but I can only stop the process by clicking the cross. Cancel is not allowed (shows a red "stop" icon).
April 23, 2024 at 12:25 pm #15555865
Alejandro WPML Supporter since 02/2018 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano ) Timezone: Europe/Rome (GMT+02:00)	The problem is caused by a wrong code somewhere as you can see here: hidden link It seems there's a missing opening or close tag somewhere in your site which is crashing. Would it be possible for you to switch the theme to a default one, and try again? if the problem continues, then disable the plugins except WPML and try again to see if the problem disappears? if it does, then it means that there's one plugin or the theme that has some "broken" code somewhere that is preventing our feature to work normally. I would do this for you if you allow me to disable the plugins and the theme as well, but i'm afraid to do so since i don't know if you have custom code somewhere that could break the ite if i disable any plugin OR if this site is a live one. Regards.
April 23, 2024 at 12:45 pm #15555944
thomasH-153	Disabling all plugins but WPML String Translation, WPML Multilingual CMS and WP Cerber Security fixed the issue. Did not change the theme (Storefront). Thank you for your help. Hope you have a great day!