Block editor is automatically updating existing posts

[blogtutor]

When editing an existing blog post with the block editor, once each minute the block editor will update the post (taking changes live -- as if clicking the "Update" button), rather than just auto-saving a revision.

We've narrowed it down to ACF 5.9.0 (both free and pro). We first encountered this on a client site, and then on a second live site. I've recreated the problem on a development site running WP 5.5, Twenty Twenty, and with ACF as the only active plugin.

The live sites were running 5.4.2, so this isn't just a 5.5 issue.

Step to duplicate:

1. Edit a published post in the block editor.
2. Make some changes to the content.
3. Wait ~60 seconds with the editor open.
4. When admin-ajax.php triggers, it will also update the post and the changes will go live.

If you watch the request in the Devtools Network tab, you'll see admin-ajax.php appear, and at the same time a second URL to https://domain.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/1234?_locale=user.

If no changes are made after that and you just let the editor sit there, admin-ajax.php will keep triggering every minute, but it won't update again. If you then make some more changes, on the next heartbeat it'll update again.

[elliotcondon]

Hi @blogtutor 👋. Thanks for the bug report, sorry for the issue.

Can you please try the fix mentioned in this ticket: https://github.com/AdvancedCustomFields/acf/issues/373

Very interested to hear if this solves the issue.

[blogtutor]

Good morning @elliotcondon! I just swapped in those two .js files on my test site (per #373 ), and that did indeed solve it! 🎉😁

[yiudev]

Hi @elliotcondon , I have the same issue as @blogtutor . I tried to implement the fix (swapping the two JS files) but it didn't work out.

WordPress version: 5.5.1 ACF plugin version: 5.9.0

[blogtutor]

@yiudev Did you clear all caches? If your site uses a CDN, or any kind of server-side static file cache (like Varnish), you'll need to flush that - and also make sure to clear your browser's cache.

[yiudev]

@blogtutor , Yes, I did everything you've mentioned but still didn't work. I did even tried accessing my site through incognito to make sure no cache is available.

I'm using cloudflare as a CDN, I did purge all cache there a couple of times but same issue.

[blogtutor]

Huh. Swapped out those two .js files definitely solved the auto-saving issue for me - on several sites. 🤷‍♂️ Will have to defer to @elliotcondon on this!

[yiudev]

@blogtutor Yeah, thanks for the reply. By the way, I'll just attached a screenshot here of the errors I have encountered. Thanks again.

[elliotcondon]

@yiudev Thanks for the feedback. I've just updated the hotfix files. Can you please test out the latest code?

[yiudev]

Hi @elliotcondon , okay, I will test it now and will let you know. Thank you so much.

[yiudev]

Hi @elliotcondon , I just implemented your fix for the JS files (acf-input.js & acf-input.min.js), purged my cache in Cloudflare, and cleared my browser cache as well BUT the issue and errors are still there.

Below is how the errors are displayed:

1. Clicked on a page to edit, inserted/edited a text in the "Wysiwyg Editor" (acf field) just to have an update then clicked save draft.

[elliotcondon]

@yiudev If it's not too much to ask, can you please spin up a fresh WP site in "Local by Flywheel" and try to replicate the issue? Please keep the default theme active and edit the functions.php file with any extra logic needed.​

​​If you can replicate the issue, please export the site (from flywheel app, right click the site and click "export") and attach to your next reply. ​I'll import this and get to work replicating / testing the issue :)

[yiudev]

@elliotcondon , thank you for your reply. I tried to replicate the issue in "Local by Flywheel" but it works fine. I'm not sure now where this issue came from (hosting or cloudflare). Thanks for your help.

[yiudev]

Hi @elliotcondon , I also noticed that when adding content to the Wysiwyg Editor or Text Area (ACF field) with an HTML code, the error occurs. It does not work just like before where I can add HTML or an inline styles without any problem. Thanks.

[elliotcondon]

@yiudev Can you please create a new ticket with a full description to replicate this issue? A screen recording would be extremely useful too.

[yiudev]

@elliotcondon , I have now fixed my issue. All along, it wasn't the ACF but instead on my SSL certificate. Thank you for your help.