The "Reply" Option, For Embedded Comments

The option provided some time ago, to the embedded comment form, to allow "threaded" comments, is becoming quite popular.

Unfortunately, the "Reply" link does not always work. Blog owners and readers alike complain.

I click on "Reply", and nothing happens!

This problem appears to have accelerated recently, possibly resulting from the hasty rollout of the new anonymous comments CAPTCHA - but there are other less obvious possibilities, too.

The threaded comments "Reply" feature, a seemingly minor addition to the Blogger code base, can have problems with a number of issues.

• A Full Blog Feed.
• An up to date post template,
• The Google "One account" login, and cookie filtering.
• The recent addition of the anonymous commenting CAPTCHA.
• The threaded comments script, and recent script filter updates.

A Full blog feed is required.

Many blog owners are not aware that the "Reply" option won't be available, without a Full Blog Feed. Go to the dashboard, and look at "Allow Blog Feed", under Settings - Other - Site feed.

For threaded comments, you will need a Full Blog Feed (for both comments and posts) - and this will exclude private blogs.

Any "Allow Blog Feed" selection, other than "Full", will be a problem.



An up to date post template is a good idea.

Threaded comments, like every other post and comment feature, works best on an up to date post template. Any time threaded comments stops working, and you have not changed the blog feed, try resetting the post template. Now, here's hoping that you have not made extensive post template tweaks.

The identity of the person who wants to reply is useful.

Threaded Blogger hosted comments code, like threaded Google+ hosted comments, other commenting scripts, and many other Blogger features, needs access to the login cookie, to identify the person preparing to comment. Because of the use of the Google "One account" login, "third party" cookie filters must be examined.

Anything that interferes with the CAPTCHA will be a problem.

The recent addition of the anonymous comment CAPTCHA, appears to have caused some problems. This may be an matter for Blogger Engineering to correct.

Anything that interferes with scripts will be a big problem.

All Blogger scripts, including the script which services the "Reply" link, are subject to script filtering. Script filters are subject to update, on every different client computer - generally without notice to the computer owner. Always check script filters.

Blog owners and readers, alike, need to be aware of the issues, to use Blogger effectively. Threaded comments are no exception to this requirement.