The following problem pertains to FootPrints version 9.5.x, 10.0 and 10.0.1.

When attempting to login to FootPrints or access a particular workspace, the following error may occur: FootPrints Error Error loading YAML data: --- !perl/FootPrints::YAML::Error code: YAML_PARSE_ERR_BAD_CHARS msg: |- Invalid characters in stream. This parser only supports printable ASCII line: 0 ... at C:\FootPrints\\cgi\SUBS\GetYAMLFile.pl line 117

The problem occurs due to a corrupted file on the FootPrints server to store configuration for Knowledge Base approvers in the workspace.

This Issue has been resolved in the new release of FootPrints, version 10.0.2. 

If you do not wish to install the new release of FootPrints, version 10.0.2, please try the workaround below.

Workaround

On the server where FootPrints is installed, the footprints\db\MASTERx\MR\KBApproval file needs to be renamed or deleted. "x" after MASTER in the previous path represents the Workspace number of the workspace which needs to be accessed. Perform the following steps: In the steps below, C:\Footprints refers to the "base" install location of FootPrints. By default, this would be C:\Footprints on a Windows server and /usr/local/footprints on a Unix or Linux server. When performing the steps below, please adjust the path accordingly for the actual "base" install location of FootPrints in your environment. 1) Determine the Workspace number of the workspace that needs to be accessed/logged in to. Assuming a FootPrints System Administrator is not receiving the error and is able to access "Administration | System | Workspaces", click the link at the top where it says "Click here to see a list of all Workspaces, and their Workspace and Address Book numbers". A table will be displayed showing the mappings of workspace numbers to workspace names and their respective address books. Locate the row for the Workspace that is being accessed. The Workspace number will be listed in the first column of the table. Alternatively, if no FootPrints System Administrators are able to access the page listed above, the C:\Footprints\etc\MRprojects file on the FootPrints server can be viewed in a text editor such as notepad or wordpad for Windows, or vi, nano or emacs on Unix/Linux. Locate the line for the workspace in question. The workspace name is in the third field of this colon separated file (in bold below), and the Workspace number is in the first field. An example of 2 lines of the first 4 fields of a Windows based MRprojects file is listed below: 1:C:\FootPrints\db\MASTER1:ABC Widget Helpdesk:0 2:C:\FootPrints\\db\MASTER2:Development:0 Be careful NOT to edit the contents of this file. 2) Once the workspace number is determined, delete or rename the C:\Footprints\db\MASTERx\MR\KBApproval file from the FootPrints server, replacing x after MASTER in the path with the workspce number found in the previous step. At this point, users should be able to access/login to the workspace. 3) A workspace or System Administrator will need to reselect any Knowledge Base approvers that were configured prior to the renaming/deletion of the file at "Administration | Workspace | Knowledge Base". Contact FootPrints Technical Support if any assistance is needed performing these steps.