[ARCHIVED] Can I recover partially composed Canvas messages that I lost?

[JoveR]

While I was crafting a long message to my instructor, I accidentally hit the escape key. Whoosh—Just like that, the last 30 minutes of my day just vanishes. When this happens, is my writing gone with the wind, or is there some kind of drafts box I don't know about?

This has happened to me a few times. If these lost messages are recoverable, I really want to know about it for future reference, because I'm going to bump my escape key a LOT.

To recreate: Go to your Canvas Inbox → "Compose a new message" → [Write up a message] → Hit your escape key.

One fix I'd like to recognize: Be more concise with messages 😅

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hello @JoveR ...

Oh man!  I just tested your steps, and you are right.  Unfortunately, I think you lost your entire message.  I experienced the same thing when I tested out your steps.  ☹️

It might be a good idea for you to create a new Feature Idea here in the Community.  For example, it might be nice to have some kind of warning message pop up if someone bumps the ESC key, and then you get some kind of prompt asking "Are you sure you want to stop composing this message?" (or whatever wording you think is best).  To start a new idea, click on the PRODUCT menu at the top of any screen here in the Community, and then click on IDEA CONVERSATIONS.  Then, click on the "Suggest an idea" button.  Here are a few Guides to get you started:

• How do idea conversations work in the Canvas Commu... - Canvas Community
• What is the feature development process for Instru... - Canvas Community
• How do I create a new idea conversation in the Can... - Canvas Community

I hope this information will be of help to you.  Let Community members know if you have any other questions about this...thanks!

[ricejasonf]

This is a bug. This has happened to me several times as well. I use vim so it is nature to hit the escape key which should not just dump everything without saying anything.

[Chris_Hofer]

@ricejasonf ...

Have you tried reporting this to Canvas Support?  They may not know about this issue.  However, if they do already know about this, they would add your issue to their existing ticket log, and if/when a fix is implemented, you would be notified via e-mail that it was fixed.

• How do I get help with Canvas as a student?
• How do I get help with Canvas as an instructor?

Please keep us posted here in the Community...thank you!

[ricejasonf]

I submitted a help request as you suggested. Thanks!

[lenz]

@JoveR
I love both your strategy to recreate the lost message and your fix. So simple yet so elegant. 😁
Chérie

[jlewis10]

This happens to me every once in a while. 

Just now as I was finishing my email, I went and check the Grammarly suggestions, and apparently, my instinct to get rid of the Grammarly popup was to hit the escape key. Boom! My email is gone! 🤬