bug: ReferenceError: updateLinks is not defined

epement · Post by **epement** » Mon Feb 23, 2026 1:29 pm

I am using BA for Windows ver 5.6.5.13. When I run the Parallel Presenter using Control > Harmony/Parallel Generator or the keyboard command Alt-G, and then select almost any Presenter module using the mouse, I receive the following error message:

Bibleanalyzer5 Warning
Error running JavaScript: ReferenceError: updateLinks is not defined
[OK]

See the screenshot below:

: Parallel Presenter.jpg (38.03 KiB) Viewed 86047 times

I have used the Parallel Presenter several times and have even written 3 modules for it, so I know that it formerly worked in the past without emitting this error message.

What might be wrong in my setup? Does anyone else receive the same error message when using the Gospel Harmony (a/k/a Parallel Generator)?

@Tim: I tried to do a little analysis on my own before asking this question. I discovered that my "%APPDATA%\Bible Analyzer" folder contains 2 html files named baParallel-1.html and baParallel-2.html. However, there are problems with each file:

Each file has invalid html, as each contains 2 DOCTYPE declarations, 2 <html> opening tags, 2 <body> tags, 2 <head>...</head> pairs
The JavaScript function updateLinks() is declared below the first </body> tag
The file ends with "</html>\n</body></html>", again showing the invalid tag structure

Are these errors unique to my setup? I know that I did not write them and did not put them in this directory. However, I also know that I have added 3 new *.pll files to my BIble Analyzer modules for personal study. I am thinking that perhaps BA auto-generated these *.html files to match the *.pll files that I added, and there may be a parsing error somewhere.

Post by **Tim** » Mon Feb 23, 2026 3:06 pm

The two html file were generated when you exported a page to your browser with the export button. They can be deleted.

The Javascript error indicate the Javascript functions are not getting loaded before the Presenter tries to use them. SOmetimes this is a glitch in the OS and with the next try it works ok. If it persists, try restarting your computer or a Bible Analyzer reset.

epement · Post by **epement** » Mon Feb 23, 2026 7:31 pm

Thanks for replying so quickly, Tim. I rebooted my computer, deleted all temporary files in all directories, and used the command to "Reset Default Settings and Restart", and again rebooted Windows. It still does not resolve the issue.

Screen shot in action. (The same error occurs on every Parallel Presenter module.)

: parallel.gif (239.51 KiB) Viewed 86036 times

Where does this bug originate? Anything I can do to diagnose the source of the issue?

This is my %APPDATA% directory, sorted chronologically (by date).

Code: Select all

[ 7:25] > dir /hkm /o:d "C:\Users\ericp\AppData\Roaming\Bible Analyzer"
 9/18/2021  23:03          28,672  filters.dat
 9/18/2021  23:03           8,192  markup.dat
 9/18/2021  23:03           8,192  default.nts
 6/01/2024  12:39          16,384  journal.dat
 6/01/2024  21:47         215,204  Paul-uses-Luke.jpg
 1/03/2026  23:22              32  linkMonitor.dat
 1/21/2026  19:38           8,869  baExport-1.html
 2/13/2026  13:35           2,137  purchaseData.dat
 2/23/2026  19:03             481  bibLayout.dat
 2/23/2026  19:03          15,565  mainLayout.dat
 2/23/2026  19:03           4,781  config.ini

Post by **Tim** » Tue Feb 24, 2026 7:14 am

I'm not sure what could have changed to make this start happening on your system.

Try this. Install a Portable version of Bible Analyzer to test. It will install everything in one folder. Then run it and see if the issue occurs.

Just run the setup file and select Portable.

epement · Post by **epement** » Tue Feb 24, 2026 9:31 pm

Hello Tim,

Thanks for the suggestion, but it did not help. I installed a Portable edition of BA in c:\temp\ and the problem still occurs.

: temp.jpg (21.63 KiB) Viewed 86020 times

Notice that the Parallel study tool shows only the four default modules, not the custom modules that I added a few weeks ago.

I also renamed "%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Bible Analyzer User Modules" as an added precaution and it did not help.

I deleted the cache from all my web browsers (Edge, Chrome, Firefox) and it did not help.

Do you have any more suggestions?

Post by **Tim** » Wed Feb 25, 2026 7:33 am

Well, this shows that it is not an issue with the Bible Analyzer installation.

Did your computer update recently? What version of Windows are you using?

It works ok on Win 11 25H2.

epement · Post by **epement** » Thu Feb 26, 2026 9:38 am

Tim wrote: ↑
Wed Feb 25, 2026 7:33 am
Well, this shows that it is not an issue with the Bible Analyzer installation.

Er, since the error message says "Bibleanalyzer5 Warning", it sure looks like an issue with the Bible Analyzer installation.

Did your computer update recently? What version of Windows are you using?

I am using Windows 10 [Version 10.0.19045.6937], a/k/a build 19045, version 22H2

Recent updates (in reverse chronological order, with links to specifics):

On 2026-02-10:
2026-02 Cumulative Update for Win10 v 22H2 for x64-based systems : KB5075912
2026-02 .NET 8.0.24 Security Update : KB5077863

On 2026-01-14:
2026-01 Cumulative Update for Win10 v 22H2 for x64-based systems : KB5073724
2026-01 .NET 8.0.23 Update for x64 Client : KB5074752

Do you see anything here?

Eric

Post by **Tim** » Thu Feb 26, 2026 10:48 am

Yes, it is a Bible Analyzer warning. It is warning that it can't load the Javascript functions into the Windows provided display. Bible Analyzer uses the MS provided browser backend to display the html data in the Parallel Presenter (much like web browsers do).

It tries to use the Edge backend and falls back to the old Internet Explorer backend if it is not found. The IE backend is very limited.

What I don't know is why it used to load on your system then all of a sudden it doesn't. Something must have changed. The Bible Analyzer portable test shows it still happens with a plain, default install so it must be something changed on your system.

I have not gotten any other reports of this on Windows. I did get some on Linux, but it has a Webkit backend which is different.

I'm not sure where else to look.

epement · Post by **epement** » Thu Feb 26, 2026 11:22 am

Follow-up to my last message. I installed Bible Analyzer on my wife's computer. She has Windows 10, version 22H2. She uses Microsoft Edge as her default web browser (I use Chrome), and she does not have extended security updates enabled. In other words, she has not had any security updates to Windows 10 since November 2025.

After a fresh install of Bible Analyzer on her Windows 10 computer, she experienced the same error that I have showed in previous messages.

I also have a laptop with Microsoft Windows 11 Home, ver 10.0.26100 Build 26100, version 24H2 (I have version 25H2 available for download, but I have not installed that update yet). On this laptop, I have Bible Analyzer version 5.6.5.04; my default browser on the laptop is Edge.

The same problem appears on Windows 11. Here are the steps to reproduce the issue:

1. Run Bible Analyzer
2. Press Alt-G to bring up the Parallel Presenter
3. Select module (Top Left) to "The Discourses of Jesus"
4. Change the title (Top Center) to "The Sermon on the Mount"
5. Change module again to "The Fourfold Gospel"

At some point in changing modules and titles, you should see the error message, "Error running JavaScript: ReferenceError: updateLinks is not defined"

What I think causes it. Choose any of the modules and titles. E.g., "Our Lord's Parables" > "The tares - Gennesaret"

If you right-click in the panel and choose "Export Page to browser" nothing will happen (this is a different bug, not the main issue). Change the Title of the page (lower right) to something simple like "test" and on the lower left corner click "Export". This will open up the page in a web browser.

Press Control-U to "uncover" the HTML code used to build the page. You will immediately see that it is non-compliant, invalid HTML that the web browser is nevertheless able to render for the viewer. To see the real problems, submit the generated HTML page to https://validator.w3.org or check for errors using HTML Tidy.

Web browsers are generally very "forgiving", but I suspect the problem is caused by the invalid tags and the engine putting the <script> data in the body of the html document instead of the head.

I will update my Windows 11 system to the latest version of Windows 25H2, and will also update Bible Analyzer, and see if the problem disappears.

epement · Post by **epement** » Thu Feb 26, 2026 2:55 pm

epement wrote: ↑
Thu Feb 26, 2026 11:22 am
I will update my Windows 11 system to the latest version of Windows 25H2, and will also update Bible Analyzer, and see if the problem disappears.

I think you will be grateful to learn that on Windows 11, after updating to version 25H2 (and also updating to the latest version of Bible Analyzer), the problem is RESOLVED . . . on my Windows 11 laptop.

The problem persists on Windows 10, but at least it no longer occurs on my laptop. Unfortunately for me, my main use of BA is on WIndows 10. However, the issue is not insurmountable.

While we're at it, can you add a minus sign to decrease the font size? The plus sign works, but there is no corresponding minus sign.

: minus.jpg (8.65 KiB) Viewed 85974 times

Kind regards,

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