Fix 404 - Article Preview
Step-by-Step Resolution
1. Verify Article Status
First, confirm that your article is properly saved:
- Check that all required fields are filled out
- Look for any error messages in the article editor
- Ensure the article status is set to "Draft" or appropriate preview state
- Save the article again explicitly
2. Check Preview URL Format
Ensure the preview URL follows the correct format:
- It should begin with your designated preview domain
- Include necessary preview tokens or authentication parameters
- Verify no special characters are being improperly encoded
- Check for any duplicate URL parameters
3. Clear System Cache
If the issue persists:
- Clear your browser cache and cookies
- Flush the content management system's cache
- Clear any CDN cache if applicable
- Restart your browser
Advanced Troubleshooting
Review Server Logs
404 NOT FOUND /preview/articles/{article-id}
Note any patterns in timestamps or associated error messages.
Check Preview Token
- Verify the token is not expired
- Confirm it contains the correct article ID
- Check proper encryption
- Validate necessary metadata
Common Error Messages and Solutions
"Preview Not Available"
- Save the article again
- Check preview environment status
- Verify preview generation service is running
"Invalid Preview Token"
- Generate a new preview token
- Check token expiration settings
- Verify token generation service
Prevention Tips
To prevent future 404 preview errors:
- Always save articles before previewing
- Use the preview button within the CMS instead of direct URLs
- Regularly clear your browser cache
- Keep preview tokens updated
- Monitor preview environment health
Need Additional Help?
If you continue experiencing issues:
- Document the exact steps that lead to the error
- Capture screenshots of the error message
- Note your browser and CMS version
- Contact technical support with this information
Technical Details
Preview system architecture:
- Preview requests are routed through a dedicated preview server
- Authentication is handled via encrypted tokens
- Content is served from a preview database
- URLs are generated dynamically based on article metadata