Electrum: pruned transactions, red labels, -1 confirmations

[Elliander]

I am using Electrum 1.9.8 and for the most part I haven't had any problems (except that it always "stops responding" while sending a transaction), but lately something strange has been happening. Occasionally the transactions show as -1 confirmations unless I close Electrum and reopen, but that only seems to happen if I leave it running for a long time. I started instead only turning it on occasionally and at that point I noticed these red labels - even over addresses that recently received transactions. At the same time the history tab shows "pruned transaction outputs" on the bottom with most of the history missing. If I close it and reopen a few times it usually fixes itself, but that seems pretty serious. I do backup the history file, labels, and wallet file often, but why would the history just disappear like that? And if the red labels really indicate what addresses won't be recovered from a seed, why would the red labels disappear?

Also: I am aware that the latest version is 2.0.4, but I heard that the entire seed system changed and I am concerned about loosing access to my wallet. Do I need to create a new wallet every time there is a change to the software, or can I keep my old wallets indefinitely? I tried looking for a change log, but whenever I click documentation on the electrum site it links to a wiki that just loads forever and never actually opens anything.

Oh, and is there any way to manage multiple different wallets on the same machine? Right now I am handling two different accounts and I keep the transactions completely separate, but it requires that I constantly freeze and unfreeze addresses and it gets tedious.

[Abdussamad]

-1 confirmations are a known bug in 1.9.8. As you said that corrects itself once you restart it.

I've only ever seen red labels right after you change the gap limit. I don't know what's going on with you.

I suggest exporting labels and then restoring the wallet from seed and importing the labels back in. But first you'll need to know how to do multiple wallets with electrum which should answer your last question as well:

- To create a new wallet use file > new/restore. Pick a directory and enter a file name for the new wallet file and then click save. It will then show the usual wallet creation/restore "wizard".

- To open a different wallet use file > open.

2.0.x is backward compatible with previous version seeds so you can upgrade if you like. I wouldn't recommend it because in my opinion 2.0.x isn't stable yet. Your choice.

[ThomasV]

I wouldn't recommend it because in my opinion 2.0.x isn't stable yet.

what makes you believe so?

[Elliander]

I've only ever seen red labels right after you change the gap limit. I don't know what's going on with you.

It only started recently and I have not changed the gap limit.

I suggest exporting labels and then restoring the wallet from seed and importing the labels back in. But first you'll need to know how to do multiple wallets with electrum which should answer your last question as well:

- To create a new wallet use file > new/restore. Pick a directory and enter a file name for the new wallet file and then click save. It will then show the usual wallet creation/restore "wizard".

- To open a different wallet use file > open.

Well, here's what I am confused about: If the labels and history is all backed up as files on my machine, why would it need a server synch or resynch to show up?

I'll give your suggestion a try on a different machine.

2.0.x is backward compatible with previous version seeds so you can upgrade if you like. I wouldn't recommend it because in my opinion 2.0.x isn't stable yet. Your choice.

Thanks for the heads up.

Out of curiosity, what programming language is Electrum written in and where can I find the source? Are there any useful tutorials for working with Bitcoin Wallets in programming? I noticed incompatibilities with so many different seed types and I wanted to possibly program something that would use all the seeds and could buy/sell on Coinbase without transferring to a centralized wallet, unless someone already did something like that, that is.

[Abdussamad]

Well, here's what I am confused about: If the labels and history is all backed up as files on my machine, why would it need a server synch or resynch to show up?

Labels are the descriptions *you've* given to various addresses and transactions associated with your wallet. They are not known to anyone else.

There is a label sync plugin which can backup an encrypted copy of your labels on a 3rd party server. This allows you to see the labels on multiple installations of the same wallet on different devices. Is that what you mean? If you are using that then you don't have to backup the labels on your hard drive.

Electrum servers provide transaction data and allow electrum clients to broadcast transactions of their own. That is their purpose. The client relies on the servers to interact with the blockchain.

Out of curiosity, what programming language is Electrum written in and where can I find the source? Are there any useful tutorials for working with Bitcoin Wallets in programming? I noticed incompatibilities with so many different seed types and I wanted to possibly program something that would use all the seeds and could buy/sell on Coinbase without transferring to a centralized wallet, unless someone already did something like that, that is.

Electrum is written in python. You can see the source code here:

https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/

[Abdussamad]

I wouldn't recommend it because in my opinion 2.0.x isn't stable yet.

what makes you believe so?

There have been 3 point releases so far and there are still reports of bugs with 2fa and stuff. I think it needs to be tested some more. Of course with open source software the users are the testers so I don't want to discourage them but at the same time I can't call it stable!

[Elliander]

Well, here's what I am confused about: If the labels and history is all backed up as files on my machine, why would it need a server synch or resynch to show up?

Labels are the descriptions *you've* given to various addresses and transactions associated with your wallet. They are not known to anyone else.

Yes, I am aware of that, but that's not really what I meant. The history and labels are on my machines so why would server synching cause me to loose visibility of what is stored locally on my machine. I label transactions so I can reference them later for tax reporting purposes so I need to trust that the history and labels will remain intact.

Electrum is written in python. You can see the source code here:
https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/

Thanks.

[Abdussamad]

Yes, I am aware of that, but that's not really what I meant. The history and labels are on my machines so why would server synching cause me to loose visibility of what is stored locally on my machine. I label transactions so I can reference them later for tax reporting purposes so I need to trust that the history and labels will remain intact.

You are having trouble with your wallet file so I suggested that you restore from seed. When you do that you won't have any labels. So you need to backup your labels separately and then import them into your new wallet file.