From 72c9e1775bba9733927c2e7f07a737f32d80e491 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Sivin Varghese <64252451+iamsivin@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:18:38 +0530
Subject: [PATCH] fix: Prevent article editor from resetting content while
 typing (#14014)
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# Pull Request Template

## Description


### Description

This PR fixes an issue where the editor would reset content and move the
cursor while typing. The issue was caused by a dual debounce setup
(400ms + 2500ms) that saved content and then overwrote local state with
stale API responses while the user was still typing.

### What changed

* Editor now uses local state (`localTitle`, `localContent`) as the
source of truth while editing
* Vuex store is only used on initial load or navigation
* Replaced dual debounce with a single 500ms debounce (fewer API calls)
* `UPDATE_ARTICLE` now merges updates instead of replacing the article
  * Prevents status changes from wiping unsaved content
* Removed `updateAsync` for a simpler update flow

### How it works

User types
→ local ref updates immediately (editor reads from this)
→ 500ms debounce triggers
→ dispatches `articles/update`
→ API persists the change
→ on success: store merges the response (used by other components)
→ editor remains unaffected (continues using local state)



Fixes
https://linear.app/chatwoot/issue/CW-6727/better-syncing-of-content-the-editor-randomly-updates-the-content

## Type of change

- [x] Bug fix (non-breaking change which fixes an issue)

## How Has This Been Tested?

1. Open any Help Center article for editing
2. Type continuously for a few seconds — content should not reset or
jump
3. Change article status (publish/archive/draft) while editing — content
should remain intact
4. Test on a slow network (use DevTools throttling) — typing should
remain smooth


## Checklist:

- [x] My code follows the style guidelines of this project
- [x] I have performed a self-review of my code
- [x] I have commented on my code, particularly in hard-to-understand
areas
- [ ] I have made corresponding changes to the documentation
- [x] My changes generate no new warnings
- [ ] I have added tests that prove my fix is effective or that my
feature works
- [x] New and existing unit tests pass locally with my changes
- [ ] Any dependent changes have been merged and published in downstream
modules

---------

Co-authored-by: Muhsin Keloth <muhsinkeramam@gmail.com>
---
 .../Pages/ArticleEditorPage/ArticleEditor.vue | 42 ++++++++-----------
 .../pages/PortalsArticlesEditPage.vue         | 10 +----
 .../modules/helpCenterArticles/actions.js     | 27 +-----------
 .../modules/helpCenterArticles/mutations.js   |  8 ++--
 4 files changed, 25 insertions(+), 62 deletions(-)

diff --git a/app/javascript/dashboard/components-next/HelpCenter/Pages/ArticleEditorPage/ArticleEditor.vue b/app/javascript/dashboard/components-next/HelpCenter/Pages/ArticleEditorPage/ArticleEditor.vue
index bdc6a56cb..2f06ea01e 100644
--- a/app/javascript/dashboard/components-next/HelpCenter/Pages/ArticleEditorPage/ArticleEditor.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/dashboard/components-next/HelpCenter/Pages/ArticleEditorPage/ArticleEditor.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <script setup>
-import { computed, ref } from 'vue';
+import { ref, computed, watch } from 'vue';
 import { debounce } from '@chatwoot/utils';
 import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n';
 import { ARTICLE_EDITOR_MENU_OPTIONS } from 'dashboard/constants/editor';
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ const props = defineProps({
 
 const emit = defineEmits([
   'saveArticle',
-  'saveArticleAsync',
   'goBack',
   'setAuthor',
   'setCategory',
@@ -39,42 +38,37 @@ const { t } = useI18n();
 
 const isNewArticle = computed(() => !props.article?.id);
 
-const saveAndSync = value => {
-  emit('saveArticle', value);
-};
+const localTitle = ref(props.article?.title ?? '');
+const localContent = ref(props.article?.content ?? '');
 
-// this will only send the data to the backend
-// but will not update the local state preventing unnecessary re-renders
-// since the data is already saved and we keep the editor text as the source of truth
-const quickSave = debounce(
-  value => emit('saveArticleAsync', value),
-  400,
-  false
+// Sync local state when navigating to a different article or on initial fetch
+watch(
+  () => props.article?.id,
+  newId => {
+    if (newId) {
+      localTitle.value = props.article?.title ?? '';
+      localContent.value = props.article?.content ?? '';
+    }
+  }
 );
 
-// 2.5 seconds is enough to know that the user has stopped typing and is taking a pause
-// so we can save the data to the backend and retrieve the updated data
-// this will update the local state with response data
-// Only use to save for existing articles
-const saveAndSyncDebounced = debounce(saveAndSync, 2500, false);
+const debouncedSave = debounce(value => emit('saveArticle', value), 500, false);
 
 const handleSave = value => {
   if (isNewArticle.value) return;
-  quickSave(value);
-  saveAndSyncDebounced(value);
+  debouncedSave(value);
 };
 
 const articleTitle = computed({
-  get: () => props.article.title,
+  get: () => localTitle.value,
   set: value => {
+    localTitle.value = value;
     handleSave({ title: value });
   },
 });
 
-const localContent = ref(props.article.content || '');
-
 const articleContent = computed({
-  get: () => props.article.content,
+  get: () => localContent.value,
   set: content => {
     localContent.value = content;
     handleSave({ content });
@@ -132,7 +126,7 @@ const handleCreateArticle = event => {
         />
         <ArticleEditorControls
           :article="article"
-          @save-article="saveAndSync"
+          @save-article="values => emit('saveArticle', values)"
           @set-author="setAuthorId"
           @set-category="setCategoryId"
         />
diff --git a/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/helpcenter/pages/PortalsArticlesEditPage.vue b/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/helpcenter/pages/PortalsArticlesEditPage.vue
index 809fd5d29..36508ded5 100644
--- a/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/helpcenter/pages/PortalsArticlesEditPage.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/helpcenter/pages/PortalsArticlesEditPage.vue
@@ -40,11 +40,10 @@ const articleLink = computed(() => {
   );
 });
 
-const saveArticle = async ({ ...values }, isAsync = false) => {
-  const actionToDispatch = isAsync ? 'articles/updateAsync' : 'articles/update';
+const saveArticle = async ({ ...values }) => {
   isUpdating.value = true;
   try {
-    await store.dispatch(actionToDispatch, {
+    await store.dispatch('articles/update', {
       portalSlug,
       articleId: articleSlug,
       ...values,
@@ -62,10 +61,6 @@ const saveArticle = async ({ ...values }, isAsync = false) => {
   }
 };
 
-const saveArticleAsync = async ({ ...values }) => {
-  saveArticle({ ...values }, true);
-};
-
 const isCategoryArticles = computed(() => {
   return (
     route.name === 'portals_categories_articles_index' ||
@@ -112,7 +107,6 @@ onMounted(fetchArticleDetails);
     :is-updating="isUpdating"
     :is-saved="isSaved"
     @save-article="saveArticle"
-    @save-article-async="saveArticleAsync"
     @preview-article="previewArticle"
     @go-back="goBackToArticles"
   />
diff --git a/app/javascript/dashboard/store/modules/helpCenterArticles/actions.js b/app/javascript/dashboard/store/modules/helpCenterArticles/actions.js
index 143192a3c..13a2b4899 100644
--- a/app/javascript/dashboard/store/modules/helpCenterArticles/actions.js
+++ b/app/javascript/dashboard/store/modules/helpCenterArticles/actions.js
@@ -69,30 +69,9 @@ export const actions = {
     }
   },
 
-  updateAsync: async ({ commit }, { portalSlug, articleId, ...articleObj }) => {
-    commit(types.UPDATE_ARTICLE_FLAG, {
-      uiFlags: { isUpdating: true },
-      articleId,
-    });
-
-    try {
-      await articlesAPI.updateArticle({ portalSlug, articleId, articleObj });
-      return articleId;
-    } catch (error) {
-      return throwErrorMessage(error);
-    } finally {
-      commit(types.UPDATE_ARTICLE_FLAG, {
-        uiFlags: { isUpdating: false },
-        articleId,
-      });
-    }
-  },
-
   update: async ({ commit }, { portalSlug, articleId, ...articleObj }) => {
     commit(types.UPDATE_ARTICLE_FLAG, {
-      uiFlags: {
-        isUpdating: true,
-      },
+      uiFlags: { isUpdating: true },
       articleId,
     });
 
@@ -110,9 +89,7 @@ export const actions = {
       return throwErrorMessage(error);
     } finally {
       commit(types.UPDATE_ARTICLE_FLAG, {
-        uiFlags: {
-          isUpdating: false,
-        },
+        uiFlags: { isUpdating: false },
         articleId,
       });
     }
diff --git a/app/javascript/dashboard/store/modules/helpCenterArticles/mutations.js b/app/javascript/dashboard/store/modules/helpCenterArticles/mutations.js
index 7d18d28b0..bf220c2aa 100644
--- a/app/javascript/dashboard/store/modules/helpCenterArticles/mutations.js
+++ b/app/javascript/dashboard/store/modules/helpCenterArticles/mutations.js
@@ -79,14 +79,12 @@ export const mutations = {
   [types.UPDATE_ARTICLE]: ($state, updatedArticle) => {
     const articleId = updatedArticle.id;
     if ($state.articles.byId[articleId]) {
-      // Preserve the original position
-      const originalPosition = $state.articles.byId[articleId].position;
+      const existing = $state.articles.byId[articleId];
 
-      // Update the article, keeping the original position
-      // This is not moved out of the original position when we update the article
       $state.articles.byId[articleId] = {
+        ...existing,
         ...updatedArticle,
-        position: originalPosition,
+        position: existing.position,
       };
     }
   },