Log -in is whack!

[Thumbtwiddler]

Please choose the appropriate forum for this topic. Thank you.

So, is there a help forum? Okay, it isn't in the FAQ anyway....

I have had two screenames here (when the forums moved, I re-registered with a new name, and it seems everytime I visit, which isn't that often, the site doesn't seem to remember me, or even recognize my email address to send me my password, (or allow me to change it). It also appears that the log in on the front page is completely different than the log in for forums... if so, what is with that? Why register twice for two areas of the site? Perhaps it has something to do with the "Comment on news items" stuff I notice... but it is confusing for someone wanting to post a question to forums to have to log in twice, or log in again.

Obviously, I got access to the forums, but there are a couple of things I would like to address about this.

Many web forums will have a check box to "Remember Me" when ever you log in. This site may remember me automatically as well, but it isn't immediately obvious if so. I am also asked to log out. You know.. perhaps I should, but I never do log out... the entire idea of logging out seems a bit odd, if you aren't at that web site anymore, you really aren't there it seems. But if this is something that everyone here should do... let us know.

I think what I was seeing was a result of some membership purge of less active posters, which I can understand, and a fight of some old cookies with the present server (a good reason to log out, if there was one). I still find the "Log in to site is not logging in to the forums, so you have to log in to forums" a bit redundant. I was also disturbed that the site automation keeps sending back the error message that my email address is not in the database. It is. I have mailed past letters from Dennis back to him to prove so. When it did log in successfully, I was told I had new private messages since my last visit...(I did not). I also think an email me if this message gets a response is a nice thing to have in web forums.

And I think further confusion may be caused by the case sensitive nature of the log in software, if it is case sensitive. If so, it should say so next to the log in fields. It may even be case sensitive for the email addresses, which is why it returns the message that my email address is not in the database.

So there are my comments, and the embedded questions within, to ponder. But I will try to summarize it as a few main points below.

Separate log-ins for site, and for forum? If so, Why?

Are log-ins (Member name, password, email address) case sensitive?

Is log in given a "remember me" cookie for auto log in next visit?

Does one need to log out, or is closing the web page the same as logging out?

This is really why I hate sites that call for registering, and remembering a password... in most cases, it is merely for the passing of non-critical information, and it is not going to lead to identity theft or financial ruin for most of the community at that site. But the canned software running the site is written that way, so web surfers have to log in at everyturn, unless the site is smart enough to remember them.

Thanks for any light you can shed on this, and I hope it may lead to improvements for members... these subjects may be addressed already on the site, but it is large enough that it may be difficult to find earlier discussion.

[Bob]

To try and sum up all your points in a brief answer (I'm about to turn in for the night ).
If you are logged in and close the browser without logging out, next time you visit you should still be logged in. It works that way for me. If a log out when I finish I do have to log in.
So your cookies are obviously being deleted. Have you got your browser or security settings set to delete all cookies when closing browser?
As with most passwords they are case sensitive...
Have you set the correct options in your User Profile? i.e.

Automatically login when you return to the site? (uses cookies) ?yes no

Browse board with cookies?
Clicking yes will use cookies to keep your id for this session. Clicking no will send it through the links. (Selecting no may cause problems when sharing links with people behind the same proxy as you) ?yes no

We did have a massive database failure in January, losing details of 4,000 members and several thousand posts. This may be why you have had to re-register on your return.

Contact me by PM and we'll try and sort it out.

Bob