Auto Log in

Larry Kluss · Post by **Larry Kluss** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:10 pm

Why does the automatic log in not work for me? Am I doing something wrong?

Post by **Steve Simmons** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:16 pm

It should be working. Are you checking the box under the log in area marked as "Log me on automatically each visit"?

Also, what web browser are you using (IE, Firefox, Safari, etc)? Check your web browser's cookie settings. If you are disallowing cookies from this site, then you will not be able to auto log in.

Larry Kluss · Post by **Larry Kluss** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:31 pm

Steve, I'm using Explorer 7.0 here at work and from home. I checked the cookie settings and just now added this site to allow cookies. Still no dice.
Larry

Post by **Steve Simmons** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:42 pm

Well that's very odd. I just tested it here on IE7 and it works properly. I logged on with another computer, shut the computer down, rebooted and came back to the site. I was still logged in.

Are you having trouble at both work and home, or just at one or the other? Does it ever log you in automatically or is it every time you visit the site?

Larry Kluss · Post by **Larry Kluss** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:36 pm

Same problem, both here and at home...wierd.

Larry Kluss · Post by **Larry Kluss** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:37 pm

Sorry, I didn't answer your other question.
It never logs me in automatically here, nor at home.

Post by **Steve Simmons** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:49 pm

Wow. I'm at a loss. I've searched the forum software support database and there is no mention of this problem unless it affects everyone simultaneously. I've configured cookies to conform to standard protocols so I can't think of any reason why it shouldn't work. Maybe try resetting IE's secutiry settings to default?

Have you tried it in any other browsers? That would rule out whether or not it's a problem on the server side or on your end. I recommend Firefox.

Larry Kluss · Post by **Larry Kluss** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:03 pm

I haven't tried another browser. I'll play with the settings a bit more to see if I can figure it out. I'm not super computer literate, but I manage.

Really, it's only a minor issue to log in each time...no biggie. I appreciate you looking into it from your end.

One other silly question - could it be because I log out each time I'm done on the forum?

Post by **Steve Simmons** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:26 pm

YES! That's exactly why. There is no need to log out. The server will automatically take you offline after a certain amount of inactivity. Logging in is only required to let the forum know who you are so it can display your personal settings, unread posts, private messages, etc.

Logging in automatically does exactly the same as logging in manually, only instead of typing your name and password, your computer sends the contents of a saved cookie to the forum to save you the effort. This cookie contains information about your visit to the forum, including user name and password.

The same holds true for any web site you visit. There is little security risk to using cookies although I do not recommend allowing cookies to be saved for secure sites such as banking.

Larry Kluss · Post by **Larry Kluss** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:55 pm

Well, when I tried not logging out last night, it worked. I just got back on today (at work) and I had to log in again. Strange. I'll keep trying.

Post by **Steve Simmons** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:32 pm

Well, we're on the right track. Is your browser set to clear cookies when you close it? That would explain the oddity.

Nunyas · Post by **Nunyas** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 11:07 pm

I'm not sure how much this'll help out, but I ~only~ have my home PC automatically log into the forums I like going to, and I ~never~ allow my work PC to automatically log into anything.

Instead of "automatically" logging in from work, I have the browser save my forum passwords and always with a browser that our IT "does not support".

At any rate, doing it with this method is ~almost~ as good as logging in automatically, because the browser will fill in the fields for me, and I only have to click "sign in" or "log in".

One of my reasons for doing it this way is I've had problems on ~other~ forums, when I set both locations to "auto login". I believe it may have something to do with some sites/forums tracking the cookies for it's users, and the problematic sites won't allow more than 1 "auto login" cookie per given account.

Post by **Steve Simmons** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 11:57 pm

Interesting. I haven't noticed this. I log in on my home computer and on my laptop when I'm bored at work. No problems.

Larry Kluss · Post by **Larry Kluss** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:27 pm

Thanks for the advise...it worked okay today...