Ask the Staff v7

[Jessica]

Last time on Ask the Staff we learned the answers to several burning questions:

Examples:
Why has my thread been locked?
What are those stars?
How do I make a signature?
Why are dogs so superior to cats?*
Why did they let you start this thread?**

You can also check out Common Questions FAQ to see if the answer to your question is there.

But now in v7 the saga continues! Will Morgoth and lanifiel finally convince Jessica to shut up about her dogs? Will JK Rowling join the forums and tell us cool behind the scenes facts? Does anyone actually read my exciting intros to these threads?

Anyone can answer questions. But staff are the ones encouraged to do so as they know the answer... Admin answers in RED TEXT are the final word on anything...

The vbcode list doesn't have all the signs on there so here you go ^_^:    

---

sign 1 is written out like this [sign=1]...[/sign] 2 = [sign=2]...[/sign] 3 = [sign=3]...[/sign] 4 = [sign=4]...[/sign] 5 = [sign=5]...[/sign]

*They just are.
**None of the other Admins are online to tell me not to

[Chris]

Dogs are better

Oh, shoot, not for staff spam. Right, questions.

[lanifiel]

Originally Posted by chparadise

Oh, shoot, not for staff spam. Right, questions.

Ladies and gentlemen... Say goodbye to chparadise... Because with that one post their going to be banned...

CATS FOREVER!

[mexicant]

YAY KITTIES!!!

[Kimagine]

I have a question. If you don't log out and are absent for a while, will the forum automatically log you out?

I am really not very tech-savvy, so this is probably a Very Stupid Question.

[lanifiel]

Originally Posted by Kimagine

I have a question. If you don't log out and are absent for a while, will the forum automatically log you out?

I am really not very tech-savvy, so this is probably a Very Stupid Question.

If you leave the page open, no.

[Kimagine]

OK. Then there is this I wonder... when someone sends a link, and you are already signed in, and you are told you cannot access the page unless you sign in, you'd have to do it under your same name again, right? Why doesn't it let you view the page if you are already signed in?

I thought it was for certain areas of the forums only, but sometimes it happens when people direct me to a post of a thread I use regularly.

EDIT: I just read that back and it probably doesn't make any sense. Sorry... I wish I could explain what I'm trying to say.

[lanifiel]

Originally Posted by Kimagine

OK. Then there is this I wonder... when someone sends a link, and you are already signed in, and you are told you cannot access the page unless you sign in, you'd have to do it under your same name again, right? Why doesn't it let you view the page if you are already signed in?

I thought it was for certain areas of the forums only, but sometimes it happens when people direct me to a post of a thread I use regularly.

EDIT: I just read that back and it probably doesn't make any sense. Sorry... I wish I could explain what I'm trying to say.

Depending on your computers security settings, it won't allow you to view pages using other peoples cookies. So most of the time it'll ask you to resign in and assign you a new cookie.

Now to answer you next question; a cookie is a small packet of information that websites send to register users.

[leenielou]

Also, just to add to what lanifiel said (although it's probably because of the same thing), if the link that someone has sent you doesn't include "www.", the forums will ask you to log-in again to view the link.

[Alastor]

Or you can edit in the www. into the address in the address bar and click go.

[RemusLupinFan]

Originally Posted by Kimagine

OK. Then there is this I wonder... when someone sends a link, and you are already signed in, and you are told you cannot access the page unless you sign in, you'd have to do it under your same name again, right? Why doesn't it let you view the page if you are already signed in?

You know, I've actually had that same problem sometimes too. Glad to find out what the cause of it was!

[Muggle_Magic]

Originally Posted by lanifiel

If you leave the page open, no.

Actually, yes. The forum log you out if it "feels" you stay inactive too long. Even when you just seem inactive because you're writing a long post. I've had to log in again after writing a message before the system let me post it with a generous "Proceed".

The thing to do is to check "Remember me". I guess then the system wouldn't throw you out. At least I haven't had it happen to me yet.

And then at other times you can't log out at all... I've had that too.

[lanifiel]

Originally Posted by Muggle_Magic

Actually, yes. The forum log you out if it "feels" you stay inactive too long. Even when you just seem inactive because you're writing a long post. I've had to log in again after writing a message before the system let me post it with a generous "Proceed".

The thing to do is to check "Remember me". I guess then the system wouldn't throw you out. At least I haven't had it happen to me yet.

And then at other times you can't log out at all... I've had that too.

Hmmm strange. In my six years of being on the forum I've never been logged out by the server...

[Muggle_Magic]

Originally Posted by lanifiel

Hmmm strange. In my six years of being on the forum I've never been logged out by the server...

The server would never be so bold as to log out an Admin!!!

Seriously, it's probable you either have it set up to log you in automatically when you come on-line and always check "Remember me", no?

It's happened to me several times, and it's mightily annoying.

[Moriath]

I've logged in from quite a few computers over the years and the remember me option was always checked automatically. One has to manually uncheck it to disable the function.

[mexicant]

Originally Posted by Moriath

I've logged in from quite a few computers over the years and the remember me option was always checked automatically. One has to manually uncheck it to disable the function.

I've done this when using computers that weren't mine *coughmyin-lawscough* and had the logging out problem from inactivity.

[Muggle_Magic]

Originally Posted by Moriath

I've logged in from quite a few computers over the years and the remember me option was always checked automatically. One has to manually uncheck it to disable the function.

Not on some browsers or ISPs. On Juno for example (and I think on AOL) the option isn't checked automatically, you have to manually put it in.

[gertiekeddle]

So it's a problem of providers and computer settings it seems. Case solved.

[Muggle_Magic]

Originally Posted by mexicant

I've done this when using computers that weren't mine *coughmyin-lawscough* and had the logging out problem from inactivity.

Glad to see I'm not the only one.

[Mimosa]

Originally Posted by Muggle_Magic

Not on some browsers or ISPs. On Juno for example (and I think on AOL) the option isn't checked automatically, you have to manually put it in.

I confirm that for AOL. And you'd better click on "Remember me" right away too, because if not, the server throws you out every time you try to post. Extremely annoying. That, and constantly hitting a blank page.