The story behind logging in…

[MITCH BARNESParticipant @mitchbarnes79311]

[MITCH BARNESParticipant @mitchbarnes79311]

You”d sell a lot more DVDs if your website worked properly.

 

Does anyone else have this blessed hassle or is it just me?

 

Trying to log in, the site wouldn”t recognise my password even though I”d cut and pasted it in from the email the site had sent when I had the same problem in October last year, having  originally signed up in May. 

 

After a few more fruitless attempts, I requested a new password. It was duly sent automatically by email. I cut and pasted it into the appropriate box on the login page and was told it was incorrect. Eventually after 2 more tries, I even tried the original password. I acn”t remember which one got me in because I tried so many times, but eventually I got into the site. Now logged in, and I”m in it now because that is why I am able to start this thread, I tried to find the DVD I wanted. No trouble there, although I was moved to a page that was blank apart from a tiny thumbnail of the DVD cover – good thing I knew what it looked like!  It also had a “buy now” button so i clicked on it. So far so good, ish, until… in order to buy it, I had to log in again! I guess that for security reasons,  this opens in a new page, which is fair enough.

 

Apparently both the passwords sent to me are now incorrect so I can”t buy  the DVD or anything else from the site. I requested a new password twice more and had nothing sent. Perhaps my multiple requests for paswords triggered some kind of alert string in the software, but then the passwords should have worked in the first place.

 

“IT” is Ok unless you actually need to rely on it.

 

I give up. 

 

Perhaps I”ll be able to buy the DVD at Harrogate.

Edited By Kelvin Barber on 18/04/2010 17:19:40

[Ted Smith 1Participant @tedsmith1]

Hi Mitch no your not the only one although I got in first time today to my suprise!

this is only the firt time this year !!!!

[Steve GarnettParticipant @stevegarnett62550]

My success at logging in varies considerably as well. First go this time, but when I tried half an hour ago it was another total fail job – ‘website has an error’, blah, blah…

 

This is not good forum software at all.

[Kelvin BarberParticipant @kelvinbarber70274]

Just tested the links for the DVD page and everything is working fine. Please note that it’s usually more reliable to type in addresses, passwords and the like rather than just cutting and pasting.

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi there,

 

Ive been a member since day 1 and have never had a problem logging in.  However I do get ‘page not available’ errors leading to multiple posts but that just uses up server space…….

 

Terry

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Sometimes what you copy and paste gets a spurious space inserted as it is sent to you.  Then the system thinks that what you have pasted as a password has an extra character and doesn’t recognise it.  If using the copy/paste method (which I do all the time) always check that what is pasted has the same number of characters as you can see on screen before you copy.

[Richard ParsonsParticipant @richardparsons61721]

John,  When using the cut and paste technique with MS Office 2003 you sometimes get strange results.  I think it has something to do with the font you use.

 

[John ShepherdParticipant @johnshepherd38883]

I don’t have a problem logging in – it is staying logged in even for a short time that is my problem.

For example it will not be unusual for me receive a message telling me I need to be logged in when I try to post this message even though I have to be logged in to type it. When I log in again I am directed towards my profile and I lose what I have tried to post.

 

If I navigate away from the forum to refer to something on the site I also lose what I have typed.

 

John

 

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi there,
 
I got some really weird effects when I cut and pasted from Word just then, and had to delete the whole message to rectify it.  I am retyping this as an edit. It may be that this is your problem.
 
I have had no real problems in logging in or staying in but do get a ‘page not available’ message all too often.

 
I’ll try another attempt at pasting from Word to show the problem in cutting and pasting.
 
Regards

 
Terry

Edited By David Clark 1 on 23/05/2010 20:42:43

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

I’m producing this message in word and will cut and paste to see if I get the inserted characters. I usually have to edit my posts afterwards! regards Terry

Edited By David Clark 1 on 23/05/2010 20:40:39

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

See what I mean,

 

Do you know what’s going on Kelvin?

 

Terry

 

Am now looking into it – I don’t tend to work on Sundays! 

 

Kelvin 

Edited By Kelvin Barber on 24/05/2010 09:33:48

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hi There

If you look at the top of the editor there is a Word button.

Click on this to paste from Word and it should cut out the all the rubbish.

regards david

 

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Logging in.

I assume you mean logging in to Myhobbystore to buy the DVD.

You will have to create an account as a new user.

The password for this site does not work on the hobbystore site.

I expect you can create an account with the same login and password though.

Just don’t work as is.

regards David

 

PS as this page is asterisked up, you can find the menu tabs down below.

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Posted by David Clark 1 on 23/05/2010 20:46:00:

Hi There

If you look at the top of the editor there is a Word button.

Click on this to paste from Word and it should cut out the all the rubbish.

regards david

 

 Thanks for that David,  I’ll try it in future

 

I never saw it, and me with a Masters Degree in Software Engineering Management ,   perhaps a bit more of a help page pointing out all these little things might be a good idea.

 

Terry

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

Hi,

I have never had any problem logging in from day 1. And although I have had occasional problems with being logged out when typing a reply, I have by now found a fairly easy workaround.

 

In respect of logging in, I always type both ny userid & my password, which means that I don’t get any stray characters creeping in – other than those I’ve typed of course.

 

About the logging out function. What I have found is that if typing in the “Post a reply” box, as I am now, the system will eventually log me out as it thinks I;ve gone away. However the browser still allows me to kepp composing the message. Then, when I click on “AddPosting”, I get asked to login again. So I do just that.

 

Having logged back in, I then use the browser Back button to get back to the screen with my text on it. Highlight the text, press Control C to put the text somewhere (Clipboard I think), then use the browser Forward button to get back to the blank “Post a reply” box. Click on the top left hand corner of the box, press Control V, and the text is magically inserted, etc.

 

I don’t use Word. I have used Notepad occasionally, but really, with this method I don’t need to do anything else.

 

Regards.

 

Peter G. Shaw

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

David,

 

I don’t really appreciate my posts being edited unless I have broken the rules of the forum which I don’t think I have, I’ve never had any moderator edit in this way, or heard of one doing this before on any forum I have used over the last 18 years or so.   To do so is very bad etiquette.  I left the mal formatted characters in that post as an example, it is now meaningless.  If you think that post had an effect on the mal-formatting of the page you are wrong.  The page was in this state before I posted when I first visited this thread.

 

I, and possible others,  would appreciate it if you used your powers correctly in future i.e. to edit out those which fall foul of forum rules. Your action is really nothing but a short step from censorship.  I don’t know how much previous experience you have of editing or moderating a forum but this is not the way to go about it.

 

If you want to see good practice I suggest you study other forums and their etiquettes.

 

With due regard and the same respect you have shown me,

 

Terry

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hi There

This thread is totally messed up.

I have tried to put it right by editing itbut can’t find out what is wrong with it.

rIt was not intentionallyto destroy your thread.

regards david

 

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

I can’t see if what I wrote in the previous message is correct or not.

regards David

 

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hi Terry

When logged in, I cannot see what I have posted above as it is under the menu bar.

I can see it before I log in and see it has errors but can’t correct it after logging in because the edit link is under the menu bar.

 

I did not alter your message to censor it. I was trying to correct the disruption to the page caused by a previous message.

 

I have no way of knowing which message is causing the corruption so I always start at the last message and work my way back.

 

As you appear to be an expert in forums, perhaps you would tell me which message is causing the problem so I can correct it.

 

Most message problems are caused by long links or pasting from Word.

Hence the removal of your characters to see if it will correct the problem.

 

There is a paste from Word link in the editor and a link to post links.

If everybody used the editor correctly we would have far fewer problems.

 

regards David

 

 

[John ShepherdParticipant @johnshepherd38883]

The forgoing posts and others, indicate to me that all is not well with this forum and website.

We are seeing more and more complaints about  the content, presentation, function and the actions of moderators, code of conduct etc. and I think this is detracting from what should be a friendly place to visit and a great resource.

 

It is evident that the web site has its problems and like any other always will, but members should express their points of view constructively and not just get angry and complain. (general comment and not aimed at any individual)

 

From the moderators and editorial side it does appear that there needs to be more willingness to take on board some of the issues rather than coming from a defensive position most of  the time.

 

I think that it would be good for both sides to step back and review their objectives and work together to make it work better and be more like some of the other forums that have a healthy balance of helpfulness, friendliness, good humour, constructive debate and good advice.

 

BTW to overcome my problems of being logged out when replying to messages I now simply copy my missive to the clipboard before pressing ‘add posting’ That way I can paste it in when I log back on (as has just happened). Pleased to hear I am not the only one with this problem – It would be good to have a solution?

 

Regards

John Shepherd.

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

David,

 

As you say, the thread is somehow messed up. For example,  the headline banner is in the wrong position (just above John Shepherd’s latest post and obscuring the bottom of the post above.

 

But to answer John’s point about responsiveness of the moderators etc, there have been two or three issues lately which aroused complaints, and which have been very quickly acted on. I don’t think your point John is particularly fair.

 

John, I like your idea of copying the post before hitting “Add posting”. It seems even easier than my method. I’ll try it with this post.

 

Regards,

 

Peter G. Shaw

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

John,

 

Your idea works re copying before sending. I like it. Many thanks.

 

Regards,

 

Peter G. Shaw

[Kelvin BarberParticipant @kelvinbarber70274]

The problems with this thread have now been sorted, thank you all for your patience!

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi David,

 

this is one of the friendliest and most helpful forums I have come across however there are problems that need addressing. 

 

I may have used many forums in the past and do know something about etiquette and the use of them but that doesn’t make me an expert on the way in which this particular software works so as far as that is concerned I cannot help, I suggest that the software providers who should be the experts on this one, are the ones to help there.

 

As for the point about pasting in using the facility on the top of the authoring box, I made the point earlier about a help facility.  In this respect this forum software is one of the most primitive I have encountered.  Most forums have a help and/or ‘read this first‘ facility which covers the basic processes and technical aspects involved in using the forum which the newcomer can consult in order to use the forum.  I must admit it took me a while to figure out why pictures weren’t embedding when I used the facility to do that, I then discovered by experiment and logic that the location and extension must be provided.  I should just have been able to consult a help facility but if there is one it appears to be quite well hidden.

 

When Mitch, who started this thread, had his problems he should have been able to consult a help facility and sort it out quickly, instead he had to write here and you had to point out the answer to his problem, Another dissatisfied customer and public carping!

 

I’m not trying to be critical but constructive, and point out the flaws. I’m sorry if it sounds negative, I can assure you it is certainly not intended to be.  I really like this site and the contributors and thought that when Kelvin was appointed it would free you up to write more of your articles such as ‘The Practical Engineer’ which I used to look forward to when the site first started.  However it appears not.  The forum seems to be the only ‘live’ part of the site now (except for the for sale and wanted ads).

 

As others have said before, get the IT bods onto it and try to sort out the annoying shortcomings so we can all enjoy the experience without the annoying niggles.

 

With best regards

 

Terry

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