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Is there an update for the problem certain users have registering when their computer's internal clocks aren't set properly? (as reported in the thread at http://community.infopop.net/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=729094322&f=1863088313&m=2433064834 )

I probably have to answer 3-5 users questions a week who have this exact problem and it's kind of a pain to tell them to look at their computer clock settings.

Is there any reason a user's computer clock has to be accurate in order to register but not to post messages/replies, etc.?

[This message was edited by Charles Capps on August 23, 2002 at 10:47 AM.]

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It's pretty easy if you boil it down a bit so let me try <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

When people register a cookie is set. More then one if you have coppa enabled. The cookie, like most cookies has an expire date. If the PC's date is off the browser will see the cookie as expired and invalid. It deletes or just refuses the cookie. Viola', no cookie.

The same occurs trying to log in. You log in, the cookie is seen by the browser as expired and drops it. Now you have no cookie and you are logged right back out.

Most of our cookies are set for a considerable time, one is two years. But what if your PC is behind and your 2 years doesn't start for 3 days because your PC is behind by 3 days? Same thing, invalid cookie, browser dumps it, user is logged out. How can I fix it? We're not able to retroactively set a cookie. I can make a cookie last for a longer span but we also rely on session cookies to make the light bulbs and other things work. If I change that behaviour people who's PC has the right time and date will never have a properly functioning UBB.

We can do a lot of things, but unfortunately we can't work around everything. Someone that has not set the date on their PC is one of them. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

With UBBThreads though, you can enable sessions. It's inate to PHP and UBBThreads. That works regardless of time settings on the PC since the session is stored on the server and controlled by PHP using the .ini settings for sessions. To use sessions in perl would require a user to compile a specialized perl module into their perl installation. Not too many people can do that unfortunately. One negative to consider is that with sessions there is no cookie stored by the browser. That means you have to log in every time you visit the board. That's a big trade-off to consider before using sessions.

Honor The Victims

[This message was edited by David Dreezer on 02 Apr 02 at 08:38 PM.]

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Opps, I missed part of your question <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Why do they need cookies to register but not post?


Because we are setting a temporary cookie when they register so that if COPPA is enabled someone can't click underage, then see the form and click back, click over age and bypass the COPPA. If the cookie cannot be read they cannot register because the might have deleted the cookie to try again. This is in keeping with the fuzzy guidance we've been given.

To post you don't need a cookie if the UBB is set to allow users to put in their username and password when they post. They can make their post but they will get logged right back out after posting.

There, I think I got all the questions, didn't I?

Honor The Victims

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David,

I guess you answered my questions, but there's no way I can try to convey that type of answer to my board's (mostly newbies) users who are having problems registering.

I changed the wordlet error message that shows up when people can't register, but that doesn't seem to help people understand why they are having problems and how to fix it on their own.

Besides switching to UBB Threads, I'm just wondering if there is a simpler way to convey what might be happening to these folks who are having problems registering.

Like a more advanced FAQ that has graphic screen captures with explanations of how to navigate through the UBB system, change their profile, or in this case, have them check their computer clock and change it so they can register.

Anonymous
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avatar22,

This might be a solution for you, I'm not sure. I edited my login page template to explain some of the most common login problems. If you (or others) are interested in using this modification I will post it on UBBDev.com.

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[]http://www.bowlingfans.com/ubb/icons/icon911.gif[/] Steve
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Steven_M's solution is a good one. There are definitely ways to make these kinds of things simpler to understand for ALL levels of understanding; however, sometimes even if you boil it all the way down, some people still will either not understand it or simply won't spend the time to read a few lines of explanation. It's a sad reality, but a reality nonetheless. []http://www.grillsportverein.de/smilies/contrib/owen/newbie.gif[/] <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Craig Liebendorfer
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I am here to []http://www.emo.spacespider.net/conf08.gif[/] you.

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Steven,

That would be great if you could add that template to ubbdev! It may not satisfy everyone's problems, but I'm hoping it will take care of some folks who are having difficulties...

Thanks

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Okay....Just to clarify I can't post or distribute my actual template file because I believe that is a violation of the UBB license agreement. I can provide instructions on how you can copy the modified code and paste it into your own template.

I don't expect to have any free time to post it until this weekend since I'll have to rewrite some of the code to make it portable to any 6.x UBB. As it is now the fonts/colors are hard set to my site's font/color scheme.

I'll let you know when it's available there and I'll also include a direct link to it. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

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[]http://www.bowlingfans.com/ubb/icons/icon911.gif[/] Steve
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Sorry, I won't answer support questions by e-mail, PM, or IM.

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Quote
Originally posted by Steven_M:
Okay....Just to clarify I can't post or distribute my actual template file because I believe that is a violation of the UBB license agreement. I can provide instructions on how you can copy the modified code and paste it into your own template.

I don't expect to have any free time to post it until this weekend since I'll have to rewrite some of the code to make it portable to any 6.x UBB. As it is now the fonts/colors are hard set to my site's font/color scheme.

I'll let you know when it's available there and I'll also include a direct link to it. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

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http://www.bowlingfans.com/ubb/icons/icon911.gif Steve
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_Sorry, I won't answer support questions by e-mail, PM, or IM._
I thought that templates can be posted <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

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Perhaps this is changing with the upcoming introduction of 6.3 (which has the ability to use multiple templates.)

I'll flag this topic for Rosemary so we can get an official answer. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

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[]http://www.bowlingfans.com/ubb/icons/icon911.gif[/] Steve
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BowlingFans.comâ„¢ &#0124; BowlingCommunity.comâ„¢
Sorry, I won't answer support questions by e-mail, PM, or IM.

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(official pronouncement)
You can definitely share your templates! ...and yes, there are some extremely cool things coming in UBB 6.3 that facilitate that even more. We'd love to see people doing interesting things to customize their interface and sharing them with each other!(/official pronouncement)

Just let me know if that doesn't clarify sufficiently...

<img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

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Okay as promised I posted the modification at UBBDev: https://www.ubbdev.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=33;t=000095

And just for you <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> here is a template including the modification: http://www.holodeckcorp.com/mods/public_login.zip

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[]http://www.bowlingfans.com/ubb/icons/icon911.gif[/] Steve
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Sorry, I won't answer support questions by e-mail, PM, or IM.

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Rosemary:

I think you're on to something. Let's have an admin-only UBBCode in a future release that is called "Official Pronouncement"!

[ofclprncmt]Let them eat cake.[/ofclprncmt]

Craig

Craig Liebendorfer
Infopopâ„¢ Support Enthusiast
I am here to []http://www.emo.spacespider.net/conf08.gif[/] you.


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