Here's an odd log-in question:

I had previously bookmarked the "Month 1 in Review" thread under Gonfalon Cubs. When I go now to delete the bookmark, there's a message where it would normally say "Delete Bookmark" that instead says "Login to Bookmark", even though I'm already logged in. I logged in again, but the message is still there, and there's no option to delete the bookmark.

Not sure if this is a login problem or a bookmarking problem.

Edit to add: I don't see this same problem with threads that are coming from the Newsstand. The bookmarking/unbookmarking there seems to work fine. It's just this Gonfalon Cubs thread that seems wonky.

This isn't really a question for Jim but anyone with some Apple wisdom. There is only a "Clear History" button on my iPad and iPhone, is this the same thing as "Clear Cookies" or do I need to do something over and above this?

Wow! I can't believe I actually fixed something for once. I needed a victory, and hope it works!

I was having that very problem, but I'm now being logged in automatically again - THANKS!

Whatever the problem was in Gonfalon Cubs seems to have been fixed.

Works for me now, for now.

This isn't really a question for Jim but anyone with some Apple wisdom. There is only a "Clear History" button on my iPad and iPhone, is this the same thing as "Clear Cookies" or do I need to do something over and above this?

In the very latest iOS, there should be 2 buttons, "Clear History" and "Clear Cookies and Data". Under slightly older versions there were 3 buttons, one for History, one for Cookies, and one for Cache. These are under Settings/Safari. If you only have the one button there then I'm not sure what OS you're on.

Clearing the cookies is working for me so far.

I've had this for a while, but found a workaround. If I just make sure that my header bar has stopped spinning its "I'm still working" spin and gets stable, I can log out without being left logged in. If I just immediately log out as soon as I click out of whatever the last thing I saw was, I am left logged in. So, at least for me, it's been just a matter of patience for a minute before I log out. - Brock Hanke

Works for me now, for now.

Only now it doesn't. How do you "clear cookies" on a PC? What else happens to your computer's functioning when you do that? And why can't this problem be cleared up by the same people who caused it in the first place?

Not that it's that big a deal to have to keep logging in, because it only takes a few seconds, but I'm not sure why we're supposed to be computer savvy enough to figure out how to fix the problem when the people who caused it can't figure out how to fix it on their end. If the distributor who supplies my website accidentally sends out a poster with a crease in it, they don't tell the customer to just fold it back and smooth it out.

When I first came on this morning (about 5 hours ago), I had to log in. Then I went off and on the site a couple of times and it worked for a while. About an hour ago I logged off and came back on just now, and I had to log in again.

the people who caused it can't figure out how to fix it on their end. If the distributor who supplies my website accidentally sends out a poster with a crease in it, they don't tell the customer to just fold it back and smooth it out.

Ohhhh, how little you understand about tech "support". It goes like this:

1) Write software
2) Profit
3) ???

I'm still getting logged out after a couple hours of inactivity, even though I cleared cookies out of Firefox. My day professionally is not going much better.

Mefisto, when you say log off, did you actively logout of the site or did you close your browser?

Andy, this is more like buying a car from a dealer. He didn't make the car but he sells it and helps to take care of problems. This issue is like you going into the dealer complaining that the aftermarket radio that was installed at the dealership keeps losing the station settings.

When contacted the dealer would probably have to ask you questions to troubleshoot the problem. If he's had multiple complaints he'd have to figure out if there was an commonality to the problem. Then he'd have to figure out whether the problem is with the radio itself, some type of incompatibility with particular vehicles, or user error. If he ends up suspecting that it's an issue with the radio, but the radio manufacturer hasn't figured out a fix, or even confirmed there is a the problem, he still needs to work to resolve the issue with the customer. If at some point other customers with the problem find that holding down the station three button and power seem to clear things up, he might pass along the info to his customer who can either find the station three button and power button and try the fix or continue to not have stations saved to the radio. If that clears things up, great! If it doesn't, then they can continue to work to find a solution until such time the manufacturer takes responsibility. Of course, if that doesn't happen, eventually the dealer and customer will stop dealing with the manufacturer.

Only now it doesn't. How do you "clear cookies" on a PC? What else happens to your computer's functioning when you do that?

Best way is to just clear the cookies associated with BBTF, which should prevent any of the issues a general tossing of cookies can cause.

In Firefox: Go under Tools, choose Options, choose the Privacy tab, click Show Cookies. In the search bar type in baseballthinkfactory (or some part therof) and hit Enter. Highlight the BBTF cookies, then click Remove Cookies and you're good to go.

In IE 9: Open any page at BBTF. Hit F12. In the menu that opens at the bottom of the window, choose Cache, then choose Clear Cookies For Domain.

I just closed BBTF, then I went off line.

I just tried clear cookies as per 14, but that didn't work -- I closed my browser, then came back and had to log in again. Then I closed the browser again and logged on again, same problem.

This worked for me using Firefox 12 (Win XP) and default Android browsers. I cleared BBTF cookies in Firefox but did not bother in Android browser - was still autologged in Android after rebooting the device. I'll post back if I end up getting logged out after inactivity, like boteman in (12). Seems to be fixed though, thanks Jim.

Ok, tried again (the whole process described in 16) and this time it worked. If I have a problem later, I'll let you know. Thanks Jim and Fernigal.

Works for me now, for now.

Only now it doesn't.

Uh oh, same for me. It appeared to be fixed this morning, but now I come back and I'm not logged in again.

And if it helps, I'm only using Internet Explorer to access at this point.

Safari here, and it still makes me re-re-re-re-log in every time I've gone offline and then returned.

I remained logged in all day while at work. I packed up my laptop and when I arrived home...I am logged off again. Grr.

I am treading lightly making modification to EE's code because when I am dealing with security issues it's very important not to inadvertently open a hole that can be exploited by malicious users. In this particular case, EE has the security code in quite a few places now.

I am continuing to look for a fix for this problem. I apologize for the issue.

Andy, this is more like buying a car from a dealer. He didn't make the car but he sells it and helps to take care of problems. This issue is like you going into the dealer complaining that the aftermarket radio that was installed at the dealership keeps losing the station settings.

When contacted the dealer would probably have to ask you questions to troubleshoot the problem. If he's had multiple complaints he'd have to figure out if there was an commonality to the problem. Then he'd have to figure out whether the problem is with the radio itself, some type of incompatibility with particular vehicles, or user error. If he ends up suspecting that it's an issue with the radio, but the radio manufacturer hasn't figured out a fix, or even confirmed there is a the problem, he still needs to work to resolve the issue with the customer. If at some point other customers with the problem find that holding down the station three button and power seem to clear things up, he might pass along the info to his customer who can either find the station three button and power button and try the fix or continue to not have stations saved to the radio. If that clears things up, great! If it doesn't, then they can continue to work to find a solution until such time the manufacturer takes responsibility. Of course, if that doesn't happen, eventually the dealer and customer will stop dealing with the manufacturer.

That was interesting, but since I didn't know how to implement your suggestion to clear my BBTF cookies, it didn't help me avoid the repeated login problem.

--------------------------------------------------

In Firefox: Go under Tools, choose Options, choose the Privacy tab, click Show Cookies. In the search bar type in baseballthinkfactory (or some part therof) and hit Enter. Highlight the BBTF cookies, then click Remove Cookies and you're good to go.

Whereas that did help. Thanks, Fernigal.

P.S. I did have to reboot to make sure it actually worked.

P.P.S. Jim, I totally sympathize with your problem, and I wasn't trying to suggest it was an easy one to fix.

Well, I thought the problem was fixed, but I guess not. I went off line about 1.5 hours ago and had to log in again to BBTF when I came back.

Just updating (from #17)... after approx 2 hrs of being AFK, I was logged off when I reopened BTF on Firefox 12. However, I remained logged in on the Android browser (mobile devices).

Hope the details help, good luck Jim.

Same here. Good luck Jim...

Just another data point: this time I closed BBTF without logging out, but stayed on line. I came back about an hour and a half later and had to log in again.

Same as 26 for me - am using Chrome on a desktop.

I cleared cookies on my iPad earlier this afternoon, it worked for a while but just now I had to log in again.

My experience is that you stay logged in for 2 hours after your last page load. So if you walk away from your browser for more than 2 hours you come back to find it logged out.

My experience is that you stay logged in for 2 hours after your last page load. So if you walk away from your browser for more than 2 hours you come back to find it logged out.

That's what happened to me. I cleared my cookies and it stayed logged in for an hour or so, but I just came back for the first time since about 8:00 and I had to login all over again. So that turned out to be only a temporary fix, even with the reboot.

Same again with Firefox... but without trying, my two Android devices are staying logged in without me doing anything (never cleared cookies, etc). Using the built-in browser on Motorola droids.

I have cleared out my cookies several times and each time have had to log in again in order to see my bookmarks or make a post. I don't really make that many posts so its not that big an issue; I suspect (but don't know for sure) that some of the problem is related to IE7. Most of my BBTF surfing is done from work and we still use IE7; there is no way I can install another browser on my work computer. At home, where I use Firefox, I can stay logged in most of the time. As I said it really isn't that big of an issue in the overall scheme of things; the worst thing about deleting cookies was having to resign in to various email accounts. As it turned out I didn't remember my password to one account but there you go.

Peace out, word to your mama and them.

I appreciate all the input. I am experiencing the problem myself and will continue to work on finding a solution.

I'm still seeing the problem despite flushing cookies and restarting Firefox. It's pretty minor now that logging in redirects to the same page automatically, but I figured that I'd let you know for troubleshooting purposes.

To clarify, when you delete this site's cookies you wind up being logged out since that is how the site remembers your login. So naturally you have to log in after you delete this site's cookies.

The real test is whether you stay logged in for an extended period of time after having logged in with the "Keep me logged in" box checked.

Of course, back in the day we used to code our own programs in machine code, with bat handle switches on the accumulator! We didn't have all these fancy content management systems and graphics and scripts and all that poppycock! You kids today have it too easy! Serves ya right!

My andriod device logs me out. Iv cleared cookies and what not (using.the galaxy note). It may be for the best.if.i need the extra.effort to post, prevents dumb ones.

I like how even though it doesn't work at all, I still robotically click "auto log me in for future visits".

It's getting worse for me. I've had to log in four times today (and yes, I still click auto log each time).

Stays logged in at work and at home but not on the iPad. Seem to have the same every 2 hours issue as above.

You know, Firefox has a plug-in that allows it to spoof different user agent strings. Maybe Jim could use that to determine if E.E. treats different user agents differently.

You should see some of these user agent identifiers, they throw in everything including the kitchen sink. It's amazing that a web server has any clue what is accessing any given page.

boteman, I have the Chrome version of that extension. EE doesn't treat devices differently. The devices sometimes handle cookies differently. Also, although I've disabled a few of the IP checks, it is clear there are other IP checks within their code. Because of the IP check, mobile users have more issues.

I like how even though it doesn't work at all, I still robotically click "auto log me in for future visits".

That's a bit like expecting that Phil Hughes's next start will result in a complete game shutout, but I do the same thing.

I like how even though it doesn't work at all, I still robotically click "auto log me in for future visits".

That's a bit like expecting that Phil Hughes's next start will result in a complete game shutout, but I do the same thing.

Isn't that like the definition of insanity attributed to Albert Einstein, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?

Isn't that like the definition of insanity attributed to Albert Einstein, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?

That doesn't stop Cubs fans.

I'm having trouble posting in some threads-and so apparently is everyone else. The Will Middlebrooks thread for example apparently has 0 replies, which is highly unlikely.

I just fixed the Middlebrook thread. A period in the url wasn't converted to a url safe character and was interfering with the comment posting. If you let me know the other threads, I will look into them.

Now the login box doesn't even remember your password. How much longer do you think it's going to take to resolve this issue, or is it going to be one of those permanent glitches that come along with Progress?

Never got logged out.

Andy, the password in your login box is a browser issue. Now, I'm perfectly willing to take responsibility for the issues within my control. I am not willing, however, to take responsibility for your lack of knowledge related to using your computer. Also, although I can appreciate snark more than the average person, please recognize that when you get snarky, you'd better expect to get some snark directed your way. So, how often do you call your phone company to complain about not being able to use your rotary dial phone?

Still not working for me. I logged out on all devices and cleared cookies, and no luck. Just a data point.