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I think that that's a worthwhile suggestion. Certainly identity theft is an increasingly common and serious problem, and anything that we can do to protect ourselves is worth considering.
In our member profile, there is a space where we are "supposed" to fill in our actual name, and I assume that that shoud be a requirment of membership. But I don't know if it's possible to hide our name when we post to the Discussion Board. Perhaps Tim and/or Kathy could enlighten us.
Bob
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Arno and Bob,
I think there is a switch whereby we can turn off the "real name" posting in the messages. I'll have a look.
Regards ... Tim.
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OK,
I seem to have worked out how to turn off the full name on the posted messages. Try it out and let me know what you feel about just having the username show on the posted messages. I don't think there is anything that I can do about messages that are already posted.
Regards ... Tim.
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OK, here goes. If this works, thank you Tim. If it doesn't, thanks for trying!
Bob
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And it seems to work. Good going!
Bob
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Howie
Userr name is better than Sur names.
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I think it is a great idea to just use our 'user names'.
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Works like a charm.
Thanks a lot, Tim.
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Well, I never thought of this as part of public access to privy information. With the worries of the membership concerning identity theft and email adresses being gathered for spam mail etc.
But it does give half the equation for gaining wrongful entry into the site and finding all the info in the members list.The name being half,and only the username to be figured out. They( unwwanted hackers,spammers,thieves) only need part of the info ,to do a search for the rest.
So with this change ,,it does more toward protecting the privacy of the membership,than just not posting email adresses.
But I ask,,, how does one (a new prospect,or current member) get in touch with someone,through the descusion board, without posting an email adress-- member or newbee . It makes it a manditory stipulation ,that one becomes a member,,or remain on the outside of adding to the information channels needed for furthering the knowledge and expansion of the ever growing needs of the membership.
Do hope we are not becoming a "secret society" . I am perplexed at how we,on the internet, will be able to do the secret hand shake that lets us recognize us as a member.
Of course,there is a plus in this,,some may join just out of curiousity,to find out what it's all about.
We have hidden our email adresses,our names,, next on the adgenda, hidden messages.titles on the board,no wrtten message- become a member to read the message.Or like some web sites, become a member to enter the site.Web site comes up,with advertisements only,and a spot to enter info to join.
Stamporama is great,, lets not get so scared of the outside world that we make so many changes as to become that dreaded "secret society".
Tom
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I did want to mention,,
the old way,, with sir name and username, it was easy to access the membership list.Just not posting your email adress wasnt a stopper.with access to members list,all adresses were available.
Good change in not posting sir names.
Tom
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Hi Tom,
To respond to your posting, we are going to enhance the security on the SOR site. Currently, the three areas of the SOR website all have completely independent security systems. We have a process in place that coordinates the process of new members to the membership area, but the Discussion Board is completely open to the public to register and then post anything. We have no control over what people do on the DB. The Auction is a little better but not much. If we had to bar someone from using the Auction, if they still have the security password from when they originally joined the club, they can go back in and re-register under another name and we have no control over it.
To get around these issues I'm starting work on the following changes:
1. When you are accepted as a new member into SOR (in the Member's Area) the program will create the security setup for the Discussion Board and the Auction automatically. The ability to register separately into the Discussion Board and the Auction will be taken away.
2. When you want to change your password, your name, your email address or your postal address, you will just change it in the members area and it will be changed in the Discussion Board and the Auction automatically.
These changes will mean that we are moving towards having one username/password across all areas of the website. The benefit will be that you will be able to easily lookup who a member is when you are reading through the DB or bidding on an Auction lot. I think this will be very important now that we are only publishing the usernames on the DB. It is really good for members to know who they are talking to and dealing with. We just want to keep that personal information away from the general public. The current rules as to whether your email address or your mailing address are visible to other members will still apply.
To that end the by-laws will be changed as per the following:
"Article 4: Rights and Responsibilities of Members
The public is free to read from the Stamporama website without registering for membership.
Registration (Stamporama membership) is required to engage in "members only" activities, including posting on the Discussion Board, bidding, posting and listing on the Auction, and searching the MEMBERSHIP database. Registrants will be governed by the Code of Ethics."
To make this easier to implement, could those of you who are currently using different usernames across the three areas of the website, please consider changing your setup so that you are using just one username and password across all areas of Stamporama?
I hope this helps you and that these changes will enhance the usability of the Stamporama website for you. I believe it will, especially for new members. I found it all very confusing getting all the different registrations setup when I first became a member.
Regards ... Tim.
Stamporama Webmaster.
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Tim,
very good.
these changes will indeed help in navigation.
One suggestion-
when accesing DB, I type in my name and password is auto entered. But not so in the auction.I have to type in both UN an PW.
Can you add the auto fill for password to the auction site?????
TOM
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If I delete my account here at the discussion board, will it also delete my account from the members area?
I understand that as is, I would have to delete my auction account separately.
Thanks,
Doe
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Hi Doe,
No, if you delete an account on the DB it won't at the moment do anything to the Member's Area or the Auction. All three areas are currently separate.
Regards ... Tim.
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Am I to understand that my username (Hobo) in the auction area will change to my username (sponthetrona2) which is in the membership area? Since I use the auction quite often and have a different handle and password than I would use in the discussion board will I need to re-register in the auction area with my membership user name and password? How does this work?
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I would suggest that you go the other way. I'd register "Hobo" in the Members Area and the Discussion Board. Which ever way works for you best. If it was me, I'd probably keep the "Hobo" id across everything. I think that is a cool userid.
Regards ... Tim.
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After all three areas are merged, if/when a new member joins SOR will they automatically be registered users for the DB and the Auction?
I have my own personal concerns and internet limitations (webtv). The email address I use for auction is the only all around fully funtioning email account I have. However, I have no control filters and below average storage. The e-mail address I use for membership and DB has filters, but I cannot reply to anyone, making it useless for the auction.
I have tried to change my member user id to my auction id. But now the members area claims I'm not a valid user. (members area never worked well for me anyway) The DB member edit does not allow for changing user name.
Anyway once the merge is complete I will probably have to delete my membership. I will still be able to read the discussions. The members database never did anything for me, so no loss there. I will however miss the auction. That's the best part of sor for me. 
Peace,
Doe
(Message edited by doelion on December 03, 2008)
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I've never understood what "webtv" is, but I've never heard any good reasons for using it rather than a standard internet connection. Is it less expensive? Doesn't require a computer?
Curious in Vancouver
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No computer needed. It is a web surfing unit, (dial-up browser). It was highly compatable with the internet upgrades of several years ago, (before msn bought webtv). Msn hasn't cared enough to even keep us able to use their own msn pages.
Many newer (msn) units have come out since then, and they are suppose to be able to view more of what's out there. However, none of them offer page builder or PIP, and PIP is the whole point of surfing on tv. -Especially in a home with only one tv.
The plus that still remains for using webtv, is that we cannot be damaged by worms, viruses, attachments etc.. or any other illness that would affect computers. Webtv does not download.
A new plus is, that because of mobile communications, there are sites being created specifically for that market. Those pages work very well for webtv and they are becoming more frequent.
Peace,
Doe
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To answer Doe's questions, you won't have to cancel your Membership database setup or the Auction. I'm glad that you mentioned that you need a different email address for use with the Auction separate from the email address used with the Member's Area and the DB. I'll make sure that I can do that for you.
Does anyone else have and special requests that they need me to take into account as I design the new security structure? I can't promise that I'll be able to do everything, but I'll definitely take your requests in serious consideration.
Doe, as far as changing your userid on your current setup in the Members area, I might be able to do a copy function, to copy the old membership setup to a new one. I'm not sure if I'd make it generally available to everyone or make it an administration tool. Either way, you'd just have to request to have the change made.
Regards ... Tim.
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Hi Tim;
My Christmas Wish List:-
I'd love to see a more spaces available for the Title/Name in the auctions.
I find it frustrating trying to shorten down some titles when listing auction lots.
Looking at the amount of space allowed for the 'title' field it would appear to me that there is lots of room available to enter more characters, if the number of acceptable input characters were increased to a higher number within the programming.
Then again, I may be 'out to lunch' as I know nothing about how this Stamporama software works.
Is this change possible or does it involve a lot of munipulating within the software/programming that Stamporama is using?
This subject of the length of the title in the auction listings came up a few years ago. If I remember correctly,the answer was that we could have the field as long as we wanted it, but nothing was done to implement the change.
Liz
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Hi Liz,
I'll put it on the list. I'll have a look and see if there is a reason why there is a limitation.
Regards ... Tim.
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Hi Tim,
I'm so glad you understand what I was trying to say. Thank you. If I can keep my auction e-mail address separate from the rest of the sor website it would be a huge help.
Also, I went offline, and then came back on a few minutes ago, and now my new member user name matches my auction user name (Airship). I now also see new ads for Roy's covers. Looks good.
So all that's left now is to change my DB user name to Airship. The easiest way I know for me to do that is to delete my DB account and then create a new one. Yes?
Peace,
Doe
LOL- Only at SOR can two people battle over an auction lot (Rugby Jerseys), and still get on famously.
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Hi Doe,
Yep, that is the only way I know of. The DB won't let you rename the username either.
I'll come up with a way in the Members area to set up multiple email accounts and assign them to the different areas of the website. I'll make it so that you use the one email account by default, but have the ability to override for the DB and/or the Auction. Will that work?
Regards ... Tim.
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Tim, Doe,
fabulous idea of having a default email but optional additional emails. I'm delighted we're using this board to take advantage of these good ideas, and glad that folks are generally open to what we hope are improvements and enhancements to the system.
David
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06:21:12am
Santa, I mean Tim,
I also have a request for the auctions. When submitting a listing for auction you have to enter your password each and every time. Is it possible to log in and have the password retained so you don't have to type it in for every lot listed?
Thanks,
Bob
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Say Tim,
Unless I am mistaken, it seems that one cannot change the username in the auction section. Are you planning to change this? If not, will a person who wishes to use the discussion username across all 3 areas have to register a new account in the auction section? Is that even possible?
Thanks,
Bob
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Tim,
That sounds great, thank you.
I've recreated a DB profile, so I am now Airship all across the sor network.
Many thanks for your helpfuless.
Sincerely,
Doe
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Bob P, re your question on the Auction and logging in. In the short term, there is no easy way to fix the fact that you have to login each time you bin or each time you post a lot. In the longer term, I'm planning to revamp the Auction program considerably. I plan to keep the same look and feel basically, because people generally seem to like it, but there are a number of things about it that I want to fix. Your issue with the login is one of them. I want you to be able to login and have the program remember you, just like the Member's Area does now. I also want to be able to see the lots that you have bid on and the lots that you have won. I'd also like to know what the maximum bid is that I've placed on a lot. I keep forgetting that and there is no way to look it up. If any of you have ideas as to what you'd like to see in a revamped Auction program, send me your thoughts and I'll include them in my list.
Boston_Bob, you are correct, I don't believe that you can change the username in the auction. The thing to do would be to register the username that you use in the auction in the Member's Area and the Discussion Board, if you want to use that username across all three areas, which is our objective.
Regards ... Tim.
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Second attempt at posting this message 
Oh wow Tim! Go for it! Perhaps part of this post where you are asking for ideas as to what the members would like to see in a revamped Auction program should be included under the 'Auction Discussion' heading.
You may be biting off more than you can chew asking for ideas.
One thing I would like to see is a method where a seller (or a buyer) can print off a report (list) of all the auction lots they have sold (or purchased) on a monthly basis.
For example;
-Date lot listed
-Date lot closed
-Lot #
-Description as shown on the heading of the lot listed
-Successful bidder (including address & email address)
-Number of bidders
-Starting Bid
-Final Bid
As it is now you have to manually open each lot on the Closed Auction list and there is no way to get a complete list unless we make up our own (which I do).
Liz
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I second Liz' suggestion
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I agree with Liz but I would like to see some kind of report for buyers as well. It would be extremely useful when you have purchased from more than one seller at a time.
Karen
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Excellent ideas. I make sure that I include all these suggestions on my list.
Regards ... Tim
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I would like to see a longer area to type picture url's as it would make easier to spot mistakes if image does not come up in auction listing.
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Hi John,
I'll look into this for you. I might be able to do this in the sort term.
Regards ... Tim.
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06:34:51pm
John,
I don't know what picture hosting site you use, but Photobucket shows you the picture URL under the picture. Just cut and paste the URL into the picture url box. No need to type it in. If the picture hosting site does not give you the direct link to copy, I would change to PhotoBucket. I would lose my mind if I had to manually type the url.
Bob
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Bob- I did not know how to do the cut and paste method until I got your email. It does make it very easy. I tried it and was successful. Thanks for the tip. I use picturehosting for my picture hosting site.
(Message edited by John_Macco on December 08, 2008)
(Message edited by John_Macco on December 08, 2008)
(Message edited by John_Macco on December 08, 2008)
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10:34:44am
John,
Glad to help. I try to do the least amount of typing that I have to.
Bob
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I'm still alive but not posting.
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I like what was done on the auction site. I have some lots in the auction and received email notifications on lots sold and not sold. Great feature. I want to thank all who are responsible for these great changes.
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So John, I take it that you haven't been getting the emails from the Auction until recently? I think that in moving to the new server our emails will now not be blackbanned by the internet service providers anymore. Is there anyone else out there who are now getting emails from the Stamporama site that were not getting them before?
Regards ... Tim.
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07:30:10pm
I got all my closed auction notices without having to click on them. I don't know if the buyer did the clicking or if it was automatic.
Bob
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Someone has done that for you Bob. I haven't made any changes to the Auction.
Regards ... Tim.
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I always did get the closed auction notices from the Stamporama site, except for a couple of times when the old Stamporama server crashed due to problems of being bombarded with spam emails. That doesn't count ;)
Bob - someone closed out those auction notices for you and it may have been me as for months (maybe years) I've been monitoring auctions on a daily basis and clicking on them to close them out. By doing this a closed auction notice is generated and sent to both the seller and buyer.
If ANYONE clicks on an open auction lot that should be closed it automatically closes that lot and notices are generated.
That is how it 'should' work, providing your server hasn't flagged the emails from the Stamporama site as spam and banned emails from Stamporama.
Liz
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Say Tim,
I wanted to get back to a point I lost track of earlier, which concerns the use of the same screen name over all three areas.
You answered one question for me, but didn't provide anything on another aspect.
I have a screen name in the auction that differs from the other two. I would like to use the one I use in the members area in the auction area, not the other way around as you had suggested. I am not interested in using the auction screen name in the discussion and members area.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Bob
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Hi Bob,
I think you will be happy with what I am doing with the security enhancements that I'm currently working on, a summary of which is:
1. The default will be that person will use the Members Database user name across all three areas of the website. This would particularly come into play with new memberships. Someone who is joining the club will have the Membership Database record, the Discussion Board record and the Auction record all setup automatically for them when they are accepted by Kathy as a member. This will dramatically simply the joining and getting going process.
2. I found a lot of people saying that they wanted to have different usernames for the Member Database and the Auction. To help these people out I am setting it up so that you will be able to connect your Auction security record with your Membership Database security record, but still be able to have different usernames in each. The same will work for the Discussion Board. If you really wanted to, you could have different usernames in each of the three areas of the website. The new member search facility that I put in recently will be enhanced to accommodate having these multiple usernames.
3. Updating of members information, password, email addresses, mailing addresses, interests, have to trade, etc. will all be centralized in the Members Database. When you change your password, you will change it in the Members Area and it will be changed in all three areas of the website at the same time. Similarly if you change your mailing address, all areas will be updated at once.
4. I am allowing you to have a different email address in each of the three areas of the website if you have a need for that. You will still go to the Members Area to update the email address. All membership updates will be done from the Members Area.
5. I'll be turning off the Registration options currently available on the Discussion Board and the Auction. These won't be needed anymore. I will have links from these areas explaining what you have to do to register or make a change to your registration.
The reasons that we are making these changes are:
a. To simplify the setup and maintenance of the user access security right across the website.
b. To get control of who is able to come in and participate in the club. At the moment we have no control of people registering for the DB and then posting whatever they want. We also have very little control over people registering for the Auction.
c. To try to make it easier and more straight forward in being able to lookup the details of who you are communicating with on the DB and the Auction.
I'm sorry for being long winded. I hope that helps explain what we are doing and I hope that I have answered your question.
Regards ... Tim.
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03:26:40pm
While all of us have usernames, all messages are posted under our 'real' names with usernames in parenthesis. Now that we are public again I advocate taking the real names out and switching to nicknames/usernames.
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03:47:01pm
re: security, usernames, and other issues
I think that that's a worthwhile suggestion. Certainly identity theft is an increasingly common and serious problem, and anything that we can do to protect ourselves is worth considering.
In our member profile, there is a space where we are "supposed" to fill in our actual name, and I assume that that shoud be a requirment of membership. But I don't know if it's possible to hide our name when we post to the Discussion Board. Perhaps Tim and/or Kathy could enlighten us.
Bob
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05:11:17pm
re: security, usernames, and other issues
Arno and Bob,
I think there is a switch whereby we can turn off the "real name" posting in the messages. I'll have a look.
Regards ... Tim.
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
OK,
I seem to have worked out how to turn off the full name on the posted messages. Try it out and let me know what you feel about just having the username show on the posted messages. I don't think there is anything that I can do about messages that are already posted.
Regards ... Tim.
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
OK, here goes. If this works, thank you Tim. If it doesn't, thanks for trying!
Bob
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
And it seems to work. Good going!
Bob
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09:59:37am
re: security, usernames, and other issues
Howie
Userr name is better than Sur names.
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
I think it is a great idea to just use our 'user names'.
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Works like a charm.
Thanks a lot, Tim.
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07:57:47am
re: security, usernames, and other issues
Well, I never thought of this as part of public access to privy information. With the worries of the membership concerning identity theft and email adresses being gathered for spam mail etc.
But it does give half the equation for gaining wrongful entry into the site and finding all the info in the members list.The name being half,and only the username to be figured out. They( unwwanted hackers,spammers,thieves) only need part of the info ,to do a search for the rest.
So with this change ,,it does more toward protecting the privacy of the membership,than just not posting email adresses.
But I ask,,, how does one (a new prospect,or current member) get in touch with someone,through the descusion board, without posting an email adress-- member or newbee . It makes it a manditory stipulation ,that one becomes a member,,or remain on the outside of adding to the information channels needed for furthering the knowledge and expansion of the ever growing needs of the membership.
Do hope we are not becoming a "secret society" . I am perplexed at how we,on the internet, will be able to do the secret hand shake that lets us recognize us as a member.
Of course,there is a plus in this,,some may join just out of curiousity,to find out what it's all about.
We have hidden our email adresses,our names,, next on the adgenda, hidden messages.titles on the board,no wrtten message- become a member to read the message.Or like some web sites, become a member to enter the site.Web site comes up,with advertisements only,and a spot to enter info to join.
Stamporama is great,, lets not get so scared of the outside world that we make so many changes as to become that dreaded "secret society".
Tom
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08:01:54am
re: security, usernames, and other issues
I did want to mention,,
the old way,, with sir name and username, it was easy to access the membership list.Just not posting your email adress wasnt a stopper.with access to members list,all adresses were available.
Good change in not posting sir names.
Tom
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Hi Tom,
To respond to your posting, we are going to enhance the security on the SOR site. Currently, the three areas of the SOR website all have completely independent security systems. We have a process in place that coordinates the process of new members to the membership area, but the Discussion Board is completely open to the public to register and then post anything. We have no control over what people do on the DB. The Auction is a little better but not much. If we had to bar someone from using the Auction, if they still have the security password from when they originally joined the club, they can go back in and re-register under another name and we have no control over it.
To get around these issues I'm starting work on the following changes:
1. When you are accepted as a new member into SOR (in the Member's Area) the program will create the security setup for the Discussion Board and the Auction automatically. The ability to register separately into the Discussion Board and the Auction will be taken away.
2. When you want to change your password, your name, your email address or your postal address, you will just change it in the members area and it will be changed in the Discussion Board and the Auction automatically.
These changes will mean that we are moving towards having one username/password across all areas of the website. The benefit will be that you will be able to easily lookup who a member is when you are reading through the DB or bidding on an Auction lot. I think this will be very important now that we are only publishing the usernames on the DB. It is really good for members to know who they are talking to and dealing with. We just want to keep that personal information away from the general public. The current rules as to whether your email address or your mailing address are visible to other members will still apply.
To that end the by-laws will be changed as per the following:
"Article 4: Rights and Responsibilities of Members
The public is free to read from the Stamporama website without registering for membership.
Registration (Stamporama membership) is required to engage in "members only" activities, including posting on the Discussion Board, bidding, posting and listing on the Auction, and searching the MEMBERSHIP database. Registrants will be governed by the Code of Ethics."
To make this easier to implement, could those of you who are currently using different usernames across the three areas of the website, please consider changing your setup so that you are using just one username and password across all areas of Stamporama?
I hope this helps you and that these changes will enhance the usability of the Stamporama website for you. I believe it will, especially for new members. I found it all very confusing getting all the different registrations setup when I first became a member.
Regards ... Tim.
Stamporama Webmaster.
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10:32:00am
re: security, usernames, and other issues
Tim,
very good.
these changes will indeed help in navigation.
One suggestion-
when accesing DB, I type in my name and password is auto entered. But not so in the auction.I have to type in both UN an PW.
Can you add the auto fill for password to the auction site?????
TOM
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10:39:09am
re: security, usernames, and other issues
If I delete my account here at the discussion board, will it also delete my account from the members area?
I understand that as is, I would have to delete my auction account separately.
Thanks,
Doe
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Hi Doe,
No, if you delete an account on the DB it won't at the moment do anything to the Member's Area or the Auction. All three areas are currently separate.
Regards ... Tim.
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Am I to understand that my username (Hobo) in the auction area will change to my username (sponthetrona2) which is in the membership area? Since I use the auction quite often and have a different handle and password than I would use in the discussion board will I need to re-register in the auction area with my membership user name and password? How does this work?
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
I would suggest that you go the other way. I'd register "Hobo" in the Members Area and the Discussion Board. Which ever way works for you best. If it was me, I'd probably keep the "Hobo" id across everything. I think that is a cool userid.
Regards ... Tim.
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11:49:03am
re: security, usernames, and other issues
After all three areas are merged, if/when a new member joins SOR will they automatically be registered users for the DB and the Auction?
I have my own personal concerns and internet limitations (webtv). The email address I use for auction is the only all around fully funtioning email account I have. However, I have no control filters and below average storage. The e-mail address I use for membership and DB has filters, but I cannot reply to anyone, making it useless for the auction.
I have tried to change my member user id to my auction id. But now the members area claims I'm not a valid user. (members area never worked well for me anyway) The DB member edit does not allow for changing user name.
Anyway once the merge is complete I will probably have to delete my membership. I will still be able to read the discussions. The members database never did anything for me, so no loss there. I will however miss the auction. That's the best part of sor for me.
Peace,
Doe
(Message edited by doelion on December 03, 2008)
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
I've never understood what "webtv" is, but I've never heard any good reasons for using it rather than a standard internet connection. Is it less expensive? Doesn't require a computer?
Curious in Vancouver
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01:07:44pm
re: security, usernames, and other issues
No computer needed. It is a web surfing unit, (dial-up browser). It was highly compatable with the internet upgrades of several years ago, (before msn bought webtv). Msn hasn't cared enough to even keep us able to use their own msn pages.
Many newer (msn) units have come out since then, and they are suppose to be able to view more of what's out there. However, none of them offer page builder or PIP, and PIP is the whole point of surfing on tv. -Especially in a home with only one tv.
The plus that still remains for using webtv, is that we cannot be damaged by worms, viruses, attachments etc.. or any other illness that would affect computers. Webtv does not download.
A new plus is, that because of mobile communications, there are sites being created specifically for that market. Those pages work very well for webtv and they are becoming more frequent.
Peace,
Doe
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
To answer Doe's questions, you won't have to cancel your Membership database setup or the Auction. I'm glad that you mentioned that you need a different email address for use with the Auction separate from the email address used with the Member's Area and the DB. I'll make sure that I can do that for you.
Does anyone else have and special requests that they need me to take into account as I design the new security structure? I can't promise that I'll be able to do everything, but I'll definitely take your requests in serious consideration.
Doe, as far as changing your userid on your current setup in the Members area, I might be able to do a copy function, to copy the old membership setup to a new one. I'm not sure if I'd make it generally available to everyone or make it an administration tool. Either way, you'd just have to request to have the change made.
Regards ... Tim.
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Auctions - Approvals
re: security, usernames, and other issues
Hi Tim;
My Christmas Wish List:-
I'd love to see a more spaces available for the Title/Name in the auctions.
I find it frustrating trying to shorten down some titles when listing auction lots.
Looking at the amount of space allowed for the 'title' field it would appear to me that there is lots of room available to enter more characters, if the number of acceptable input characters were increased to a higher number within the programming.
Then again, I may be 'out to lunch' as I know nothing about how this Stamporama software works.
Is this change possible or does it involve a lot of munipulating within the software/programming that Stamporama is using?
This subject of the length of the title in the auction listings came up a few years ago. If I remember correctly,the answer was that we could have the field as long as we wanted it, but nothing was done to implement the change.
Liz
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Hi Liz,
I'll put it on the list. I'll have a look and see if there is a reason why there is a limitation.
Regards ... Tim.
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03:00:58pm
re: security, usernames, and other issues
Hi Tim,
I'm so glad you understand what I was trying to say. Thank you. If I can keep my auction e-mail address separate from the rest of the sor website it would be a huge help.
Also, I went offline, and then came back on a few minutes ago, and now my new member user name matches my auction user name (Airship). I now also see new ads for Roy's covers. Looks good.
So all that's left now is to change my DB user name to Airship. The easiest way I know for me to do that is to delete my DB account and then create a new one. Yes?
Peace,
Doe
LOL- Only at SOR can two people battle over an auction lot (Rugby Jerseys), and still get on famously.
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Hi Doe,
Yep, that is the only way I know of. The DB won't let you rename the username either.
I'll come up with a way in the Members area to set up multiple email accounts and assign them to the different areas of the website. I'll make it so that you use the one email account by default, but have the ability to override for the DB and/or the Auction. Will that work?
Regards ... Tim.
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Tim, Doe,
fabulous idea of having a default email but optional additional emails. I'm delighted we're using this board to take advantage of these good ideas, and glad that folks are generally open to what we hope are improvements and enhancements to the system.
David
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Immediate Past President - West Essex Philatelic Society www.wepsonline.org
04 Dec 2008
06:21:12am
re: security, usernames, and other issues
Santa, I mean Tim,
I also have a request for the auctions. When submitting a listing for auction you have to enter your password each and every time. Is it possible to log in and have the password retained so you don't have to type it in for every lot listed?
Thanks,
Bob
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07:57:10am
re: security, usernames, and other issues
Say Tim,
Unless I am mistaken, it seems that one cannot change the username in the auction section. Are you planning to change this? If not, will a person who wishes to use the discussion username across all 3 areas have to register a new account in the auction section? Is that even possible?
Thanks,
Bob
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Tim,
That sounds great, thank you.
I've recreated a DB profile, so I am now Airship all across the sor network.
Many thanks for your helpfuless.
Sincerely,
Doe
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Bob P, re your question on the Auction and logging in. In the short term, there is no easy way to fix the fact that you have to login each time you bin or each time you post a lot. In the longer term, I'm planning to revamp the Auction program considerably. I plan to keep the same look and feel basically, because people generally seem to like it, but there are a number of things about it that I want to fix. Your issue with the login is one of them. I want you to be able to login and have the program remember you, just like the Member's Area does now. I also want to be able to see the lots that you have bid on and the lots that you have won. I'd also like to know what the maximum bid is that I've placed on a lot. I keep forgetting that and there is no way to look it up. If any of you have ideas as to what you'd like to see in a revamped Auction program, send me your thoughts and I'll include them in my list.
Boston_Bob, you are correct, I don't believe that you can change the username in the auction. The thing to do would be to register the username that you use in the auction in the Member's Area and the Discussion Board, if you want to use that username across all three areas, which is our objective.
Regards ... Tim.
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Auctions - Approvals
re: security, usernames, and other issues
Second attempt at posting this message
Oh wow Tim! Go for it! Perhaps part of this post where you are asking for ideas as to what the members would like to see in a revamped Auction program should be included under the 'Auction Discussion' heading.
You may be biting off more than you can chew asking for ideas.
One thing I would like to see is a method where a seller (or a buyer) can print off a report (list) of all the auction lots they have sold (or purchased) on a monthly basis.
For example;
-Date lot listed
-Date lot closed
-Lot #
-Description as shown on the heading of the lot listed
-Successful bidder (including address & email address)
-Number of bidders
-Starting Bid
-Final Bid
As it is now you have to manually open each lot on the Closed Auction list and there is no way to get a complete list unless we make up our own (which I do).
Liz
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
I second Liz' suggestion
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I agree with Liz but I would like to see some kind of report for buyers as well. It would be extremely useful when you have purchased from more than one seller at a time.
Karen
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Excellent ideas. I make sure that I include all these suggestions on my list.
Regards ... Tim
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03:28:31pm
re: security, usernames, and other issues
I would like to see a longer area to type picture url's as it would make easier to spot mistakes if image does not come up in auction listing.
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Hi John,
I'll look into this for you. I might be able to do this in the sort term.
Regards ... Tim.
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Immediate Past President - West Essex Philatelic Society www.wepsonline.org
07 Dec 2008
06:34:51pm
re: security, usernames, and other issues
John,
I don't know what picture hosting site you use, but Photobucket shows you the picture URL under the picture. Just cut and paste the URL into the picture url box. No need to type it in. If the picture hosting site does not give you the direct link to copy, I would change to PhotoBucket. I would lose my mind if I had to manually type the url.
Bob
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06:05:08am
re: security, usernames, and other issues
Bob- I did not know how to do the cut and paste method until I got your email. It does make it very easy. I tried it and was successful. Thanks for the tip. I use picturehosting for my picture hosting site.
(Message edited by John_Macco on December 08, 2008)
(Message edited by John_Macco on December 08, 2008)
(Message edited by John_Macco on December 08, 2008)
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Immediate Past President - West Essex Philatelic Society www.wepsonline.org
08 Dec 2008
10:34:44am
re: security, usernames, and other issues
John,
Glad to help. I try to do the least amount of typing that I have to.
Bob
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05:43:30pm
re: security, usernames, and other issues
I'm still alive but not posting.
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06:06:04pm
re: security, usernames, and other issues
I like what was done on the auction site. I have some lots in the auction and received email notifications on lots sold and not sold. Great feature. I want to thank all who are responsible for these great changes.
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
So John, I take it that you haven't been getting the emails from the Auction until recently? I think that in moving to the new server our emails will now not be blackbanned by the internet service providers anymore. Is there anyone else out there who are now getting emails from the Stamporama site that were not getting them before?
Regards ... Tim.
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Immediate Past President - West Essex Philatelic Society www.wepsonline.org
12 Dec 2008
07:30:10pm
re: security, usernames, and other issues
I got all my closed auction notices without having to click on them. I don't know if the buyer did the clicking or if it was automatic.
Bob
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Someone has done that for you Bob. I haven't made any changes to the Auction.
Regards ... Tim.
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Auctions - Approvals
re: security, usernames, and other issues
I always did get the closed auction notices from the Stamporama site, except for a couple of times when the old Stamporama server crashed due to problems of being bombarded with spam emails. That doesn't count ;)
Bob - someone closed out those auction notices for you and it may have been me as for months (maybe years) I've been monitoring auctions on a daily basis and clicking on them to close them out. By doing this a closed auction notice is generated and sent to both the seller and buyer.
If ANYONE clicks on an open auction lot that should be closed it automatically closes that lot and notices are generated.
That is how it 'should' work, providing your server hasn't flagged the emails from the Stamporama site as spam and banned emails from Stamporama.
Liz
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08:04:01am
re: security, usernames, and other issues
Say Tim,
I wanted to get back to a point I lost track of earlier, which concerns the use of the same screen name over all three areas.
You answered one question for me, but didn't provide anything on another aspect.
I have a screen name in the auction that differs from the other two. I would like to use the one I use in the members area in the auction area, not the other way around as you had suggested. I am not interested in using the auction screen name in the discussion and members area.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Bob
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re: security, usernames, and other issues
Hi Bob,
I think you will be happy with what I am doing with the security enhancements that I'm currently working on, a summary of which is:
1. The default will be that person will use the Members Database user name across all three areas of the website. This would particularly come into play with new memberships. Someone who is joining the club will have the Membership Database record, the Discussion Board record and the Auction record all setup automatically for them when they are accepted by Kathy as a member. This will dramatically simply the joining and getting going process.
2. I found a lot of people saying that they wanted to have different usernames for the Member Database and the Auction. To help these people out I am setting it up so that you will be able to connect your Auction security record with your Membership Database security record, but still be able to have different usernames in each. The same will work for the Discussion Board. If you really wanted to, you could have different usernames in each of the three areas of the website. The new member search facility that I put in recently will be enhanced to accommodate having these multiple usernames.
3. Updating of members information, password, email addresses, mailing addresses, interests, have to trade, etc. will all be centralized in the Members Database. When you change your password, you will change it in the Members Area and it will be changed in all three areas of the website at the same time. Similarly if you change your mailing address, all areas will be updated at once.
4. I am allowing you to have a different email address in each of the three areas of the website if you have a need for that. You will still go to the Members Area to update the email address. All membership updates will be done from the Members Area.
5. I'll be turning off the Registration options currently available on the Discussion Board and the Auction. These won't be needed anymore. I will have links from these areas explaining what you have to do to register or make a change to your registration.
The reasons that we are making these changes are:
a. To simplify the setup and maintenance of the user access security right across the website.
b. To get control of who is able to come in and participate in the club. At the moment we have no control of people registering for the DB and then posting whatever they want. We also have very little control over people registering for the Auction.
c. To try to make it easier and more straight forward in being able to lookup the details of who you are communicating with on the DB and the Auction.
I'm sorry for being long winded. I hope that helps explain what we are doing and I hope that I have answered your question.
Regards ... Tim.
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