Difficulties Logging in from Forum and Staying Logged In

[Ozziepm]

Hi,

I have photopost integrated with a phpbb3 forum.

First question: When I log in to the forum, then click on the link to the photopost gallery, I have to log in to the gallery again. Shouldn't I already be logged in?

Second question: Another problem that I have is that when having two windows open at once, once in photopost uploading pictures, and another open at the forum where I'm constructing a post - I keep getting logged out of one or the other when I move between the screens. So when I upload my picture and copy the code, then move back to the post screen I've been logged out. The same happens going the other way. When I go back to the Photopost screen and try to upload the next photo I seem to get logged out.

I first noticed this recently and I'm going to try again later to see if it's consistent.

When I am logged into one or the other and don't move between them, I seem to stay logged in.

Is there a problem with my setup?

Sorry, I'm not allowed to post a link to the pages.

[Chuck S]

Please read the cookie FAQ in the photopost faq forum this should explain how cookies need to be setup. when you installed did you specify the correct phpbb3 cookie name.

Your cookie path should be /

Your cookie domain should be .yoursite.com

[Ozziepm]

Thanks Chuck. I don't think I did specify it when doing the PP install. The settings in the PHPBB3 are correct though.

As I am integrating with phpbb3 I have a cookie name. Should I put the cookie name in photopost's 'cookie prefix' field, or in photopost's 'SMF cookie name' field?

You mentioned this cookie name here:

There is one additional note though. In phpbb3, wowBB and SMF they use a cookie name which is an additional setting. They do not have a cookie prefix. You will want to write down the cookie name before installing Photopost Products.

Obviously I didn't put this in when installing. It doesn't tell me what to do with it when the installation has already been done. There's only two choices, the cookie prefix field or the SMF cookie name field.

edit: just tried putting the cookie name in cookie prefix field. Obviously that's not right because I got booted out really quickly. I will try it in the SMF cookie name field instead then.

second edit: I've just tried putting it onto the SMF cookie name field and now I can't log in at all. That must be wrong. I'm much worse off now. Any tips from here?

[Chuck S]

the cookie name for phpbb3 goes in the smkcookie field in the database. The cookie path should be /. The cookie domain should be .yoursite.com

The cookies should be all the same throughout the forum and gallery to stay and be logged in.

My suggestion if this is a new install is wipe out the pp_ tables from the database since you where hand editing fields and do a reinstall and install this time with all the correct information and you will be fine. The cookie name is asked for on step 4 of the install where we ask for all the other pertinent forum information.

[Ozziepm]

Originally Posted by Chuck S

My suggestion if this is a new install is wipe out the pp_ tables from the database since you where hand editing fields and do a reinstall and install this time with all the correct information and you will be fine. The cookie name is asked for on step 4 of the install where we ask for all the other pertinent forum information.

Ok. I will do this. Can you tell me what folder on the server I will find pp_tables in please?

Also, is there a way of doing this without losing my header and watermark overlay?

[Chuck S]

I am referring to the pp_ tables in the database meaning your photopost database

headers and watermarks are files on a server they should not have any reflection on what I am saying.

[Ozziepm]

Thanks Chuck. I think that Photopost is using the same database as the phpbb3 forum. I don't want to delete that do I? When I installed I had the option of having a separate database, but if I wanted to integrate it it recommended using the same database. I'm not sure how to get to it either. Where would I go to delete it?

[Chuck S]

You can try reinstalling without deleting the database tables but I was only referring to removing the pp_ prefixes tables not deleting the entire database.

You would go to your hosting panel under phpmyadmin to view your databases and the tables in them. I only suggested to delete the tables because not all changes you where editing might be updated.

Make sure your cookies are set like as noted here

Cookies and Login Problems!!

Then rerun through the install script and ensure everything asked there is answered correctly and check and see if your issues are resolved.

[Ozziepm]

Chuck, I'm a bit nervous about deleting files when I know so little about it. Can you please take a look at a picture of what I see in phpmyadmin and tell me which files I should delete?

I don't think I can post pics here, so this is a direct link to a screenshot.

Bugga! I can't post a picture or a url. How do I show you?

I'll try copying the list in then.

pp_admingroups
pp_admlog
pp_board
pp_buddies
pp_cache
pp_captcha
pp_categories
pp_comments
pp_currency
pp_ecards
pp_exif
pp_extrafields
pp_favorites
pp_invites
pp_ipcache
pp_iponline
pp_laston
pp_messages
pp_notify
pp_paid_subscriptions
pp_payments
pp_photoextras
pp_photos
pp_photoviews
pp_searchids
pp_settings
pp_sort
pp_sortmemb
pp_subscriptions
pp_usergroups
pp_users

OK. That worked. Which one needs deleting? Or do you mean that I should delete all of them?

[Chuck S]

If this is a new install like I said you can delete the tables prefixed with pp_ that will not delete phpbb3 as those would be prefixed with something different like phpbb_ etc

[Ozziepm]

Chuck, it was installed a week ago and I've been setting it up the way I want it. Is there a way of just deleting the part of the database that is related to cookies rather than wiping it all? If I delete all of them have I lost all of my PP settings, header etc?

This is a fairly new install, but not a brand new install.

[Chuck S]

You can go diving into the database pp_settings table and check your cookie entries in that table and try correcting them. I am merely trying to help you by giving you the easiest least technical way to handle things.

Not ever seeing your site and your specific issue I am giving out generic advise here.

[Ozziepm]

Chuck, I think it's worth going for a dive first if the alternative is a complete delete and start again. I can always do that next.

If I go to the pp_setting tables I see three cookie related items. Is this correct and are there any others that would need changing or checking?

* Photopost Cookie Path - /

* Forum Cookie Prefix - phpbb3_fz36p (This is actually the cookie name, not the prefix, is that correct or not?)

* Photopost Cookie Domain - .poultrymatters.com

Doing the above seems to have returned the cookies to their original arrangement. I can now log in to Photopost again, but I get logged out when I flick between forum and gallery.

Chuck is there another setting I should change in the tables? I'm also thinking that the cookie prefix might be different to the cookie name and I'm putting in the cookie name.

[Chuck S]

cookie prefix should be empty

phpbb3_fz36p goes in the smfcookie place

[Ozziepm]

I can't see an entry in the pp_settings table for that.

Do you know what the entry would be called? I only have the three above and there is no reference to smf in them.

I note that putting the cookie name in the smf area within the Admin settings of Photopost is what stopped me being able to log in at all, so I'm wondering if this would do the same thing again.

[Ozziepm]

I have gone back to the Photopost admin setting and put the cookie name in the SMF field there. It still lets me log in which is different to before, but I am still getting logged out when moving between forum and PP.

Hold that thought. I have found an entry in the table related to smf cookie name. Will try it.

[Chuck S]

the varname is most definately smfcookie and its entry 165 in that table. As noted on step 4 of install where we ask for the smf wowbb or phpbb3 cookie name to enter that is where that value from install goes.

[Ozziepm]

Well it's now in there and it makes no difference.

Chuck, when I am already logged into the forum, should I have to log into PP if I go there the first time in that session, or should I already be logged in?

[Chuck S]

If you have things installed correctly you should be logged into both applications no matter which one you login into first.

[Ozziepm]

Chuck if I reinstall PP will I lose the pictures already in the gallery, and will I lose header and all settings etc?

One other thing I should check.

In Integration settings, should Photopost data table prefixes be pp_ or phpbb_?

OK ... I guess we'll find out. Fingers crossed then.