By default, TheImageFile uses browser cookies to remember the account under which you are logged in.

Cookies are typically shared among all different windows of the same browser. So, if you have five Internet Explorer windows open, and in the fifth window you login as a different user, then all five browser windows may become logged in as that user.

Cookies are not shared between different types of browsers, however. If you have one Internet Explorer window and one Firefox window, each could be logged in to the same site under a different user account.

So, to sign in to TheImageFile with two different accounts at the same time, use one of these techniques:

• Use two different browsers, side by side (recommended)

• Disable cookie authentication on secondary account

Use two different browsers, side by side

In this model, you simply open your two favourite browsers, say Internet Explorer and Firefox. The first browser is always used for your primary account (i.e., a photographer account) and the second window hosts your secondary account (i.e., a free account for a test image buyer).

It takes a little getting used to, but this simple solution works great. The slightly different interfaces of the different browsers will act as a subtle cue to remind you of which account you are using, and the specialized role of that account (i.e., photographer or buyer).

Disable cookie authentication on secondary account

TheImageFile prefers to use cookies for authentication, but it does not have to. It can also remember your login session information using a "sid" parameter that appears in every URL on the site. Cookies are shared between multiple windows, but the "sid" URL parameter is not. By avoiding cookies, you can login with multiple accounts in multiple windows of the same browser.

One way to avoid cookies, of course, is to just disable cookies in your browser. TheImageFile will auto-detect this, and automatically start using the "sid" parameter.

Another way is to login and go to "Control Panel" => "My Profile" => "Preferences" => "advanced session preferences". Under the section "How to Store Session Identifier", choose "URL Only". Scroll down and choose "Save Data". Now that account will always store the session in the URL instead of the cookie, even if your browser supports cookies.

2006-03-16

v4.00