SQL.CodeProject.com FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions
The Newsletter
Your Account

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SQL.CodeProject.com?

SQL.CodeProject.com is a community of Windows developers specializing in C++, MFC, C# and .NET who have come together to share source code, articles and tutorials. We have some of the brightest minds in the community gathered together to form the most informative and entertaining developer Website on the net. SQL.CodeProject.com features active discussions, user polls, interviews, news, gossip and tons of new articles every week.

To complement the lively community atmosphere, we have a collection of thousands of articles, tutorials, components and source code snippets contributed by developers from all over the world. Everything on the site may be freely used. All we ask in return is that you contribute something back to the community.

SQL.CodeProject.com: Your Development Resource.

• Want to link to us? Grab some icons.

SQL.CodeProject.com Membership

Signing up to SQL.CodeProject.com allows you to post articles, participate in the Lounge, receive the newsletters and download code samples.

1. Why should I sign up?

   Signing up allows you to:

   • Download ZIP files associated with articles
   • Post messages in Discussion Boards
   • Get a weekly update of new articles posted
   • Submit articles to automatically enter our monthly competitions
   • Bookmark your favourite articles
   • Participate in our surveys
   • Have your own page in the Who's Who list.
   • Have your name, email and signature pre-filled in the discussion board posting pages

   You can still read all articles and discussion boards without registering.

2. Is it free?

   Yes.

3. How do I sign up?

   You can join here.

4. I forgot my password (or never entered one in the first place).

   Click here to retrieve your password. Remember to use the correct box for your email or name; you can use one or the other to retrieve your password.

5. I tried to retrieve my password, but it never arrived. Why?

   Either

   1. Your email server is having issues.
   2. Your inbox is full or restricted in some way.
   3. Your mailserver may have blacklisted us. Please check ask your admin to unblock us.
   4. The email address you are using to sign-in is no longer active.
   5. Your email server or client is rejecting SQL.CodeProject.com email because it thinks the password notice is spam.
   6. You are using an email system that requires the sender to confirm an email that has been sent. We cannot manually confirm emails automatically sent due to the volume of emails sent. Please disable these systems if you wish to get notifications from SQL.CodeProject.com.
   7. There is a network issue somewhere between your server and our server.

   Also see The Newsletter and Emails from SQL.CodeProject.com.

6. I can't sign in. Help!

   There are a few things you need to check:

   1. Have you signed up? If you get the weekly newsletter, then you have an account with us.
   2. You need to log on using your email address, not your name.
   3. Do you have your password? If not, then click here to retrieve your password. If you get the newsletter, then make sure you enter the email address that the newsletter is sent to.
   4. Did you make a spelling mistake when you signed up, or when you tried to sign in?
   5. Have you got cookies enabled? Before you say 'Yes' check that you haven't inadvertently blocked them for SQL.CodeProject.com specifically or added SQL.CodeProject.com to your restricted sites list in Internet Explorer. We take care to protect your information and your privacy so rest assured we will not abuse the privilege of cookies on your system. You can test for cookies here
   6. Are you using ad-removing software such as WebWasher? This can sometimes cause downloads to fail by blocking cookies.
   7. Do you have an anonymizing firewall or gateway? If so then that may be interfering with your login.
   8. Try clearing your codeproject.com cookies. For some people this has helped.

   Some members have reported that when they reset Internet Explorer's security settings back to Default their problems are solved. If you receive errors or are still unable to logon, then please contact us.

7. I can sign in but I can't download articles. Help!

   Here are some things to check:

   1. Are your signed in? If not, then check the points above.
   2. Do you have cookies enabled? Cookies must be enabled for downloads to work. Test for cookies here
   3. Is page caching causing a problem? Go back to the article and hit Ctrl+F5 to force a refresh then try again.
   4. Are you using ad-removing software such as WebWasher? This can sometimes cause downloads to fail.
   5. Have you inadvertantly added codeproject.com to your 'Restricted sites' list in IE? Go to Internet Options / Security / Restricted Sites. Alternatively you can add SQL.CodeProject.com to your Trusted Sites list to ensure cookies aren't blocked.
   6. Have you checked your Privacy settings in IE? Go to Internet Options / Privacy and ensure cookies are enabled. If you only wish to enable cookies for SQL.CodeProject.com then hit the 'Edit' button in the 'Web Sites' section of the Privacy Tab and add codeproject.com. You should also check that codeproject.com hasn't been added to the blocked list!
   7. Are you using a download manager to download files? These can sometimes strip out cookies needed to identify you as a logged on member. Try downloading without a download manager.
   8. Check that your company's firewall or gateway does not block cookies.
   9. Do you have an anonymizing firewall or gateway? If so then that may be interfering with your login.

   Again, some members have reported that when they reset Internet Explorer's security settings back to Default their problems are solved. If you receive errors or are still unable to login then please contact us.

8. Do I have to create a new account to use SQL.CodeProject.com, or sign in to my existing account?

   You can read all articles without signing in, but you must be signed in to download zip files and participate in the discussion boards.

9. Do I have to create a new account to use SQL.CodeProject.com or sign in to my existing account?

   You can read all articles without signing in, but you must be signed in to download ZIP files.

10. How do I sign up?

    Just enter an email address and optional password in the Newsletter/Sign-up box at the top left of this page and click either Join or click here.

11. How do I unsubscribe from the newsletter?

    Simply sign in and click on "My Settings" (top left of the homepage). There you can change your newsletter preferences.

12. How do I sign in to SQL.CodeProject.com?

    Enter your logon email address and password in the logon form (top left of the main page) and click "Sign in."

13. I signed up with email address "me@mail.com" and username "Joe Programmer," but when I sign in using "Joe Programmer," it says it can't find my account.

    Please sign in using your email address, not your name.

14. I signed up, but have since changed email addresses (or no longer wish to get the newsletter). Help.

    Sign into your account and click on "My Settings" under the Options menu. There you can change you email address or suspend your newsletter.

The Newsletter and Emails from SQL.CodeProject.com

Emails are only sent to members who have signed up and chosen to receive our newsletters and offers, and who have confirmed their email address. We never give out, sell or loan email addresses.

1. Why am I not receiving the newsletter?

   Possibilities:

   1. Sign in and click on 'My Settings' (top right on the homepage). Are you subscribed to the newsletter?
   2. Have you confirmed your email address? A confirmation email is sent when you sign up or you can click here to have a new one sent.
   3. Is your inbox is full or restricted in some way?
   4. Your mailserver may have blacklisted us or we could have been placed on spam lists. Please check ask your administrator to unblock us. Sometimes this can occur when members in your organisation decide that it's easier to ask the administrator to block SQL.CodeProject.com instead of unsubscribing themselves from the newsletter.
   5. Have you inadvertantly flagged SQL.CodeProject.com as a Junk mail sender in Outlook? You can add codeproject.com to your exception list to stop newsletters being flagged as spam.
   6. Is the email address you are using to sign-in still active? Have you changed email addresses and forgotten to update your profile?
   7. You are using an email system that requires the sender to confirm an email that has been sent. We cannot manually confirm emails automatically sent due to the volume of emails sent. Please disable these systems if you wish to get notifications from SQL.CodeProject.com.
   8. There is a network issue somewhere between your server and our server.

2. I signed up and am now getting spam at the address I signed up with. Why??

   We do not give out our sell email addresses. We hate spam probably even more than you do. Spammers use many techniques including brute force and dictionary attacks to find email addresses. Many, many people use "codeproject@..." email addresses and these have become easy prey for spammers. Our recommendation is to use a username other than "codeproject" for your email accounts.

3. How do I unsubscribe from the newsletter?

   Simply sign in and click on 'My Settings' (top right on the homepage). There you can change your newsletter preferences.

4. How do I change my email address?

   Simply sign in and click on 'My Settings' (top right on the homepage). There you can change your newsletter preferences.

5. I am getting lots of spam. Why?

   We do not, never have, and never will distribute email addresses of our members. We hate spam as much, if not more, than you and do everything we can to protect members' email address.

   Some members create a new email address specifically for SQL.CodeProject.com, sign up, then find themselves the target of spam. The spam does not come from us nor have we distributed your address. Some common reasons why you are getting spam are:

   • your "new" email address was used by someone previously who was targeted for spam
   • your email address was harvested from a webpage, discussion board, a virus on your computer, a hoax email or one of the many nefarious means they use to get your address
   • the email address was found by spammers using brute force spam attack. This method sends mass mailings to your ISP with millions of possible address names searching for accounts that are active. The attacks are automated so even bizarre spellings may not protect you.

   There are many other ways in which spammers can get access to your email address. This article has some more background.

Do you use a Spam Filter?

Many Spam Filters can filter legitimate emails. If you are using spam filters for the email address that you entered in SQL.CodeProject.com signup form, please make sure to whitelist our domain so that important email about your account will not end up in your Junk/Bulk Folders.

Here are instructions on how to whitelist for some email clients and services.

Outlook 2003

• In the main Outlook window Go to: Actions > Junk E-Mail > Junk E-Mail Options
• Click the "Safe Senders" Tab and then click "Add"
• Enter "codeproject.com" and click OK, then OK again.

HotMail

Hotmail spam filters can filter out email sent fromSQL.CodeProject.com if the security level is set high. Email in the Hotmail junk folder are typically removed after 5 days so it is possible for you to miss email sent from SQL.CodeProject.com.

In order to avoid missing any emails sent by SQL.CodeProject.com take the following steps:

• Go to: Mail Options >> Junk E-Mail Protection >> Safe List
• Add to this list: codeproject.com

Yahoo

Yahoo spam filters can filter out email sent from SQL.CodeProject.com if the security level is set high.

Email in the Yahoo Bulk Mail folder are typically removed after 1 month, 2 weeks, or 1 week, depending on your setting. Therefore, it is possible for you to miss email sent from SQL.CodeProject.com.

In order to avoid missing any emails sent by SQL.CodeProject.com, take the following steps:

• Go to: Mail Options >> Filters
• Click on: Add
  • For the filter name, use any name you want: SQL.CodeProject.com (recommended)
  • From Header: Contains (select in dropdown) : codeproject.com (input in text field)
  • Then: Inbox (recommended)

Articles

1. How do I submit an article?

   The fastest way is through the Submission Wizard. This is a simple wizard that will guide you through the posting process. All you need is some basic knowledge of HTML. Alternatively, you can send your article to us directly.

   If you use the submission wizard, then your article will remain in the "Unedited Articles" section until we get a chance to check it and move it into the main sections.

2. How do I update my article?

   If you used the submission wizard and your article has not yet been moved, then you can click on the "Modify this article" link just under the title of the article. If the article has been moved or was posted by us directly, then the best thing to do is take the HTML from your article's page on SQL.CodeProject.com, make your modifications to that and send it to us along with any ZIP files or images. We'll then update it for you. Don't worry about colorizing your code snippets. Our scripts do that all for you.

3. Can I use code snippets and programs in my own work?

   Yes. Some authors may have specific restrictions on using code in commercial apps, such as providing credit in documentation or sending them an email first, but all code can be used for free.

Your Account

When you sign up for the newsletter, you automatically get a user account on http://sql.codeproject.com. This account allows you to customize your settings, such as:

• Your newsletter subscription. Turn it on, off or change your email address.
  
• Your discussion board name and signature. You can add a signature that will be automatically added to your discussion board posts, as well as change the name and email address attached to your posts. Logging on also makes posting easy, as many of the fields in the message posting screens will be pre-filled with your information.
  
• Your About You section. If you've posted an article to SQL.CodeProject.com, then set up your account with the same name under which you posted the article. Your biography will appear automatically at the end of each article you post.
  
• Bookmarking your favorite articles. Your account allows you to bookmark your favorite articles with a single click.