[Robert]

The secret project I'm working on requires that members login to it before using it. I've been able to integrate this new feature with the existing ToeQuest user database, so you can use the user name you currently have. However, the new feature requires that user names not have any non-alphanumeric characters like spaces, dashes, and symbols. As a lot of members have non-alphanumeric characters in their user names there may be some unease among the community. I have made several changes to the website that should ease the transition and have listed them below:

Website Changes

1. First a change in terminology: Your user name is now known as your login name.
2. You can enter your Full Name in your Control Panel by editing your profile information. Your Full Name is now referred to as Name, Nickname, or AKA (Also Known As).
3. Your AKA is more visible now. If you have an AKA defined, it will show in all your posts right under your login name.
4. New members are restricted to alphanumeric-only characters in their login name.
5. Added an option to the registration process for users to enter their full name in the AKA field. Some users were entering their full name as their login name and that may not be what was intended. The text clarifies the login name vs user name issue better.

What you need to do

1. All I need you to do is, if you have non-alphanumeric characters in your login name, and you wish to access the new feature, send me your new login name. Then you can change your AKA to your former login name, if you wish, or any other personal reference.
2. You can wait to see what the new feature is before you request a name change.
3. If you don't wish to access the new feature there is no need to change your login name. Everything else will work the same as always.
4. If you don't have an AKA please consider adding one, even if you are not interested in the new feature. Sometimes its better to greet fellow questers by their name or nickname rather than a login name which is less personable and sometimes obscure and unpronounceable.

Advantages

1. You can shorten your user name and provide a more detailed name in your AKA reference.
2. A shorter login name will make it easier to login since there is less typing.
3. You have access to my secret project!
4. Your AKA shows with every post and looks cool.

Please post comments, problems, and suggestions to this thread. But don't ask me what the new feature is cause I'm not going to tell you!

--Robert

[Guille]

Robert, thanks for the explanation, it is really well done. I have a few questions:

If we change our login name to enter the new feature but we end up visiting very rarelly the feature and might prefer not to go and have the old feature, can we change back to our previous login name?

Does the AKA have to be the whole name? Can we decide to have a whole name written in our profile but the AKA being another name?

[Robert]

Originally Posted by GUILLE If we change our login name to enter the new feature but we end up visiting very rarelly the feature and might prefer not to go and have the old feature, can we change back to our previous login name?

Yes, I can change your name back. Even with your old name you can still use the new feature, you just can't be an active participate. I may relax the name restrictions for new members, and provide a reminder when they try and access the new feature.

Originally Posted by GUILLE Does the AKA have to be the whole name? Can we decide to have a whole name written in our profile but the AKA being another name?

The AKA can be your whole name, first name only, nickname or whatever extra identification you would prefer. It's intent is to give members another way to know you and possibly greet you. So, if your user name is Bob but your login name is Abbz128, members can say Hi Bob, rather than Hi Abbz128. Some may use an AKA such as "The Incredible Posting Machine", and, although it will make me frown, I don't think I'll disallow it.