Skip to main content
JulesN7344009
JulesN7344009
Known Participant
July 14, 2011
Question

Building a page that only shows up once for the same user...

  • July 14, 2011
  • 5 replies
  • 888 views

I've been asked to create a page that only shows up once for a user.  This page is to include a form that the user fills out, but once the user has filled it out, they wouldn't see the page pop up ever again.  Does anyone know the best way to do this? 

I was told to build an ip logger that checks the database for ip addresses and only shows the page if the ip address is unique.  That might be way beyond my ability.  Is there a program out there that I could possibly use?

My client wants this done asap, so any help would be much appreciated...

Thanks in advance!

Jules

This topic is closed to new replies. Start a new post to keep the conversation going.

5 replies

B
bregent
Participating Frequently
July 14, 2011

>I was told to build an ip logger that checks the database for ip

>addresses and only shows the page if the ip address is unique.

That's not really going to work. Your problem is a difficult one. How do you define 'the same user' ?

IP addresses on the internet do not uniquely identify individual computers, let alone users. Virtually all company's use NAT routers which mean that hundreds of computers inside the company share the same IP address that your site will see. And most household internet providers use DCHP, or some other type of dynamically allocated IP address, which means a households address is always changing.  Finally, users often have more than one computer, and many people often share the same computer. The most reliable method would be to have the user login so you can 'positively' identify them.

So to start, you need to define what you mean by 'the same user'.

JulesN7344009
JulesN7344009Author
Known Participant
July 14, 2011

I guess I should have posted my client's site example:  http://www.barackobama.com

Once you've entered the site the first time, the sign up page doesn't show again.  I  haven't dealved into the code on the page to see what they have done.  I'm assuming they used "cookies" or something.  Oh, and once you have been there, you can't get back in, which could end up being annoying to the site user if they decided they did want to sign up, after all. 

I see the argument about the ip address.  Wasn't thinking about ip addresses changing... you are totally right about that!  I do realize that not everyone has a static ip.  Good point!

B
bregent
Participating Frequently
July 14, 2011

> http://www.barackobama.com

is using cookies to control the splash page. You do understand the limitations associated with cookies, right?

A
Anonymous
July 14, 2011

Use cookies or have user login and then update their table row to show or hide the desired content.

best,

Shocker

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices