When you run a traditional windows program, your email program for example, your
computer always retains a memory of what you are doing so that it always knows
how to react to a key press or a mouse click. The web works differently. Once
you click on a link or submit a form to the server and the server has
responded, the server will immediately forget what it was you just did. This
type of environment is sometimes called a stateless environment because of the
lack of any memory being held of the state your computer was in when you
performed your last action.
Stateless environments create special challenges for programmers. One of the
simple devices used to overcome the problems created by the stateless environment
called the world wide web is the use of cookies. A cookie is a small file that
when stored on your computer helps the server remember things about what you
were doing on previous interactions and helps the server in deciding what to
do on the current interaction. For example your userid and password might be
stored as a cookie so that the server will know on the current click of a link
or form submission that you are a legitimate user of the site and it would be
able to determine what privileges you have and don't have. Cookies can be
permanently stored on your computer so that a memory of what you did remains
between sessions. Cookies pose no threat to the security of your personal
information nor can they harm your computer in any way.
Before a server can cause cookies to be stored on your computer you must have
your browser set to accept them. The method you use to enable cookies depends
on which version of Internet Explorer you are using.
Enabling Cookies In Internet Explorer Version 6
If you are using Internet Explorer version 6.0 you can make sure cookies are
enabled by following these steps:
- Go to the Tools menu and then Options (press Alt-t followed by O).
- The screen is divided into tabs, choose the "Privacy" tab.
- On the privacy screen Press tab until you arrive at the Advanced button and press enter.
- You will now be on a check box that says "Override automatic cookie
handling". Make sure the check box is checked.
- Following the check box are two sets of radio buttons. Make sure the
"Accept" option is highlighted for both sets.
- Following the second set of radio buttons is a check box which says
"Always allow session cookies". Make sure the check box is checked.
- Tab to the Ok button and press enter.
- On the next screen tab to the Ok button and press enter.
Enabling Cookies In Internet Explorer 5.0 And 5.5
If you are using Internet Explorer 5.0 or 5.5 then follow these steps:
- Go to the Tools menu and then Options (press Alt-t followed by O).
- The screen is divided into tabs, choose the "Security" tab.
- On the security screen tab until you are on the "Custom level" button and press enter.
- The first field on the next screen is a tree view. The cookies branch of the tree is well
down the tree at the first level. The quickest way to get to the cookies branch of this tree
view is to press the letter C. If you are using a screen reader you should now hear the word
cookies.
- Press the down arrow key again and you will arrive at the "Allow cookies that are stored
on your computer" branch of the tree. These are cookies that are stored on your computer
permanently.
- Press the down arrow again twice. The branch of the tree you are on now will say
"Enable-ON" or "Enable-OFF". If this branch says "Enable-OFF" then press the
spacebar to enable these cookies.
- Press the down arrow again twice and you will arrive at a branch of the tree that says
"Allow per-session cookies". These are cookies that are only kept until the current session of
Internet Explorer is closed.
- Press the down arrow again twice. The branch of the tree you are on now will say
"Enable-ON" or "Enable-OFF". If this branch says "Enable-OFF" then press the spacebar to enable
these cookies.
- Tab to the Ok button and press enter.
- On the next screen tab to the OK button and press enter.