how to keep a session variable alive across browser closings

laredotornado

Hi,

When a user logs into our site, we create a session variable to denote
the session is active and another to denote who is logged in. Once
the user closes the browser and re-opens it, the session is destroyed
and the variables are gone.

How can I keep the session alive for 24 hours even if the user closes
and re-opens the browser?

I'm using PHP 4.4.4. Thanks, - Dave

Aug 16 '07 #1

Chris Hope

la***********@zipmail.com wrote:

When a user logs into our site, we create a session variable to denote
the session is active and another to denote who is logged in. Once
the user closes the browser and re-opens it, the session is destroyed
and the variables are gone.

How can I keep the session alive for 24 hours even if the user closes
and re-opens the browser?

I'm using PHP 4.4.4. Thanks, - Dave

You would need to change the cookie that is set to have an expiry 24
hours from now. Session cookies are set to have an expiry of the
current time (or earlier) and are lost when the browser is closed. If
the cookie's expiry is set some time into the future it will persist
even if the browser is closed.

--
Chris Hope | www.electrictoolbox.com | www.linuxcdmall.com

Aug 16 '07 #2

Rik

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:59:18 +0200, la***********@zipmail.com
<la***********@zipmail.comwrote:

Hi,

When a user logs into our site, we create a session variable to denote
the session is active and another to denote who is logged in. Once
the user closes the browser and re-opens it, the session is destroyed
and the variables are gone.

How can I keep the session alive for 24 hours even if the user closes
and re-opens the browser?

<http://nl3.php.net/manual/en/ref.session.php>:
Set:
- session.gc_maxlifetime 86400
- session.cookie_lifetime 86400

A note from the manual:
"Note: If different scripts have different values of
session.gc_maxlifetime but share the same place for storing the session
data then the script with the minimum value will be cleaning the data. In
this case, use this directive together with session.save_path."

.... which is the case for many shared hosts.

--
Rik Wasmus

Aug 16 '07 #3

gosha bine

la***********@zipmail.com wrote:

Hi,

When a user logs into our site, we create a session variable to denote
the session is active and another to denote who is logged in. Once
the user closes the browser and re-opens it, the session is destroyed
and the variables are gone.

How can I keep the session alive for 24 hours even if the user closes
and re-opens the browser?

I'm using PHP 4.4.4. Thanks, - Dave

The whole purpose of sessions is to keep short-term data until the
"connection" is closed. If you need persistence, create a normal,
long-term cookie via setcookie() and read it from the $_COOKIES array.

--
gosha bine

extended php parser ~ http://code.google.com/p/pihipi
blok ~ http://www.tagarga.com/blok

Aug 17 '07 #4

laredotornado

On Aug 16, 4:11 pm, Rik <luiheidsgoe...@hotmail.comwrote:

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:59:18 +0200, laredotorn...@zipmail.com

<laredotorn...@zipmail.comwrote:

Hi,

When a user logs into our site, we create a session variable to denote
the session is active and another to denote who is logged in. Once
the user closes the browser and re-opens it, the session is destroyed
and the variables are gone.

How can I keep the session alive for 24 hours even if the user closes
and re-opens the browser?

<http://nl3.php.net/manual/en/ref.session.php>:
Set:
- session.gc_maxlifetime 86400
- session.cookie_lifetime 86400

A note from the manual:
"Note: If different scripts have different values of
session.gc_maxlifetime but share the same place for storing the session
data then the script with the minimum value will be cleaning the data. In
this case, use this directive together with session.save_path."

... which is the case for many shared hosts.

--
Rik Wasmus

So would I need to add

- session.gc_maxlifetime 86400
- session.cookie_lifetime 86400

on every page beneath the "session_start()" command?

- Dave

Aug 20 '07 #5

Rik

On Mon, 20 Aug 2007 22:46:20 +0200, la***********@zipmail.com
<la***********@zipmail.comwrote:

On Aug 16, 4:11 pm, Rik <luiheidsgoe...@hotmail.comwrote:

>On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:59:18 +0200, laredotorn...@zipmail.com

<laredotorn...@zipmail.comwrote:

Hi,

When a user logs into our site, we create a session variable to denote
the session is active and another to denote who is logged in. Once
the user closes the browser and re-opens it, the session is destroyed
and the variables are gone.

How can I keep the session alive for 24 hours even if the user closes
and re-opens the browser?

<http://nl3.php.net/manual/en/ref.session.php>:
Set:
- session.gc_maxlifetime 86400
- session.cookie_lifetime 86400

A note from the manual:
"Note: If different scripts have different values of
session.gc_maxlifetime but share the same place for storing the session
data then the script with the minimum value will be cleaning the data.
In
this case, use this directive together with session.save_path."

... which is the case for many shared hosts.

--

Please don't quote signatures.

>
So would I need to add

> - session.gc_maxlifetime 86400
- session.cookie_lifetime 86400

on every page beneath the "session_start()" command?

No, if this is what you're using you should set it in either:
- php.ini
- httpd.conf (if apache, possibly only for a single virtual host, use
'php_value name_of_setting value_of_setting')
- .htaccess (if apache)
- and only if all possibilities above aren't possible use ini_set()
_before_ session_start() in your scripts.

If you're on a shared server you probably haven't got access to php.ini &
httpd.conf, in which case you really need to create your ow
session.save_path to prevent your longer lived sessions timing being
collected by garbage collectors of shorter lived sessions.

Allthough I agree with gosha bine, use sessions for people that are really
active, possible make a 'keep me logged in' construct with just a cookie
(which possibly revives an 'archived' session).
--
Rik Wasmus

Aug 20 '07 #6

John Murtari

>When a user logs into our site, we create a session variable to
denote
the session is active and another to denote who is logged in. Once
the user closes the browser and re-opens it, the session is destroyed
and the variables are gone.
How can I keep the session alive for 24 hours even if the user closes
and re-opens the browser?

The whole purpose of sessions is to keep short-term data until the
"connection" is closed. If you need persistence, create a normal,
long-term cookie via setcookie() and read it from the $_COOKIES array.

Yes, pay attention to this comment. I work at a web provider
and 'session' storage is not free. The data is stored in a directory
and depending on php.ini settings data is purged (unless there is an
explicit logout, the server never know if it is okay to destroy the
session data). Right now that data is being periodically purged
for you at the server end -- even if you increased the 'lifetime', it
is quite possible your provider will purge the session data due to
inactivity - or - you could have a LOT of session data pile up.

If you just want to remember their login name for when they
come back, just a simple cookie might be best.

Best regards!
--
John
__________________________________________________ _________________
John Murtari Software Workshop Inc.
jmurtari@following domain 315.635-1968(x-211) "TheBook.Com" (TM)
http://thebook.com/

Aug 21 '07 #7