DCP Frequently Asked Questions

Auto Log Off

• When I am preparing an Electronic DCP and then leave the desktop for a while, a "login screen" will be prompted when I return to my desktop and press any button.

Reason:

As a general security practice to prevent unauthorised system access, the system will assume that the user is no longer using the system if the user has not accessed the system continuously for more than 30 minutes. That is, if you do not click any buttons or perform any actions within the 30-minute period, the system will automatically terminate your user session, prompt you to the login page, and request you to re-login again. Please note that such access does not include normal data entry actions (e.g. filling in the text fields of DCP applications) except that such data entry actions involve retrieving data from the system (e.g. searching and selecting of code description, selecting a date from calendar popup screen). For example, if you are preparing a DCP application with 50 commodity codes, each time when you input a commodity code to retrieve the description, the timer will be reset.

Suggestion:

As a good general practice, users are advised to log off from the system properly by clicking the "Logoff" button when leaving their desktop for a prolonged period of time. However, to avoid the automatic logoff, users are advised to perform action interactively with the system such as loading the commodity description, checking the Inbox, etc., from time to time (before the 30 minutes timeout period) when using the system so as to stay "online".

• I have logged in for only 10 minutes, why do I still encounter automatic log off problem?

Reason:

As a general security practice to prevent unauthorised system access, the system captures the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the user system when he / she first logons to the system (for each time of logon) and checks to ensure that the IP address stays the same throughout the entire user session. If the system detects that the access comes from different IP addresses, the system would terminate the user session automatically and require the user to re-login.

Suggestion:

First of all, the IP address must be the same within a user session. For most of the dedicated direct broadband Internet connection, the IP address is mostly fixed. However, for cases other than a broadband connection, it is possible that a dynamic IP is being assigned when a new connection has established. Check with your ISP and ensure fixed IP is assigned or being maintain within the same connection. In addition, if you connect to the Internet via your internal network, the usage of the IP address will be controlled by your internal network administrator. Due to the unique configuration of different internal networks, the fixed/dynamic IP setting may be affected by the various components of your internal network such as:

• Firewall:
  If NAT (Network Address Translation) technique is used for accessing Internet, it is strongly recommended that static NAT method is used. On the other hand, if hide NAT method has been adopted, it is a good idea to use a single IP address for the NAT.
  
  
• Proxy Server:
  For a reliable and secure connection, it is recommended that a client access to Internet directly without proxy. If proxy is being used, a single proxy and manual setting is suggested. Contact your Network Admin to get the proxy configurations and make setup to your browser manually.
  
  
  
  
• IP Masquerade
  It is another common method for internal workstations to access Internet. Such technique should have no problem but please make sure that only the same network interface and IP address will be used to access Internet.
  
  
• Others
  It is hard to include all Internet access technique and equipment here, however, the rule of thumb is that same IP address must be maintained for a session.


• I receive a message "This Page Contains Both Secure and Non-Secure Items". When I click "Yes", the system sometimes re-direct me to the log in page.



Reason:

Microsoft has already posted in its website that it is one of the Internet Explorer (I.E.) feature. If a user cancels a load action or a load request does not work for some reasons, it will pop up the above message and the behavior of IE may become abnormal. For details, please go to Microsoft's website at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-HK;q184960 for more information.

Suggestions:

When a page is being uploaded, users are advised to wait for the complete uploading of the page before clicking another button.

Users can ignore this message by simply closing the screen, while still able to continue prepare DCP applications.