Manage your platform user account, configure notifications, and get password support.
It's easy to set up a new account on the platform. From the homepage, click Log In / Sign Up.
The login page shows you what signup options you have. This might vary according to how the platform version you're using is configured:
Note: In some cases, signup for new users might be disabled. If this is the case, you can only sign up at the invitation of a Site Admin.
For more information on setting up user accounts, see Sign Up.
Once you've created your account and logged in, you can fine-tune your user profile. See below.
You might be invited to join the platform, and receive an email notification witih instructions. There are two main scenarios:
In this scenario, the invitation email will include a link with an invitation code. Click the link and then follow the instructions to complete signup. The invitation code is only valid for the email address the invitation was sent to.
In this scenario, the Site Admin will contact you with the password, which you will need to complete the registration process. When you have the password, click the link in the email and follow the instructions. Depending on the platform setup, you might need to choose a new password, accept a legal agreement, and/or provide answers to security challenge questions.
Once you've created your account and logged in, you can fine-tune your user profile. See below.
When you create an account on the platform, you might be asked to answer one or more security questions.
Answering the security questions provides an extra layer of protection for your account. Make sure you choose questions that you can easily answer, and would always answer in the same way. Later, if you perform certain operations such as changing or resetting your password, you will be prompted to answer one or more of these questions. Your answer is checked against the answer you originally provided, and must match.
Whether the security questions are in place, how many are required, and the exact questions used might vary according to the version of the platform that you're using.
Constraints on the answers might also vary; for example, some answers might require a maximum or minimum numbers of numbers, letters, or characters, and might not allow spaces or certain special characters. If there are constraints, you will see messaging to let you know what the guidelines are.
In all cases, if you're asked to answer one or more security questions when creating an account, your responses are stored securely and are used only to protect your account.
If by any chance you don't recall the answers to the security questions, and fail to correctly answer the security question, you will see a second security question, and then, if you fail again, a third question. After three unsuccessful tries, the account is locked for a period of time, generally 30 minutes. If needed, contact the Site Admin who can reset your password.
After you create a new account, your profile is created. The top navigation includes a Profile link where you can view and edit your account information.
Note: In some cases, the platform might be set up so that you cannot modify your account information. If you need to change a value, but it is read-only, contact your Site Administrator.
The left navigation includes the following options:
Your user name displays on posts, tickets, and notifications. When you initially sign up, you specify a user name on the Personal Info page. If you want to change it, you can do so on the user Details page.
For additional information on changing your user profile, see How do I edit my user profile?
The platform uses your email address for authentication when you log in, and also for sending email notifications to inform you about certain events such as app team changes.
You can change the email address associated with your account, on the User Settings page.
Note: In some cases, the option to change your email address might be disabled. If you need to change the email address on your account and the field is disabled, contact your Site Admin for assistance.
For additional information on changing your user profile, see How do I edit my user profile?
The file requirements for avatar images uploaded to the platform are as follows:
The user profile avatar (picture) displays with the user name in the Logged In User area, and with App Board, API Board, and Dashboard posts.
You can set up an avatar for yourself via the Profile > Details page. You have two choices:
For additional information on changing your user profile, see How do I edit my user profile?
Note: to use this feature, you must first create an account at https://en.gravatar.com and upload an avatar.
For additional information on changing your user profile, see How do I edit my user profile?
You can upload an icon to uniquely identify a resource such as an API, app, or group. This action can be performed in the Icon section when adding or editing the resource.
For file requirements, see What are the file requirements for avatar images? above.
You can log out using the Logout link on the top navigation.
Note: In some cases, the Site Admin might set up the platform so that it times out automatically after a period of inactivity. If this setting is in place, the specific time period is determined by the Site Admin.
The developer portal uses a temporary cookie, called a session cookie, to facilitate your user experience. The cookie contains information about your roles and permissions and thus enables you to take full advantage of the features offered by the portal. The cookie is established when you log in, and is removed when you log out.
Your password is used along with your email address to sign in. You can change your user account password on the User Settings page.
If needed, you could also ask the Site Admin to change your password.
Note: to help ensure account integrity, use a "strong" password that includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase with at least one or two numbers and/or special characters.
If you forget your password, you can request a password reset.
Note: password reset on the platform only works if you set up a user account for yourself on the platform. If you logged in via a social media provider, such as Facebook or Google, you'll need to change your password with the provider.
If needed, you could also ask the Site Admin to reset your password.
Under certain conditions, your account might be locked for security reasons. For example, if there are several failed login attempts close together (usually three), or if the Site Admin thinks your account might have been compromised, your account is locked.
If your account is locked, you can do either of the following:
Many browsers allow the saving of passwords, and will sometimes offer a prompt asking if you want to save the password.
Although saving passwords is convenient, it's a potential security risk. For this reason, the platform has been modified so that even if the browser gives the save password prompt, the password is not actually saved. In addition, the auto-complete function is turned off on certain sensitive fields such as the email address at login. These changes have been made to enhance the security of our users.
We recommend that you never allow the browser to save your passwords.
As part of signing up for the platform, you might be required to provide answers to one or more security questions. These are for the security of your account. For more information about security questions, see What are the security questions and how are they used?
You might want to change one or more of the security questions, or change your answer. Once you are logged in, you can do this at any time.
Note: The platform might be set up so that the answers to security questions are encrypted. If this is the case, you will see a message to that effect. Although your answers to the security questions are not shown except when you add them, your existing answers are stored. You don't need to do anything with questions and answers you don't want to change. Just provide new answers to any changed questions, or if you want to change your answer.
Click Save.
The platform offers two types of notifications:
Dashboard notifications
When you log in, you are automatically taken to your Dashboard, where you might see one or more notifications to keep you informed of activity relating to your apps, APIs, and groups. In many cases you can take action directly from the Dashboard notification, such as accepting an invitation to a group.
In addition, after you've navigated to a different page, you can always view a summary of your notifications: in the top navigation bar, click the number indicator next to the Dashboard label. To see all notifications from this view, click the View All link at the bottom of the notifications indicator.
For more information about the Dashboard, see What information is displayed on my Dashboard?
Email notifications
Email notification messages are generated in response to certain events, such as changes relating to your apps, APIs, or groups.
For some events, such as password change, you will always receive an email notification. For other types of events, you can turn off the email notification option in your user settings. Even though the emails are not generated, you will still get Dashboard notifications for these events.
To turn off your email notifications: see How do I enable or disable email notifications?
By default, the platform sends you email notifications when certain activities occur; for example, when a new member joins your app team or group. You can update your notifications settings on the User Settings page to turn email notifications off or on for certain events.
You can respond to notifications directly in the Dashboard or you can click the notification to display its Board entry and respond from there.
For a list of response options to posts or tickets, see Post/Ticket Management.