Global Button Flow: Login/Logout

Last Updated 09.28.03

General Description

The Login/Logout flow illustrates how a user logs into an application and/or portal, perform functions, and then logs out.

Guideline Attributes

Spec Version # - 3.1
Spec Contributors - Betsy Beier, Craig Louis
UI Models - all models
Example Products - all products
Related Guidelines - Global Buttons, Global Page Templates, Messaging Flows, Page Stamps

Interaction and Usage Specifications

Templates Used within Flow

Start Page - Any web page and/or desktop Internet client (such as email) using a URL link to an application and/or portal.
Login Global Page Template
Login Global Page Template with Message Box
Forgot Your Password Template
Logout Global Page Template
Messaging Page: Error
Home Page Template
Oracle Applications Portal

Common Initiation Points or Start Points to Flow

A bookmark to a specific application or portal.
A link/URL on a web page within the companies intranet or a link/URL on an internal or external hosted internet web site.
The Oracle Applications Portal. (Note: The portal and some internet/hosted applications have 2 states, a Guest User mode, in which the user has not yet logged in but can view generic/public content, and a logged-in state. Once logged into the portal, a user has access to all intranet applications and does not need to login again.)

General Principles

Login and logout can take place from an internet portal for hosted applications, or from the starting page of a hosted application on an intranet. For interaction and usage guidelines, see Global Page Templates

User Login Methods

The user selects a link/URL in a Portal and logs in as a guest or registered user, or logs in using the Login/Logout button within a hosted application:

Logged In State - If the selected URL link or bookmark goes directly to the portal or application (hosted internet or intranet) in Logged-In state, then the page redraws with the Login page. Intranet application do not have Guest User mode; users must login to perform functions within an intranet application.
Guest User Mode - If the URL and/or bookmark is of a portal or hosted internet application in Guest User mode, the page will redraw with the portal/hosted application in this public mode.

From the portal (in Guest User mode) the user may login by either selecting the Login global button (after validation, the page redraws to a global login page template) or they may use a Login Portlet on the portal (after validation, the page redraws to the portal in "registered user" mode.)
From the hosted internet application (in Guest User mode) the user may login by either selecting the Login global button (the page redraws to a global login page template) or may use a "quick" login within an area of the home page (after selecting the Login button, the home page redraws to "registered user" mode.)

Validation Methods on Login

Once the user fills out the necessary fields and then selects Login:

If Password Expired: An inline Warning page is drawn stating that the password has expired. The user can then fill out fields on that page to enter the old password and a new password.
If Login Failed (1st, 2nd time): An inline Warning page is drawn indicating that the password or username is incorrect. Original Username and Password fields remain on page, allowing user to fill out again and retry.
If Login Failed (3rd time): Error page stating password and/or username does not exist. Information should be provided on how to recover from this state. (ie, Contact Administrator? Email Contact? Etc.) A Tip should be placed on the Error page, linked to the Forget Your Password? template as well.

If User Has Forgotten Password:

Display the Forget Your Password? template page
The page should include fields the user may fill and submit to apply for a new password.

Logout Flow

After the user has completed their tasks, they will log out:

User selects Global Logout Button
Warning Page appears: Are you sure you want to log out?
User is returned to pre-login page; ie, page where they first selected the Login button.

Visual Specifications

The following graphics illustrate Login/Logout flow for both the basic Intranet and Internet/Hosted Applications scenario, and how Logout is handled if the user opens another browser window and logs out from there.

See the Page Stamps guideline for information on optional login ID textstring placement in the UI after the user logs in.

Login/Logout Flow - Standard Cases

Login/Logout Flow - Intranet and Internet/Hosted Applications
(Note: All page level buttons in each template should repeat at the top and bottom of the page per the Button guideline.)

Login/Logout Flow - In User Launched New Window

Advanced User Scenario - User Selects Control-N or New Window Menu Functionality in Browser