I want to put a mini 'login' module on several pages, so that users don't have to go to a special login page. I've created a class cloned from DotNetNuke.Modules.Admin.Authentication.Login (the default Login page), but since I haven't registered a handler for OnUserAuthenticate(), nothing happens.

The reason I'm asking in this forum is that it looks as if the OnUserAuthenticated() handler is created when the Authentication providers are enumerated, but what does that have to do with me? Is it going to take pages of code just to put up a simple login box?

Thanks for answering--I realize now my question is off-topic.

I will try what you suggest, but the layout of the Account Login module is all wrong for what I need. Maybe I can torture the css enough to make it work. (I don't want to change the source for the Account Login module itself if I can avoid it, because I use it [intact] on the 'real' Login page.)

Even so, I know this is going to come up again soon. For example, I want to send out an email containing a link which automatically logs the visitor into a special promotional account. Conceptually this is very simple, but once again: how can I programmatically tell DNN "This is user X whose password is Y, please log them in"?

Thanks again for your time.

(Your questions have already been very clarifiying, thanks for sticking with me.)

So far, there will be three kinds of logins:

• normal (username/password)
• username/password, but must come from an associated IP block
• automatic login (encrypted parameters in URL tell who they are)

The third group only get access to a subset of pages, and/or for a limited period of time (specific to the URL they present).

To make this concrete: we have an database for designers which aggregates information from manufacturers. Individuals pay to get access to this database. Schools pay for their students to have access (anyone from their IP block gets in). The manufacturers get free access to pages that let them check on their product info and edit their contact info. I don't want to force one-time visitors to create usernames and passwords just to see a handful of pages.

Still hoping there's a simple answer to my last question ("how can I programmatically tell DNN 'This is user X whose password is Y, please log them in'?").