There is some evident confusion surrounding the process of logging in to Simple-Talk website, if you already receive the Simple-talk newsletter.

The confusion seems to stem largely from the assumption that receipt of the Simple-Talk newsletter, by registering your details on the Red-Gate website (e.g. during a Red Gate tool download), implies automatic membership of the Simple-Talk website.

In fact, if you receive the Simple-Talk newsletter, you still need to join the Simple-Talk website in order to post on the forums and access members-only content. Your Red Gate sign-in credentials are not automatically accepted on Simple-Talk – you will first need to create a Simple-Talk login.

If you try to post to the forums, or on an article or blog where anonymous comments are disabled, and are not currently "logged in" to the Simple-Talk website, then you will be taken to a sign-in page (see below).

At that point, there are two possible scenarios:

1. If you've never before "logged in" to the Simple-Talk website then, regardless of whether or not you receive the Simple-Talk newsletter, you will need to click the "Create new login" link on that Sign in page. You'll be taken to the "Join the Simple-talk community" screen and prompted to provide a username, email address and password. Once you've done this, you are immediately made a registered member of the site and can proceed to the "members-only" competition/article/tool etc.
2. If you've been through the "Create new login" process before on the Simple-Talk website, then simply enter your email address and password in the boxes provided on the above sign-in page, and in you go.

Note on Scenario 1

On the "Join the Simple-talk community" page you will see a "Simple-Talk Newsletter" checkbox.

If you already receive the Simple-Talk newsletter and are joining the Simple-Talk website using the same email address at which you receive the newsletter, then this checkbox is effectively disabled. If you leave it checked you will not receive duplicate copies of the newsletter. If you uncheck it, you will not be unsubscribed from the newsletter.