GatorLink WebMail has a "time-out" security feature which can cause you to be logged out of the program while composing a lengthy message.

The GatorLink WebMail program runs on CNS servers; you send it commands and receive its output through your Web browser. The only time the GatorLink WebMail program "senses" activity is when you click one of its controls; "Check mail," "Compose Mail," "Address Book," Edit Folders," Preferences, Send, Delete, Move, Copy, next-page, etc. When you are just typing the body of your message, the GatorLink WebMail program itself isn't receiving any commands--all of the activity is happening locally on your computer--in your Web browser. As far as the GatorLink WebMail program is concerned, your GatorLink WebMail session is just sitting there, inactive.

As a security precaution, GatorLink WebMail will log you off automatically, after a period (currently 60 minutes) of "inactivity." That way, if you get called away from your (or a public) computer, or otherwise forget to log off, no one else can come along and "hijack" your e-mail. This is an important and valuable design-feature, because GatorLink WebMail is intended for use primarily at public/kiosk workstation, or similar situations where you don't have access to your own workstation with your regular e-mail program.

Consequently, if you spend 61 (or more) minutes typing your message, GatorLink WebMail, having not received any commands during that time, will log you off. This log-off event happens back on the GatorLink WebMail server, and is invisible to you until you try to execute a GatorLink WebMail command--for example, clicking the Send Email button. Only then will GatorLink WebMail notify you that your session has timed out.

When your GatorLink WebMail session times out because of "inactivity" on the "Compose Message" page, it will save the text you have typed. If you log back in immediately after being timed-out during creation of a message, GatorLink WebMail will return you automatically to the "Compose Message" page, with the text portion of your message restored for you to continue your composition, or to send it. However, you should be aware that any attached files you may have previously designated for this message have been "forgotten," and you will need to once again use the Browse/Add Another Attachment button(s) to re-attach them.