Understanding Merchanter user sessions

To help manage system access and ensure that Merchanter is being used as intended, the latest version of Merchanter includes limits on the number of simultaneous sessions that can be opened using a login.

These limits are straightforward and, in most day-to-day use, should have little impact on how you use Merchanter.

What is a session?

A Merchanter session is the combination of:

•    One device – such as a PC, laptop or tablet
•    One web browser – such as Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome

For example, if you log into Merchanter on your office PC using Microsoft Edge, that is one session.

You can still open Merchanter in as many tabs as you like within that browser. Opening another Merchanter tab does not create another session.

Example

If you have Merchanter open in five tabs in Microsoft Edge on your PC, this is still counted as one session:

PC + Edge = 1 session
Merchanter Tab 1
Merchanter Tab 2
Merchanter Tab 3
Merchanter Tab 4
Merchanter Tab 5

However, if you also open Merchanter in Google Chrome on the same PC, that would be a second session:

PC + Edge = 1 session
PC + Chrome = 1 session
Total = 2 sessions

Similarly, opening Merchanter on a tablet would create another session.

How many sessions can I have?

The number of sessions available depends on the type of login you are using.

Named user Login

A named user can have up to two sessions running at the same time.

This allows, for example, a user to have:

•    Merchanter open on their main PC using Edge, and
•    Merchanter open on a laptop using Edge.

Or:

•    Merchanter open in Edge on their PC, and
•    Merchanter open in Chrome on the same PC.

You can, of course, have as many Merchanter tabs open as you need within either browser.
 

Shared / Trade Counter login

A shared login, such as a login used at a trade counter, can have one session running at a time.

This means that the same shared login cannot be used simultaneously in two different browser/device combinations.

This is intentional, as shared logins are designed for use at a particular workstation or trade counter rather than by an individual user across multiple devices.

What happens if I exceed the limit?

If you try to log in using a login that has already reached its maximum number of sessions, Merchanter will prevent the additional session from being opened.

If this happens, it is usually because the login is already being used somewhere else.

For example, a named user may already have:

Session 1: Office PC + Edge
Session 2: Laptop + Edge

Trying to open Merchanter in Chrome on another device would then exceed the two-session limit.

Similarly, if a Trade Counter login is already being used on one PC, trying to use the same login on another PC will exceed its one-session limit.

I have closed Merchanter – why can't I log in again?

Normally, closing your Merchanter browser tab or window will end the session. However, there can be situations where a session takes a short time to be released, particularly if the browser or device has closed unexpectedly or lost its connection.

If you have definitely stopped using Merchanter on another device and are still unable to log in, wait a short while and try again.

If the problem persists, please contact your Merchanter support team and we can help identify the active session.

A useful thing to remember

Opening another tab does not use another session.

The session limit applies to the combination of device + browser, not to the number of Merchanter tabs you have open.

So, if you need to work with several areas of Merchanter at once, opening additional tabs in the same browser is absolutely fine.

Summary

One session = one device + one browser.

You can open as many Merchanter tabs as you like within that browser without using additional sessions.

Why have we introduced this?

The session limits help us maintain better control over system access and ensure that Merchanter logins are being used appropriately. They also help prevent a single login from being inadvertently used across a large number of devices at the same time.

For most users, this change should have no noticeable effect on normal use of Merchanter.