---
title: "5.3 Logging In Forgot Password"
slug: "53-logging-in-forgot-password-1"
updated: 2026-10-29T17:05:25Z
published: 2026-10-29T17:05:25Z
canonical: "wiki.cobblestonesoftware.com/53-logging-in-forgot-password-1"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://wiki.cobblestonesoftware.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# 5.3 Logging In Forgot Password

**COBBLESTONE SOFTWARE**

Contract Insight — User Guide

**5.3 Logging In Forgot Password**

*Module: Vendor/Client Gateway › Step 5: Vendors/Clients on the Gateway › 5.3 Logging In Forgot Password*

**Note:** Each procedure in this guide begins at the Contract Insight homepage, so any section can be followed on its own. Custom fields are configurable, so the exact field list on a contract category record may vary between environments.

# 1. Overview

**Sign-in** behavior for the Gateway is set on the VCG **Sign-in** tab's **VCG Login Method** dropdown (**Standard** or **Simplified**), with an optional second **Multifactor authentication for Gateway users** step layered on top when **Require a second step at sign-in** is turned on. A forgot-password flow sends a Password Reset email, whose subject and closing content are editable under Settings → Emails.

# 2. Key Elements

- VCG → **Sign-in** tab → **VCG Login Method** switches between **Standard** and **Simplified** login screens.
- **Multifactor authentication for Gateway users**, when enabled, adds an emailed or texted verification code after the password.
- **Password Reset Emails Title** and **Password Reset Emails Body End** (VCG Settings → Emails) control the reset email's subject and closing text.
- **Show/Hide Login Captcha** (VCG Settings → General) adds a captcha challenge to the sign-in screen itself.
- **VCG Password Reset Timeout Duration** (VCG Settings → General) sets how long a reset link stays valid, in minutes (default 20, maximum 1440).
- Passwords can only be reset for **active** contact accounts (see 4.2 Activating a Company Contact Account).

# 3. Navigating to the Vendor/Client Gateway Settings

1. From the Contract Insight homepage, click the **Administration** (settings) icon at the bottom of the left navigation bar.
2. In the **Search administration** box, type **Gateway**.
3. Click **Vendor/Client Gateway (VCG)**.

![Administration page with the Gateway search and Vendor/Client Gateway (VCG) tile highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/vcg-01-admin-search.jpg)

The Vendor/Client Gateway (VCG) page opens on the **Settings** tab. Changes on this page are not applied until you click **Save changes**; click **Discard** to undo them.

# 4. Configuring Gateway Sign-in

## 4a. Choosing the VCG Login Method

1. On the Vendor/Client Gateway (VCG) page, click the **Sign-in** tab.
2. Under **Gateway Login Method**, locate the **VCG Login Method** dropdown.

![VCG Sign-in tab with VCG Login Method, Multifactor authentication, and Save changes highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/vcg-02-signin-tab.jpg)

1. Open the **VCG Login Method** dropdown and select **Standard** or **Simplified**.
2. Click **Save changes**.

![VCG Login Method dropdown showing Simplified and Standard, with Give each a name of their own highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/vcg-03-login-method.jpg)

**Note:** Simplified sign-in can't be switched on while two or more contacts share the same sign-in name. When this happens, the Sign-in tab lists the affected contacts, the name each **Would become**, and whether they **Will be emailed**. Click **Give each a name of their own** to rename them; each contact with an email address is emailed their new sign-in name.

## 4b. Requiring Multifactor Authentication

1. On the **Sign-in** tab, click **Multifactor authentication for Gateway users**. The Multifactor Authentication page opens with **Vendors & clients (Gateway)** selected.
2. Turn on **Require a second step at sign-in**. When this is off, nothing else on the page has any effect and people sign in with a password alone.
3. Under **How people are verified**, tick one or more methods: **Email a code**, **Text a code**, **Text, then email**, or **Email, then text**. Each method you tick is applied.
4. Optionally adjust **The verification code** settings (length and allowed characters).
5. Click **Save changes**.

![Multifactor Authentication page with Vendors & clients (Gateway), Require a second step at sign-in, verification methods, and Save changes highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/vcg-04-mfa.jpg)

# 5. Configuring Password Reset Settings

## 5a. Customizing the Password Reset Email

1. On the Vendor/Client Gateway (VCG) page, click the **Settings** tab and scroll to the **Emails** section.
2. In **Password Reset Emails Title**, enter the subject line for the reset email.
3. Next to **Password Reset Emails Body End**, click **Edit content** to change the closing text of the email.
4. Click **Save changes** at the top of the page.

![Emails section with Password Reset Emails Body End and Password Reset Emails Title highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/vcg-05-password-reset-emails.jpg)

## 5b. Setting the Login Captcha and Reset Link Timeout

1. On the **Settings** tab, scroll to the **General** section.
2. Turn **Show/Hide Login Captcha** on to show a captcha on the Gateway sign-in screen.
3. In **VCG Password Reset Timeout Duration**, enter how many minutes a reset link stays valid (default 20, maximum 1440).
4. Click **Save changes** at the top of the page.

![General section with Gateway Website Address, Show/Hide Login Captcha, and VCG Password Reset Timeout Duration highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/vcg-06-general-captcha-timeout.jpg)

**Tip:** The **Gateway Website Address** in the same section shows the URL vendors and clients use to reach the Gateway. It is set and maintained by the system.

# 6. Logging In to the Gateway

Vendors and clients sign in from the Gateway Website Address.

1. Enter your **Username**, **Password**, and **Company ID**.
2. Check **I have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions**.
3. Click **Sign In**. If multifactor authentication is required, enter the verification code sent to you to finish signing in.

![Gateway Sign In panel with Username, Password, Company ID, Forgot Password, Terms and Conditions, and Sign In highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/vcg-07-gateway-signin.jpg)

# 7. Resetting a Forgotten Password

1. On the Gateway sign-in panel, click **Forgot Password?**.
2. On the **Reset Password** page, enter your **Username** and **Company ID**.
3. Click **Send Reset Link**.
4. Open the Password Reset email and follow the link to set a new password before it expires.

![Reset Password page with Username, Company ID, Please Note, and Send Reset Link highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/vcg-08-reset-password.jpg)

**Note:** Passwords can only be reset for active accounts. Reset emails are time sensitive and expire after the **VCG Password Reset Timeout Duration** (20 minutes by default). If the link has expired, repeat these steps to send a new one.

# 8. Quick Reference Summary

| Task | How to Complete It |
| --- | --- |
| Open the Gateway settings | Administration → search **Gateway** → **Vendor/Client Gateway (VCG)**. |
| Change the login method | VCG → **Sign-in** tab → **VCG Login Method** → Standard or Simplified → **Save changes**. |
| Require multifactor authentication | VCG → **Sign-in** tab → **Multifactor authentication for Gateway users** → turn on **Require a second step at sign-in** → choose methods → **Save changes**. |
| Edit the password reset email | VCG → **Settings** tab → **Emails** → **Password Reset Emails Title** / **Body End** → **Save changes**. |
| Show a captcha on sign-in | VCG → **Settings** tab → **General** → **Show/Hide Login Captcha** → **Save changes**. |
| Change how long reset links last | VCG → **Settings** tab → **General** → **VCG Password Reset Timeout Duration** → **Save changes**. |
| Reset a forgotten password (vendor/client) | Gateway sign-in → **Forgot Password?** → enter Username and Company ID → **Send Reset Link**. |