log in pages - unsure if its programming or web design

[buzzby]

i have a site and i want to put a log in page within my site rather than have the custom xp type login in page pop up window. i have done the .htaccess and .htpasswd files. i have tested them and they work. i want to marry the 2 together in that i can put a log in in a certain area of my page and then when the user inputs his/her username and password i want the user to go to the protected area. how different is doing this in a customised way different from the standard pop up window?

[devinemke]

if you are using .htaccess authentication and you are running PHP as an Apache module then you have the username/password in $SERVER['PHP_AUTH_USER'] and $SERVER['PHP_AUTH_PW'] respectively. If you are using PHP CGI then you have to create your own login form.