this.User.Identity.Name.ToString();

The db that contains all the users, as set up using aspnet_regsql.exe. The database that stores all the photos is a seperate db. To get data from this db i need the userID Rather than running a query after authentication to gain the userID, is it returned at authentication, or is it just the username thats returned?

fintag:

To get data from this db i need the userID Rather than running a query after authentication to gain the userID, is it returned at authentication, or is it just the username thats returned?

I don't understand what you mean by this?

And you don't need to convert Name to ToString(). Just User.Identity.Name is enough.

string userID = user.ProviderUserKey.ToString(); //ProviderUserKey~UserId in aspnetdb database

 this is exactly what i wanted. i didnt want to have to query the database after login, and could only find the username. thanks a mil all.