Safari Automatic Log out??

Question

We have our iMac set to log out automatically after 10 minutes of inactivity, but lately it has been shutting down everything we have open including Safari and iPhoto which can be very annoying when you're working on a project or keeping tabs on an auction, etc. Question is, how can we get the computer to "time out" and require a password to log back in but still keep our programs open? Essentially, like "locking" a Windows computer... or is there a separate option to close programs automatically also that we might have accidentally activated?
Thanks!

Answer 1

I do not know much about "locking" a PC, hvdel, but if you are still using Snow Leopard, in System Preferences, in the Security pane, under the General tab, there is a setting to automatically log out after X minutes of inactivity. Near the top of that pane, there is a check box that allows you to require a password after sleep or the screen saver begins.
If you log out, any open programs must close.  However, you can put the computer to sleep and that will not quit any programs.
So what you can do is uncheck the automatic log out option and instead use the Energy Saver options in System Preferences to put the computer to sleep after 10 minutes.  Then you can go to the General tab in the Security settings pane and check the box requiring a password immediately after sleep or screen saver begins.
Then the computer will go to sleep, but no one can wake it up without a password.  So, in effect, you are locking the computer without logging out.