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...for a database front end.
Basically, user needs to enter password into a text field which triggers a script to compare against the stored password. Got the script working but I need a font which will display all characters as dots or asterisks for data entry.
Any ideas?
what is the front end written in? using a font in this way sounds like a bad idea
what is the environment? Web? Windows Forms? Windows CLI? Unix?
edit - beat me to it!
Rachel
Wingdings ?
What are you using to write this front end?
You do realise that most user interface platforms can do this automatically for passwords, don't you?
In HTML it's <input type="password" ... />
This will probably also stop you from copying and pasting out of the field...
I can create a ttf font for you if you like 🙂
Just asterisks for example on every key.
Mail me if interested 🙂
^^ What molgrips said
If it's Visual Basic, I think text boxes have an Input Mask property you can use
It's being implemented in Filemaker Pro (version 11).
The font is only needed for data entry. The copy/paste issue does vex me a little but it's an interim solution until I can get to grips with proper security with the database being accessed from a server via a browser.
I can have file-level security implemented via the DBMS but that doesn't suit my purpose of presenting context-dependent data to each registered user.
redthunder - if you can do that for me I'd be very grateful.
YGM
There'll be an option for this. Use the manual, don't do this crappy hack.
It is a crappy hack molgrips, but I can't find anything in the manual...
Show Custom Dialog
Purpose
Displays a custom message dialog box, with custom text and labels.
Format
Show Custom Dialog [<title>; <message text>; Table1::input field 1;...] Options
Click Specify to display the “Show Custom Dialog” Options dialog box, where you can set the dialog box title, message text, and buttons, and specify up to three fields to use for input or display.
General options
• Title lets you specify the title of the custom dialog box. You can enter literal text or click
Specify to create the dialog box title from a calculation.
• Message lets you specify the message of the dialog box.You can enter literal text or
click Specify to create the message text from a calculation.
??FILEMAKER SCRIPT STEPS REFERENCE 143
• Button Labels let you specify how many buttons (up to three) to display in the custom dialog box and labels for these buttons. If you leave a button label blank, the button does not appear in the custom dialog box. If you leave all button titles blank, an OK button displays in the lower-right corner of the custom dialog box.
Input Field options
• Select Show input field <n> to activate an input field.
• Select Specify to choose the field for input. Each input area maps to one field.
• [b]Select Use password character (*) to mask text as it is entered, or as it is displayed from the database.[/b] This option obscures data being input into the custom dialog box or being displayed, but does not alter the actual data as it is stored in the database.
• Use Label to specify a field label (the text that will identify this input to the user.) You can enter literal text or create the label from a calculation.
from FileMaker® Pro 11 Script Steps Reference -
Any help?
Rachel
dammit - molgrips can copy/paste quicker than me!!!
Rachel
Hehe 🙂
I don't even know what Filemaker pro is, but I now know how to make password entry fields in it 🙂
Thanks for all the help guys/girls...
However, I've been here already (sorry - should have provided more info...)
I can get it to work very elegantly by using dialog boxes BUT they are not compatible with Filemaker running over a server or via a browser so it needs to be done via a simple text field.
I KNOW I need to re-think the way I'm going about this...
You almost certainly do 🙂
I'd ask more questions about your app but I am going to bed 🙂 Rachel will take over now until the wee small hours.
Code review tomorrow morning, pop round my desk before 10 please.
If it is accessed remotely, you'll need to install the font on EVERY remote computer that might access the app - this is not going to be manageable long term (people have a habit of changing things without telling you)
It's gonna hurt if you go the font route.
Rachel
Yup - I realise this and was looking for an interim fix only but it looks like I need to do this via the proper DBMS security rather than trying to implement a (probably flawed) ersatz system.
Back to the drawing board...
Sorry - I think you're right...
Rachel
Thanks Rachel - I suspected I was wrong in what I was trying to do and now I'm sure that I am 😥
Here you go, please note as mentioned it's not very secure and it is only visual.
http://www.black2colour.com/?p=67
Shameless Plug:
Also, I can also do as TTF's such things as logos, signatures, complete fonts including custom handwritten ones 😀
Got it installed now redthunder - thanks again for taking the time to do that!
It gives me proof-of-concept for now until I can deal with the issue of proper security once I have the application up and running properly.

