Using password fields

You can control access to a form using a password field and a script. The password field provides a number of options:

  • A character-masking option that enables you to specify a character that masks the data the user enters. The password itself does not display in the password field

  • An edit pattern, which describes the syntax for entering data into the password field at run time

  • A validation pattern, which is used to validate user input at run time

  • A setting that specifies the password field as required, recommended, or optional, and includes a message for prompting users to enter a recommended or required value

Note: The capture of information and the display of characters in the field is for visual purposes only. No attempt is made to hide the value of the field from the programming interfaces or when submitting data. If you want to secure your information, you must use a secure link (such as SSL) to encrypt the data as it is transmitted.

To add a password field in an interactive form

  1. In the Object Library palette, click the Standard category and drag a Password Field object onto the form design.

  2. Using the Layout, Font, Paragraph, and Border palettes, set the properties you want for the password field.

  3. Add a validation pattern that will be used to validate the password and the message that will appear if the password is not a valid format.

  4. (Optional) Change the default masking character.

  5. Add any binding information as required.

  6. Save and test the form design.

To change the password display character

The password display character that appears by default when a user enters a password is the asterisk symbol (*). You can change this symbol in the Password Display Character option of the Object palette Field tab.

In the Object palette, click the Field tab, select the default symbol (*) in Password Display Character, and type the replacement character; for example, type # .

To specify an input format and validation message

You can include a validation pattern that is used to validate user input at run time and a message to prompt the user to re-enter the password if the format is not a valid pattern. When a user enters a new password, it is compared it to the validation pattern. If the pattern does not match, a message appears.

You can dynamically populate a validation pattern message with a value from a data source. This option allows you to ensure that users enter the correct value in the field.

  1. In the Object palette, click the Value tab, click Validation Pattern, and do the following actions:

    • In the Select Type list, select a validation pattern or, in the Pattern box, type a custom pattern.

    • In the Validation Pattern Message box, type a message that will prompt users to enter the correct value.

  2. To generate an error at run time, select Error.

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