Microsoft Knowledge Base

Excel: Cannot Mask Password in Custom Dialog Box
Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
Article ID: Q103127
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a
  • Microsoft Excel for OS/2, version 3.0
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, it is not possible to mask or conceal characters that are entered in a custom dialog box.

MORE INFORMATION

Sometimes a computer program will display "masking characters," such as asterisks or dots, when you enter a password. These masking characters prevent others from reading a password from over your shoulder as you enter it (the masking characters are displayed instead of the actual characters you type).

Because of the way in which custom dialog boxes work in Microsoft Excel, it is not possible to implement a system such as this in a custom dialog box.

Example

To see an example of how masking characters are used to conceal a password:

  1. From the Options menu, choose Protect Document.

  2. In the Protect Document dialog box, enter a password in the Password box.

As you type, the characters you type are not shown. Instead, asterisks (in Microsoft Excel for Windows and Microsoft Excel for OS/2) or dots (in Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh) will be displayed.

  1. Choose the Cancel button to cancel the document protection procedure.

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 2.10 2.20 3.00 3.0a 3.00a 4.00 security
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Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.