access to certain fields

[lrcarey]

Hi,

I'm not sure this is exactly the right topic in which to post this question, but here goes...

I have a field for social security number. Because the database is being hosted over a network, I want to make that

information as secure as possible. I'd like to have the entered ssn show up as x's or bullets or something that masks the

actual number. Then I'd like to have a separate password that allows access to that information.

When I tried to set up a mask for the ssn, it would show up as x's, but if I tabbed into the field, it would show the number

again, so I must have set that part up wrong.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give,

Leah

[LiveOak]

Along with password access, you need to setup field level access by creating groups to go with passwords. This level of security allows you to control which layouts and fields can be seen by which groups.

-bd

[CobaltSky]

What I suggest you do is create a calculating text field with a formula along the lines of: Right("********************************", Length(SocSecNum)).

Then place this field exactly over the top of your soc sec number field, after first turning off the "Allow entry into field" option for both of them.

Last, create a script which asks for the password, and if it is given correctly, executes a Go to Field ["SocSecNum"] step - then attach the script (using 'specify button') to the calculating field.

That way users will see the bullet mask field until they click on the field. When they do, and provide the correct password, they will be taken to the SocSecNum field, which will jump to the front and display its contents, allowing them to view and edit it. It will remain visible until they click out of the record, at which point it will disappear behind the calculating bullet mask field again.

[lrcarey]

CobaltSky,

Thank you for your suggestion. I just tried to implement it and I have two questions:

1. Is there a way to get the script to ask for a password? I just created a separate field called "SSN password" and set the script up to check the entry in that field to see if it matches the script and then set the field back to " " if it matches and gives clearance, but it seems like there should be a more elegant way to do this.

2. When I click in any other field on the page, my bullets disappear and the SSN is visible again. If I click out of a field, the bullets come back. Is there something in the field format that I haven't set up correctly? The mask is opaque white with no entry allowed.

Thank you again,

Leah