Using the Password checkbox

If the input key sequence was automatically encrypted during macro recording, then when you look at the Input action in the Macro Editor, the Password checkbox is selected (checked) and the String field contains some number of asterisks (such as ******) representing the encrypted input key sequence.

In contrast, if the input key sequence was not automatically encrypted during macro recording (perhaps because the session was not a 3270 or 5250 display session, or perhaps because the input field was not a non-display input field) then the Password checkbox is cleared (not checked) and the String field contains some unencrypted input key sequence.

If the input key sequence was not automatically encrypted during macro recording, you can encrypt it in the Macro Editor. Follow these steps to encrypt the input key sequence. Before you start, clear (uncheck) the Password checkbox if it is not already cleared.
  1. If the input key sequence that you want is not already present in the String field, type the input key sequence into the String field.
    • The input key sequence appears normally in the String field (for example, 'myPassWord').
    • If you are using the advanced macro format, remember to enclose the input key sequence in single quotes ('myPassWord').
  2. Select the Password checkbox.
    • The Macro Editor encrypts the input key sequence and displays it in the String field using asterisks (***********************).
If you want to create an encrypted input key sequence, but you do not want the input key sequence to be displayed in unencrypted form as you type it into the String field, use the following method:
  1. Clear the String field if it is not already empty.
  2. Select the Password checkbox.
  3. Type the input key sequence into the String field.
    • If you are using the advanced macro format, remember to enclose the input key sequence in single quotes ('myPassWord').
    • As you type into the String field, the Macro Editor displays the characters using asterisks ('myPassword' is displayed as ************).
    • When the input focus leaves the String field (that is, when you click some other field) then the Macro Editor encrypts the input key sequence.

After the input key sequence is encrypted, you may decide that you do not want it to be encrypted or that you want to revise it.

If the input key sequence is encrypted and you decide that you do not want it to be encrypted, then follow these steps:
  1. Clear the Password checkbox.
    • The Macro Editor discards the encrypted string and clears the String field.
    • If for some reason the String field is not cleared, then delete the characters in it using the backspace key or the delete key.
  2. Type the unencrypted input key sequence into the String field.
If the input key sequence is encrypted and you decide that you want to revise it, follow these steps:
  1. Clear the String field using the backspace key or the delete key.
    • Delete the entire encrypted input key sequence, so that the field is empty.
  2. Type the revised input key sequence into the String field.
    • If you are using the advanced macro format, remember to enclose the input key sequence in single quotes ('myPassWord').
    • As you type into the String field, the Macro Editor displays the characters using asterisks ('myPassword' is displayed as ************).
    • When the input focus leaves the String field (that is, when you click some other field) then the Macro Editor encrypts the input key sequence.

Do not try to revise an encrypted input key sequence by typing over or inserting characters into the string of asterisks in the String field (*******)! If you do, then you corrupt the encrypted input key sequence with your unencrypted revisions. Then the Macro Editor, believing that you have typed in an unencrypted string, re-encrypts the corrupted sequence. The result is that during macro playback, when the macro runtime processes the Input action, the decrypted sequence is not the input key sequence that you expected. (Also, if you are using the advanced macro format and you do not enclose the corrupted input key sequence with single quotes, the Macro Editor generates an error message).