Random password generator help

**Reddhotpoker** · 08-24-2017, 08:29 AM

If there is a thread that already exists for this, I'm having a hard time finding it.

Looking for a quick, easy function that I can use to generate a randomized 12 character password out of upper and lower case letters, 0-9 numbers and special characters.

I have a website I have to login to for work and the password needs to be changed often so looking for something I can just click a button or something and then copy and paste the password to reset it. It won't let you use anything you've used in the past 5 years and it can't contain any "sequential" letters that spell out a word.

I thought this might be easier than keeping track of all the passwords I've used in the past 5 years and going through the list every time to make sure the new one doesn't match any of the old ones.

Thanks in advance!

**shg** · 08-24-2017, 08:46 AM

Here's what I use. Passwords from 1 to 12 characters, and each character can be taken from any of several symbol groups.

**Reddhotpoker** · 08-24-2017, 08:59 AM

Damn, that was fast!

Thanks so much!

**shg** · 08-24-2017, 03:57 PM

and it can't contain any "sequential" letters that spell out a word.

FYI, NIST no longer recommends ridiculous, impossible-to-remember passwords, and passphrases are now perfectly acceptable. From NIST Special Publication 800-63B, Digital Identity Guidelines:

This section is normative.

<...>

5.1.1.1 Memorized Secret Authenticators

Memorized secrets SHALL be at least 8 characters in length if chosen by the subscriber. Memorized secrets chosen randomly by the CSP or verifier SHALL be at least 6 characters in length and MAY be entirely numeric. <....> No other complexity requirements for memorized secrets SHOULD be imposed.

MyDogHasFleas would be golden.

Tell that to your IT department.

**shg** · 10-22-2017, 07:02 PM

Since I read the NIST report, I decided to add a passphrase generator. Here's some sample output:

	J
4	HisStableOutlyingFold
5	YourOrangeHonoredGuidance
6	ThatProbableThriftyPeople
7	TheseWaterloggedSubduedAngers
8	ThatAliveAgonizingUncle
9	TheseHumbleAnyTargets
10	YourAltruisticSourHang
11	YourStarchyShort-TermAnalysis
12	ThatPassionateFewOffice
13	TheGrownGullibleHorror
14	YourBountifulUnfoldedTeach
15	ThatPuzzledIllustriousBrave
16	HisInsubstantialVagueAudience
17	MyPreciousColossalClock
18	MyConsiderateStickyStudent

You can add your own list of possessives, adjectives, nouns, whatever.

**Radnor69** · 12-04-2019, 11:12 AM

Hello. I'm a new member. I saw your post and attachment (72.0 KB file) for creating a passphrase. It is a nice app.

I know this is an old post, but I thought I would try for a reply from you.

Since I don't use a Personal.xls file in XLSTART I was wondering if there was a way to get the 'cat' function in your passphrase Module1 to work without this file. It seems like the generated phrase in col J depends on info in the personal.xls file. If I can create another .xls file and place it in the same folder as the .xlsm file with the needed info then that will probably work. Thanks.

**kev_** · 10-23-2017, 03:38 AM

@shg - a way to generate passwords that are memorable - superb

That was the easy starter on this project.
- your next task is to educate all the "old school" brigade to desist from requiring minimum one special character and one number

**shg** · 02-05-2018, 12:28 PM

( deleted )

**Kyle123** · 02-05-2018, 03:09 PM

why not use a password manager? fwiw I use Enpass. Passphrases are great, but you still have to remember them, and most sites will not accept them.

**shg** · 12-04-2019, 12:46 PM

Oops:

Function Cat(vInp As Variant, _
             Optional sSep As String = ",", _
             Optional bCatEmpty As Boolean = False) As String
  ' Catenates the elements of vInp separated by sSep
  ' Empty values and null strings are ignored unless bCatEmpty is True

  Dim vItem         As Variant
  Dim sItem         As String

  If bCatEmpty Then
    For Each vItem In vInp
      Cat = Cat & CStr(vItem) & sSep
    Next vItem

  Else
    For Each vItem In vInp
      sItem = CStr(vItem)
      If Len(sItem) Then Cat = Cat & sItem & sSep
    Next vItem
  End If

  If Len(Cat) Then Cat = Left(Cat, Len(Cat) - Len(sSep))
End Function

**shg** · 12-04-2019, 12:55 PM

That code is actually in the file. Change the formula in J4 from

='C:\Users\shg\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART\Personal.xls'!Cat(F4:I4, "") & IF(F4 = "these", "s", "")

to just

=Cat(F4:I4, "") & IF(F4 = "these", "s", "")

... and copy down.

**Radnor69** · 12-05-2019, 07:49 AM

I tried that and the cells J4-J18 in the .xlsm file indicate an error '#NAME?'.

I tried entering the word 'these' in cell F4 in the .xlsm file and Excel still indicates '#NAME?' in J4.

Is there some other data that the .xlsm file is dependent on and that contains the 'Possessives'
such as these, our etc...?

If so can you show an example of the format of this data as it may appear in the Personal.xls file.

**shg** · 12-05-2019, 01:08 PM

Here's the workbook with the formula fixed.

**Radnor69** · 12-06-2019, 09:52 AM

OK, I got it to work by editing cells J4-J18 to eliminate the reference to the START folder as
you recommended in one of your posts to:

=cat(F5:I5, "") & IF(F5 = 'these', "s", "")

etc... from J4 to J18.

I then copied the revised EF000000-PasswordGen.xlsm file to the START folder, and the app worked.
Pressing F9 then changed the pass phrases as designed.

However, it will only run if the EF000000-PasswordGen.xlsm file is in the START folder. I don't want this
file to run every time I start Excel so I tried updating the internal link referring to Personal.xls in
the original file, but Excel will not let me change this.

Thanks for your help with this. I'll try to get this to work in folders other than START, but will
have to read up on updating links in Excel which apparently is not my strong point.

**shg** · 12-06-2019, 12:04 PM

That's a very stubborn link.

Change the formula in J4 to

=Module1.Cat(F4:I4, "")

... and copy down.

Then Data > Edit Links, Break Link (if there is still one there).

**Radnor69** · 12-07-2019, 08:42 AM

That did the trick. After breaking the link I copied the formula:

=Module1.Cat(F4:I4, "") & IF(F4 = "these", "s", "")

I added the IF to take care of the possessive in F4.

I saved the file and Excel displayed a message box indicating that:

"You have modified a signed project. You do not have the correct key to sign the project..."

It allowed me to cancel or save it. I saved it.

It now runs from any folder.

I've been looking for a pass phrase project, and this is a nice app. Thanks for providing it & your help.

Btw, I have some experience with coding in Excel and Access, mostly from work related projects when I
was employed. I'm now retired, and a bit rusty, however, as it has been several years, but I still like
to dabble in it once in a while.

Random password generator help

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Rate This Thread

Display

Hybrid View

Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Re: Random password generator help

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Similar Threads

[SOLVED] Random password generator?

Random Password Generator, no VBA

Random Name generator VBA

IF statement to evaluate result of random number generator to generate next random number

[SOLVED] Random # Generator

[SOLVED] Random Password Generator

Random Password generator

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions