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From: nortond@mosys.UUCP (Daniel A. Norton)
Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng,comp.unix.xenix,comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: Request for human interface design anecdotes
Message-ID: <151@mosys.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 23-Nov-87 15:07:52 EST
Article-I.D.: mosys.151
Posted: Mon Nov 23 15:07:52 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 26-Nov-87 03:18:14 EST
References: <101@ateng.UUCP> <1402@cuuxb.ATT.COM> <1689@rayssd.RAY.COM> <3032@phri.UUCP> <834@nesac2.UUCP>
Reply-To: nortond@mosys.UUCP (Daniel A. Norton)
Organization: Momentum Systems Corp., Cherry Hill, NJ
Lines: 23
Summary: SYSV.3 passwords
Xref: mnetor comp.cog-eng:315 comp.unix.xenix:1206 comp.unix.wizards:5565

Distribution:



On the version of Unix V.3 here (CTIX), when a new user enters a
password he/she will invariably choose a password of less than
six characters, to which the system replies:

	Password is too short - must be at least 6 digits

Fortunately, they do not usually notice the word "digits" (as
opposed to characters).  Unfortunately, when they attempt to
satisfy the program, it usually replies:

	Password must contain at least two alphabetic characters and
	at least one numeric or special character.

In other words, the first "help" message was not specific enough
as to the password requirements.  I would not expect a BNF description
of what to type in here, we must assume that the user has _some_
intuition, but seriously folks.
-- 
Daniel A. Norton				nortond@mosys.UUCP
c/o Momentum Systems Corporation	     ...uunet!mosys!nortond
2 Keystone Avenue
Cherry Hill, NJ   08003 			609/424-0734