How can I set the password for an Outlook Express e-mail account,
using VB6? I created a program to manage all user settings (for the
ISP I work for) but I am unable to set the password. I know there is
a way to do this, possibly using a call to rundll32.exe, But the
person who knows, will not tell me. |
Request for Question Clarification by
axe-ga
on
21 May 2002 16:55 PDT
Freddyt:
Are you talking about using an .ins file here, or setting the password
programatically? The latter is impossible due to OE not being an
automation server.
Axe
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Clarification of Question by
freddyt-ga
on
21 May 2002 17:08 PDT
Hello,
We already use .ins files to create accounts but the program I created
allows you to modify your existing e-mail accounts or create a new
one. A small problem with using .ins files is the need for the user
to confirm the system setting changes. Do you know if it's possible
to create an .ins file that will only create the e-mail account? The
problem I see is that it must also create a dialup account when run.
The reason I need this is because we provide 5 pop3 e-mail accounts
and it is too much work for us to attempt to setup more than 1 pop3
account. If I could re-create the account (including password) from
the start it would be enough to slide by.
I can verify this is possible because <a href="<a href="http://www.ispwizard.com">http://www.ispwizard.com</a>"><a href="http://www.ispwizard.com">www.ispwizard.com</a></a> has the
functionality but as stated before this person will not assist me in
completing my goal. He is a really nice guy but won't give up his
secrets :)
Thank you for your time!
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Clarification of Question by
freddyt-ga
on
21 May 2002 20:06 PDT
I do know this method was found on the internet with a lot of
searching but the hint or tip I need to find it is not available!
This might help you, it's like a riddle to me, this is what I was told
about my question.
&lt;response&gt;
I couldn't find any information on how to set the Outlook Express
password specifically, although I did find some info that gave me an
idea on how to attack the problem and I managed to work it out from
there.
Since ISPWizard is the only program that I know of that can save the
Outlook Express password, I can't really give out the secret on how to
do it - sorry.
&lt;/response&gt;
I asked again and again and this is another response.
&lt;second-response&gt;
It's a bit hard to put a dollar figure on it. As you can probably
realize, once the secret is out of the bag it's a bit hard to control.
Although I don't expect you to actually do so, there really wouldn't
be
anything I could do to stop you from selling the secret on to my
competitors. I know it sounds a bit paranoid, but as Intel's Craig
Barret (I think) said: &quot;Only the paranoid survive&quot;
If I knew of any other programs that had the feature, then it wouldn't
be as bad since it wouldn't be a complete secret. Also, in some ways
it
would actually be better if you were going to be selling your software
since you would have motivation to not give it out to my (or your)
competitors.
I'd be curious to find out more info on the project that you're
working
on. From the sound of it, you've also spent a fair bit of time on
this
and so you should at least have some understanding of why I'm so
reluctant to give out this info. If you want to make an offer, I
promise that I'll consider it but I won't guarantee that I'll accept
it.
&lt;/second-response&gt;
This all started exactly 1 year ago !!! I'm going to raise the value
of this question :)
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Clarification of Question by
freddyt-ga
on
21 May 2002 20:11 PDT
One last thing, that I word you used, what was it IMPOSSIBLE? That
word is not in my vocabulary! In life anything is possible with 2
things; Time and Money.
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Request for Question Clarification by
lucason-ga
on
31 May 2002 11:14 PDT
I'm a bit confused by your question. Are you tring to set the password
server side? So you can manage the accounts with your program? Or are
you talking about automatically setting the prefferences client side?
If it server side your talking about I'm guessing it's the pop3 user
account your triing to set up right? In that case I'd need to know the
mail server software you are using. Is it exchange 5 or 2000 on NT4 or
W2000? If you are using W2000 are you using active directory services?
If I'm on the wrong track understanding your question please let me
know.
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Clarification of Question by
freddyt-ga
on
31 May 2002 18:36 PDT
No, I want to set the Outlook Express Password for the Outlook Express
e-mail account exactly as worded in my question. We use ODBC for our
e-mail so setting a pop3 password is not the issue here!
Freddy
P.S.
Redwings win 7-0 !!!
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Clarification of Question by
freddyt-ga
on
31 May 2002 18:53 PDT
One more thing I should clarify, I should not have even mentioned VB6
because I will accept any way to do this you can come up with! I am
very flexible.
Thank you.
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There is one way to do it using Microsoft AQL Servr Digital Dashboard
3.0 as this provides extensive customization to Outloook without too
much of a probleml I used this for a client a couple of years ago and
it worked out pretty well for me. The download link is
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=29414. Note
you need 2000 professional with IIS and SQL Server, both of which are
freebies if you already have 2000 professional. A more specific link
is the one dealing with Web Parts and Dashboard. This is
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/modcore/html/deconAddingWebPartsByUsingOfficeDeveloperDigitalDashboardProjects.asp
HTH
Bob |
Request for Answer Clarification by
freddyt-ga
on
03 Jun 2002 19:42 PDT
I am not sure if this solution is acceptable. I am looking to set the
password for Outlook Express, not Outlook (from Office). I know about
INS files and the limitations they bring so I am open to any other
suggestions! I downloaded the SQL Dashboard to see what it can do for
me and if there is some way to solve my problem I'll report back here.
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Clarification of Answer by
remoran-ga
on
04 Jun 2002 09:41 PDT
This might help you out. VBnet <a href="<a href="http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/">http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/</a>"><a href="http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/">http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/</a></a> contains a
wealth of visual basic information, including info on rundll32.exe.
This link, <a href="<a href="http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/index.html?code/comctl/tbarie5prob.htm">http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/index.html?code/comctl/tbarie5prob.htm</a>"><a href="http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/index.html?code/comctl/tbarie5prob.htm">http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/index.html?code/comctl/tbarie5prob.htm</a></a>
explains how rundll32.works and how to write your own DLL.
<a href="<a href="http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/index.html?code/comctl/tbarie5prob.htm">http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/index.html?code/comctl/tbarie5prob.htm</a>"><a href="http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/index.html?code/comctl/tbarie5prob.htm">http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/index.html?code/comctl/tbarie5prob.htm</a></a> shows
how to display password properties &quot;module: PASSWORD.CPL
command: rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL password.cpl
result: displays the Passwords properties, Change Passwords tab &quot;
Hopefully, this will solve your problem.
Bob
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Request for Answer Clarification by
freddyt-ga
on
09 Jun 2002 06:02 PDT
This won't work for me but it looks like it's too late. Google
already charged my credit card and the answer you gave me was way out
of the ballpark! First of all, I have been to
<a href="<a href="http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/">http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/</a>"><a href="http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/">http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/</a></a> many times before. My answer is not on
this website. The second link you provided is regarding the IE5
Toolbar problem and has NOTHING TO DO WITH OUTLOOK EXPRESS. And
finally the third link is
Why is it sooo impossible to get the answers you want? I ask about
Outlook Express and I receive every answer besides the one I am
looking for :) Please send me a screen shot of how to change the
OUTLOOK EXPRESS PASSWORD THROUGH THE CONTROL PANEL! I HAVE TO SEE IT!
I WANT A REFUND!
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Clarification of Answer by
remoran-ga
on
09 Jun 2002 09:53 PDT
freddyt-ga
Answer Clarification
I am sorry you did not accept my answer but what I have done is
suggest to Google that a "Release Answer" button be implemented as
quickly as possible in order for other researchers to get a shot at
answering questions submitted by people such as yourself. This Release
Answer function would be keyed to the Qualification request expressed
by people who are submitting questions as this would provide a
graceful way of reopening the answer to other researchers without loss
of face. My expertise is not programming but user interface and
document management systems design. I understand front ends very well
and see problems with system
that are not properly designed from the user perspective. After using
this service for a while, (it is beta after all) I do see problems and
this is a real biggie that has to be corrected both to protect you
from being unfairly charged and researchers from getting bad reviews.
I made the mistake of trying to help in a area I am not fully versed
and, unfortunately, the system does not allow an
exit. strategy to happen. I do know the Google team reviews these
documents very carefully and will see my repeated request for a answer
release button option in this clarify Answer file.
On another note, the Ispwizard, <a href="http://www.ispwizard.com/">http://www.ispwizard.com/</a> is truly a
wizard because I have spent at least 3-4 hours on this qualification
document researching Outlook Express and custom PW generation for
ISPs. This problem is obviously MS related because linux and unix and
Apache do not have this type of problem regarding dialup and PW
security.
Lastly, I am slogging on to see if I can help you in anyway I can.
Here are some other references that might enable you to find the holy
grail of ISP and PW generation vis a vis Outlook Express.
<a href="http://www.filelibrary.com/cgi-bin/search">http://www.filelibrary.com/cgi-bin/search</a> filelibrary is showing a new
password file manager. It's shareware called bcroco.zip.
<a href="http://www.webattack.com/Shareware/security/swpass.shtml">http://www.webattack.com/Shareware/security/swpass.shtml</a> is a site
showing a wide variety of passsword manager shareware apps .
<a href="http://www.williamlogan.org/FreewareIndex/PasswordManagement.html">http://www.williamlogan.org/FreewareIndex/PasswordManagement.html</a>
shows an app called cspassword. It's freeware.
<a href="http://home.inforamp.net/~jbsurv/">http://home.inforamp.net/~jbsurv/</a> looks like a good resource for
visual basic information. In it is a set of well written tutorials,
complete with graphics and source code that deal with various aspects
of VB including setting up passwords.
<a href="http://home.inforamp.net/~jbsurv/vbtut9.htm">http://home.inforamp.net/~jbsurv/vbtut9.htm</a> is a tutorial that deals
with setting up a password dialog.
Another resource
<a href="http://newssearch.devx.com/groups/default.asp?zone=&gc=19&t=2,68,1,1_381c1b7d@NEWS.D">http://newssearch.devx.com/groups/default.asp?zone=&gc=19&t=2,68,1,1_381c1b7d@NEWS.D</a>
EVX.COM_68 Here are two examples of code for PW generation coming from
that URL:
"Martin,
I created the following function some years ago to generate a random
password. Be sure to include a Randomize statement somewhere in your
application before calling this routine.
Public Function GenerateUserPassword(ByVal iLength As Integer) As
String
' 96/12/02 Create a random password with iLength. No character used
more
than once.
Const csPickFrom1 = "ABCDEFGHJKMNPQRSTUVWXYZ23456789" 'Pick from
this
list
Const csPickFrom2 = "abcdefghjkmnpqrstuvwxyz#@%$+" Pick from
this
list as well
Const csPickFrom = csPickFrom1 & csPickFrom2 'combine them
Dim sPickFrom As String
Dim sTemp As String
Dim sTemp2 As String * 1
Dim i As Integer
Dim iLengthUse As Integer
sPickFrom = " " & csPickFrom & " " 'build the select from
list
iLengthUse = iLength 'size they want
If iLengthUse > Len(csPickFrom) Then 'can't create one
longer
than the pick from list
iLengthUse = Len(csPickFrom)
End If
While Len(sTemp) < iLengthUse 'password this long
i = Int((Len(sPickFrom) - 2) * Rnd + 1) 'random number, seeded
when
application started
i = i + 1 'allow for leading
space
sTemp2 = Trim$(Mid$(sPickFrom, i, 1)) 'get it
If Not (InStr(UCase$(sTemp), UCase$(sTemp2)) > 0) Then 'Used
already? 96/12/17 Add UCase to test. Larry.
sTemp = sTemp & sTemp2 'no, use it
End If
Wend
GenerateUserPassword = sTemp 'return the creation
End Function
Cheers,
Larry Rebich
larry@buygold.net
<a href="http://www.buygold.net">www.buygold.net</a>" This is the author's contact info.
Code example 2
'--------------------------------------------------------
Public Function PasswordGenerator(ByVal intLenght As Integer) As
String
' Description: Generate a random password of 'user input' lenght
' Parameters : intLenght - the lenght of the password to be
generated
' Returns : String - Randomly generated password
' Created : 08/21/1999 Andrew Ells-O'Brien (ellsobrien@msn.com)
On Error GoTo Err_Proc
Dim iChr As Integer
Dim i As Integer
Dim strResult As String
Dim iAsc As String
Randomize
For i = 1 To intLenght
' Randomly decide what set of ASCII chars we will use
iAsc = Int(3 * Rnd + 1)
' Randomly pick a char from the random set
Select Case iAsc
Case 1
iChr = Int((Asc("Z") - Asc("A") + 1) * Rnd + Asc("A"))
Case 2
iChr = Int((Asc("z") - Asc("a") + 1) * Rnd + Asc("a"))
Case 3
iChr = Int((Asc("9") - Asc("0") + 1) * Rnd + Asc("0"))
Case Else
Err.Raise 666, , "PasswordGenerator has a problem."
End Select
strResult = strResult & Chr(iChr)
Next i
PasswordGenerator = strResult
Exit_Proc:
Exit Function
Err_Proc:
MsgBox Err.Number & ": " & Err.Description, vbOKOnly + vbCritical
PasswordGenerator = vbNullString
Resume Exit_Proc
End Function
'--------------------------------------------------------
(ellsobrien@email.msn.com) Author's contact info
Hope something works here for you.
Bob
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