Finally got around to writing a script to enter my password in ATX

[Abby Normal]

Now I just have to press the same few keys and my password is automatically entered. When ATX makes me change my password, I just edit my script.

[JohnH]

So that would be a password password?

 

[Abby Normal]

More like a shortcut, like Ctrl+P to print.

[TAXMAN]

What kind of script did you write. I would like something to ATX from timing out? Any suggestions?

[Abby Normal]

It's an AutoHotkey script. I've heard of mouse move/jiggle apps that are supposed to keep computers from sleeping or turning off screens during long videos, but I'm not sure it would work with ATX though. I'm not an advance AutoHotkey script writer, but I'd guess it could be done by activating the ATX window and having it do some small task like Ctrl-s for save. That would kill two birds with one stone, wouldn't it? People around here would pay good money for that script!

[Ringers]

I have the same "password-entry- every-half-hour problem" with my software (ProSeries) also.  I downloaded a free softwware program called "typertask."  It lets you assign a key or group of keys to any word or message.  I assigned my password to the F12 key and now all I do is just press F12 and it enters my password.  When I change the password, I change it in typertask.  It has worked for me very well and the typertask program has a very small footprint.

[Jack from Ohio]

6 hours ago, TAXMAN said:

What kind of script did you write. I would like something to ATX from timing out? Any suggestions?

The "timing out" is mandated by the IRS.  Written into the program, can't be changed.

The same is true for changing the password every 90 days.  IRS mandate.

[SaraEA]

I don't want my password to be anywhere on my computer.  If the wrong people get into the system, the password is there for their use. For this reason I won't use a password manager either.  There is no reason to believe these cloud managers can't be hacked (or that anything can't be hacked for that matter).  The way I get around the program timing out is to periodically click on something, anything, so it registers use.  When I have lunch or am working on something on paper for an extended time, I leave my email page open and every so often just click on a message.  There, you caught me eating lunch at my desk.

I do what many experts recommend--keep my user IDs and passwords on index cards.  Can't be hacked, and the security system would sound way before a crook found my stash of cards.  Note I didn't say I leave passwords on sticky notes on the computer screen.  Although my son, who works in IT, just gave me a password to a shared grocery store loyalty card:  1234.  Haven't had anyone try to use my "deals" yet, but I'm sure it's coming.  I'll blame him for lax security.

[Abby Normal]

My computer is encrypted and password protected. The script that I use is huge and very cryptic. It does not identify ATX at all.

I do put passwords on sticky notes on my computer screen BUT they are partially obscured with asterisks and one asterisk may replace any number of characters. It just jogs my memory as to what the password is. For example if the password was Sc00bysn@cks, my note would be S*s*s.

[BulldogTom]

In general, I don't mind the 90 day change of password requirement, except that I will have to remember it for every year.  When I have to go into a prior year and do a return, I have to remember what the last password was on that year.   It would be nice if there was a way to link all my years of ATX software to the same password because in 3 or 4 years, it is going to be impossible to keep track of the last changed password on those years.  I wonder if the password can be controlled at the ATX site under our account and linked to all years that we register on their site.  Then we could change it at the Account page every 90 days for all years of software?   I bet I am just dreaming.

Tom
Modesto, CA

[Lynn EA USTCP in Louisiana]

Tom, my solution to the change-the-password-every-90-days requirement is to use the same string of letters and numbers, and just change the terminal special character. It works 

[Abby Normal]

I plan on having the same password for every year and change them all at the same time. The one thing I'm not sure of is whether ATX resets the 90 day clock when you force reset the password. I'm hoping so.

[Jack from Ohio]

When you reset the ATX password, it will allow you to use the same password.  Just type it in.

[Abby Normal]

4 hours ago, Lynn EA USTCP in Louisiana said:

Tom, my solution to the change-the-password-every-90-days requirement is to use the same string of letters and numbers, and just change the terminal special character. It works 

I keep the same special character and change some numbers at the end.