Private messages password is (not really) incorrect

[DaveV]

I just tried to reply to a private message. I was already logged on to the site, and my password and username were entered automagically. When I submitted the reply, I got a message saying my password was incorrect. I had the same problem last time I tried to do a private message, but was on a different computer and dismissed it as a browser setup problem. But today's failure was on the same computer I used to reply to a PM a month or two ago.

I remember reading a post that implied that non-alphanumerics cause problems in posting private messages. I have some symbol characters in my password, and would prefer not to change it. Is there a way to work around this?

[MikeH]

The PM system passes your password as a parameter appended on the end of the PM url. I was pretty shocked when I noticed that!

From my experience developing sites passing (non-secure) parameters as URL extensions. Non alphanumeric characters will cause a problem, especially / & ? # + probably others as well those definitely cause problems though.

[DaveV]

Curiouser and curiouser. I am informed that my messages did go through, although the "incorrect login" display led me to think they did not.

[Narck]

Two words:

Apolyton Curse

[Snapcase on Snapcase]

Try to type in the HTTP special code for any whitespace or special character. Alternatively, many programming languages have an "escape" character (\ in PHP, & in a lot of others) that can be typed in before a symbol in order for it to be interpreted correctly.

No, but seriously, MarkG, isn't it time to change the GET function in the private messages to a POST function?

[MarkG]

<center><table width=80%><tr><td><font color=000080 face="Verdana" size=2><font size="1">quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
</font><font size=1>Originally posted by DaveV on 01-02-2001 10:33 AM</font>
I remember reading a post that implied that non-alphanumerics cause problems in posting private messages. I have some symbol characters in my password, and would prefer not to change it. Is there a way to work around this?
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></font></td></tr></table></center>unless we change the whole system, i dont think so...

[DaveV]

OK, Mark, thanks for the response. If the PMs go through anyway, I'll live with the bogus error message rather than change my password.