Displaying the password strength

jack_hilary · December 29th, 2009, 11:12 AM

Hello guys,
I am just trying to insert the password strength field. For that I have added the label next to password textbox. But I want to show the strength as soon as the user moves to next password field or some other field.
For this I have tried the code with CreatingUser & Databinding events but they do not work as I want. Can you please tell me what event would be beneficial for it so that password strength is shown as soon as user moves to next input field.

My markup is as follows.

Code:

<tr>
                                <td align="right">
                                    <asp:Label ID="PasswordLabel" runat="server" AssociatedControlID="Password">Password:</asp:Label>
                                </td>
                                <td>
                                    <asp:TextBox ID="Password" runat="server" TextMode="Password"></asp:TextBox>
                                    <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="PasswordRequired" runat="server"
                                        ControlToValidate="Password" ErrorMessage="Password is required."
                                        ToolTip="Password is required." ValidationGroup="CreateUserWizard1">*</asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
                                    &nbsp;Password Strength:
                                    <asp:Label ID="lblPassStr" runat="server" ForeColor="Green" Visible="true"></asp:Label>
                                </td>
                            </tr>

And code behind file contains.

Code:

protected void CreateUserWizard1_DataBinding(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        if (CreateUserWizard1.ActiveStep.Title == "CreateUser")
        {
            Label PassStr = (Label)CreateUserWizardStep1.ContentTemplateContainer.FindControl("lblPassStr");
            //PassStr.Visible = true;
            if (CreateUserWizard1.Password.Length < 5)

                PassStr.Text = "Password Too Short, Not Acceptable";

            else if (CreateUserWizard1.Password.Length >= 5 && CreateUserWizard1.Password.Length <= 8)

                PassStr.Text = "Password is weak";

            else
                PassStr.Text = "Password is strong";

        }
    }

Any help is remarkable.
Thank you.

gbianchi · December 29th, 2009, 11:25 AM

If you want this to happens on the client side, you should use javascript or at least ajax (to make a little round trip an execute the code on your side)...

The way you are implementing it, will only work when that event is executed, and that only happens when you load the page.

jack_hilary · December 29th, 2009, 12:12 PM

Thanks for reply.
I am using Visual studio 2008, which is ajax enabled. But what control in the ajax toolbox is appropriate for that. That is what ajax control can be used for password display meter.
Thanks.

gbianchi · December 29th, 2009, 01:58 PM

An update panel? with an event that is fired when you lost focus??

Lee Dumond · December 29th, 2009, 02:19 PM

Seriously, the best and EASIEST way to do this would be with a Regex validator.

You use a Regex validator just like you use any of the other validators. All you need to do is to come up with a regular expression that expresses what you need.

If you want to ensure that the password is at least 5 characters long, you could use {5}.