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Bug 573689 - Unable to copy/paste a password
Unable to copy/paste a password
Status: RESOLVED FIXED
Product: seahorse
Classification: Applications
Component: general
2.24.x
Other Linux
: Normal normal
: 2.28.0
Assigned To: Seahorse Maintainer
Seahorse Maintainer
: 577710 588431 (view as bug list)
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
 
Reported: 2009-03-01 23:02 UTC by Steve Frécinaux
Modified: 2011-09-15 08:24 UTC
See Also:
GNOME target: ---
GNOME version: 2.23/2.24


Description Steve Frécinaux 2009-03-01 23:02:50 UTC 
In the seahorse password windows, when showing a password (say, for instance, a 65 hex chars WPA key), the password can't be copied to clipboard to be pasted somewhere else (for instance, into network manager's password prompt). Note that it doesn't work either by right click menu (there isn't one), nor by using ctrl+c, nor by middle-clicking.

While it is understandable the password is not copiable when hidden, it makes no sense to have such a restriction for shown passwords: memory-wise, it has been through the whole rendering stack so it hasn't been kept in safe memory anyway, and usability-wise, it is PITA to copy manually long passphrases like the one in this example.

As a side note, the password can't be selected by double-clicking in the area. Selecting and copying works in gnome-keyring-manager.


Seahorse 2.24.1 from current Debian Sid.
Comment 1 Stef Walter 2009-03-01 23:31:45 UTC 
Thanks for taking the time to file this bug report. 

We're working to combine our implementation of our password control with that from GTK+ proper. Discussion is happening on gtk-devel mailing list. This effort will fix those issues.
Comment 2 Adam Schreiber 2009-10-14 01:03:11 UTC 
*** Bug 588431 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 3 Adam Schreiber 2009-10-14 01:04:10 UTC 
*** Bug 577710 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 4 gnome 2011-03-17 08:37:49 UTC 
I was going to file a bug report about password copying usability, but I guess I can just comment on it.

Using Seahorse 2.32.0, one has to click on "password" to unfold the text box, click on "show the password", then select and finally copy it. Then close it all.

I think it should be easier and safer to add a "copy to clipboard" button that copies the password without having to show it in clear form on the screen.

Maybe the window would even close itself after hitting the button.
Comment 5 Stef Walter 2011-04-11 18:29:58 UTC 
Sounds like a good idea. Do you want to give a shot at implementing that "copy to clipboard" button?
Comment 6 gnome 2011-04-12 08:00:15 UTC 
I took a quick look but sorry, C and GTK development are out of my scope. Should be fairly easy though. I know how to do it in HTML and JS if you're interested. ;-)
Comment 7 Stef Walter 2011-09-15 08:24:15 UTC 
This is now fixed. Passwords can be copied out of the password entry, similar to any other password prompt in GNOME.