MacHouse Software

 

   Last updated: February 19, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

Shotgun A to Z - User's Guide

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

 

 

Index

 

 

 

1. Installing and uninstalling Shotgun A to Z

Please read the README file that comes with the application.

 

2. Introduction

What is Shotgun A to Z?  It's a random password generator.  It's base build is ripped out of OrganizeX (a software title for managing and organizing accounts) with additional features.  In fact, if you see Shotgun A to Z, it looks similar to OrganizeX's Dice.  Dice is useful but doesn't allow the user to save password settings.  Every time you use Shotgun A to Z, you will start with the same password settings you had last time.

 

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 2-1

 

 

Shotgun A to Z lets you store any number of random passwords you have generated.  All you have to do is click on Save.  And every time you open Password List, you will have your list of passwords.

 

 

3. Preferences

When you first launch any new application, it's always a good idea for you to open Preferences.  Okay, why not?  Let's open Preferences from the menu bar under Shotgun A to Z.

 

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 3-1

 

 

 

 

Let's see what we have under the Settings tab.  (See Screenshot 3-1.)  If you enable Run update notification, Shotgun A to Z will access our web server to see if there are any software updates available every time you launch the application.  Enable Require restart if you want to automatically let the application relaunch itself after you close Preferences.  If you enable Password List to follow, whenever you move the main window, the password window will follow it.  If the checkbox is disabled, the password window will just remain at where it sits unless you move it manually, regardless of the position of the main window.

 

 

4. Using Shotgun A to Z

Your goal is to click on the Generate button at the bottom to generate one or more random password.  But this button may be disabled at first.  Shotgun A to Z watches user's settings in real time.  And it will keep the generate button disabled until three basic requirements are met, which are.

 

  1. One of the password options must be selected.
  2. The number of characters must be greater than 1.
  3. The user must choose 1 password or Multiple passwords.

 

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 4-1

 

 

 

 

Shotgun A to Z lets you include special characters and even Greek letters to increase the number of possible combinations.  The password length is important.  And the number of combinations is also important.  If your password contains only numbers, a mere length of 8 or 9 can be easily cracked by brute force.

 

  • A length of 8 numbers: A possible combination is
    100,000,000
  • A length of 8 characters consisting of numbers, lower/upper alphabetic letters: A possible combination is
    218,340,105,584,896
  • A length of 8 characters consisting of numbers, lower/upper alphabetic letters, special characters:
    6,095,689,385,410,820

 

So you do want to increase the possible number of combinations.  And do so by selecting one of password options at the top box.  The base combination is numbers.  If you select Add upper case alphabetic letters, upper case letters and numbers are used to make a random password.  Likewise, if you choose Add lower case alphabetic letters, lower/upper case letters and numbers are used.  And if possible, you do want to include special characters and Greek letters to increase the possible number of combinations.  In reality, however, web sites let you use only numbers and lower/upper alphabetic letters. 

In the meantime, you may have a requirement like 'the first character cannot be a number.'  In such case, enable Alphabetic letter at the beginning.  (See Screenshot 4-2.)  No number at the beginning and Alphabetic letter at the beginning can produce different results.  If you enable the former, the first letter can be a special character.  You can enable both.  But the result will be the same as the case where only Alphabetic letter at the beginning.

 

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 4-2

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 4-3

 

 

If you want to generate just one password, select 1 password from the 2nd box.  Or choose Multiple passwords to generate as many as 20 random passwords at at time.  If you select 1 password and then click on the Generate button, your result will appear in the edit field right above.  If you want to store this password, click on the Add button at the very bottom of the window.  (See Screenshot 4-4.)  If Password List is not open yet, it will pop up to the right.  And the last password will be added to the bottom  .(See Screenshot 4-5.)

 

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 4-4

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 4-5

 

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 4-6

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 4-7

 

 

If you want to close the password list, simply click on the toggle button that is found at the top of the main window.  (See Screenshot 4-6.)  But remember...  If you close it, your passwords may be lost.  (See Screenshot 4-7.)  Every time you close and then open Password List, the list will be refreshed.  So make sure you press the Save button before you close the window if you want to update your password list.  (See Screenshot 4-8.)

 

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 4-8

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 4-9

 

 

Furthermore, if you want to remove a particular password in the list, first, select one to delete.  Then click on the Delete button at the bottom.  (See Screenshot 4-9.)  If you want to clear the entire list, then click on the 2nd delete button.

 

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 4-10

 

Mac software Shotgun A to Z

Screenshot 4-11

 

 

If you want to generate multiple random passwords at a time, select Multiple passwords from the 2nd box and enter the number to the right.  The maximum number you can enter is 20 for now.  Then click on the Generate button just as you do when you generate just one password.  (See Screenshot 4-10.)  It can take a second or longer.  If it's not present, again, Password List will pop up to the right.  And Shotgun A to Z will add your latest passwords to the list without deleting existing ones.  And, again, if you want to keep this list, click on Save.

 

 

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