In MS Access 1997, you can build a security form and use the Password Input Mask to put ***** where the password is typed in, then in the code reference the text of that text box as what they actually typed in, Ex:

Type in password "Dog" but shows "***" and the text box's text property = Dog

In MS Access 2000 is saves the text box's text property = ***.

Is there anyway around this?

Don't know what you're doing but I just tested it and it works great for me.

Make sure the text box that the password is typed into has the input mask as "Password" (no quotes). And, to reference it, use like this:

Forms!MySecurityFormName!txtMyTextBoxName.Value

Should work, I just ran a test with a message box to return the value and it worked fine.

BL
hth