Deleting an incorrect autocomplete/autofill entry

Question

Level 1

19 points

Deleting an incorrect autocomplete/autofill entry

This is driving me absolutely bonkers. I don't know if this is properly autofill or autocomplete - the two overlap too much anyway so I'm not wasting brain cells trying to come up with a distinction that makes sense to non-engineers. ANYWAY. Here's the point.

I'm on my bank website. My login is xtnjohnson -- just like here. Only I mistyped it once, so in autofill/autocomplete (whichever it is), I get a little drop-down showing two options: xtnjohnson or xtnjohson.

I want to delete only the second option. I recall at sometime finding a very simple way that involved highlighting the offending entry and hitting either control-delete, shift-delete, command-delete, or function-delete, only I can't seem to get any of those combinations to work. And of course I can't find the thread anymore.

Is this sounding familiar to anyone? Anyone?

The solution did *not* involve dealing with the autofill preferences in *any* way -- I've seen that option and it doesn't help (a) because there's no quick way to find the website where the problem is occurring (my list is long), (b) even when I go through my list, I don't see my bank's url, (c) the place for entering my login appears to be in something like JavaScript, so I'm not sure it'd be tracked in one of those lists, and (d) I don't know that this is properly an "autofill" problem anyway.

Thank you for any advice.

Safari 5-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jul 1, 2012 10:45 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 1, 2012 10:56 AM in response to xtnjohnson

Is this Apple page any help? http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5044

See delete links at right of page.

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Answer 2

xtnjohnson Author

Level 1

19 points

Jul 1, 2012 12:32 PM in response to Neville Hillyer

Thanks, Neville, but that's exactly the autofill preferences solution I summarized and said does not help my problem. Cheers, CPJ

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Answer 3

Jul 1, 2012 12:49 PM in response to xtnjohnson

The solution did *not* involve dealing with the autofill preferences in *any* way -- I've seen that option and it doesn't help (a) because there's no quick way to find the website where the problem is occurring (my list is long),From your Safari menu bar top of your screen click Safari > Preferences then select the Autofill tab.

That is the only way to delete the site so you can remove the incorrect login. It only takes a minute to go through the list.

Click the Edit button next to: User names and passswords

Locate the bank website then click Remove > Done

Now click the Edit button next to: Other Forms

Same thing...

Quit then relaunch Safari to test.

BTW, never post your login information especially for a banking institution on a public forum.

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Answer 4

300Tech

Level 1

21 points

Jul 1, 2012 1:12 PM in response to xtnjohnson

To Accsess Settings On AutoFill In Safari Go To The Safari Menu > Preferences... > AutoFill

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Answer 5

xtnjohnson Author

Level 1

19 points

Jul 1, 2012 3:49 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Carolyn, thanks for the reply but the problem is that HSBC is not listed anywhere when I open that list -- it's the reason I strongly suspect that there's something else going on (possibly JavaScript?). But it's really bizarre that dealing with this problem would require opening any sort of preference-opening; I mean, in a stupid Wintel system you just scroll down, highlight the incorrect entry, and hit delete, end-of-story.

That's why I'm looking desperately for this very simple deletion that I know I've done before, but can't seem to find anywhere.

And I appreciate the gesture but no need for the advice about the login. It's the password and the confirming information that matters -- the login is at most an additional indicator that anyone with seriously bad intentions would be able to guess anyway.

Cheers,

CPJ

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Answer 6

Jul 2, 2012 3:41 AM in response to xtnjohnson

I use an older OS with Safari 5.0.6.

On my Mac form entries are stored at: ~Library/Safari/Form Values

I have not found a way to edit the file but I can easily remove it by:

1 - Quit from Safari

2 - Paste the following in Go to Folder - on Finder Go menu

~/Library/Safari

3 - Hit Go

4 - Drag Form Values file to the Trash

5 - Start Safari and test

This removes all my form entries but not my passwords.

I hope this helps.

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Answer 7

Jul 2, 2012 6:13 AM in response to Neville Hillyer

You may need to use Invisibility Toggler to show hidden files:

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/24632/invisibility-toggler

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Answer 8

Nov 7, 2012 2:36 PM in response to Neville Hillyer

For those who prefer Terminal commands:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
killall Finder

To hide the files again, use "FALSE" in place of "TRUE".

I find this safer than trusting a third-party application (although I know nothing about Invisibility Toggler), but you should always use reasonable caution when entering Terminal commands, killing Finder processes, or making any changes to a file or folder you don't recognize.

I offer this as a courtesy for those who are comfortable using the Terminal, etc. I won't troubleshoot the results for you.

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Answer 9

Nov 8, 2012 1:58 AM in response to kiloweson

I have used Invisibility Toggler with Leopard for many years without any problems. The following is from: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/24632/invisibility-toggler

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Answer 10

Mar 27, 2013 8:46 AM in response to xtnjohnson

I had the same problem with a bank loggin. Twas driving me crazy! I found this thread looking for a fix. Your solution, I do believe, is in the bookmark. Mine was. Once I edited the bookmark with the correct login, it works fine. You probably know how, but for any who don't:

1. Open the Bookmarks menu, and then open Show all bookmarks.

2. Find your bank's bookmark in the list.

3. Click once on the bookmark address (right column). This highlights it.

4. Click the return key to make the address/url able to be edited.

5. Look for the incorrect login info in the address, and correct it.

6. Close Bookmarks and give it a whirl.

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Answer 11

Aug 28, 2013 2:24 PM in response to 300Tech

Follow what he said to get to the autofill preferences then press the edit button next to other forms and scroll down until you find the website that you want to remove the autofill from. Hope this helps

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Answer 12

Aug 28, 2013 3:13 PM in response to deadman5467

deadman5467 wrote:

Follow what he said to get to the autofill preferences then press the edit button next to other forms and scroll down until you find the website that you want to remove the autofill from. Hope this helps

My experience is that this had NOTHING to do with auto-fill. The problem was that the initial loggin (i.e. username) was saved as part of the bookmark. Instructions for a fix are in the previous post.

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