Input Mask in Access Table

[EKW]

I recently converted an ACC97 database to ACC2003. During the process I seem
to have lost a custom input mask for phone #'s. It used to be H
281-555-6666--but it is missing from the table design. I can now use the
default telephone mask which would show as (281) 555-6666. QUESTION: If I
add the default telephone mask will I lose all my telephone #'s? When I do
add the new default mask will I have to retype all 500 telephone #'s to get
them in the right format? Or is there a way to convert the existing numbers
to the default format?
Thank you.

 

[John Vinson]

I recently converted an ACC97 database to ACC2003. During the process I seem
to have lost a custom input mask for phone #'s. It used to be H
281-555-6666--but it is missing from the table design. I can now use the
default telephone mask which would show as (281) 555-6666. QUESTION: If I
add the default telephone mask will I lose all my telephone #'s? When I do
add the new default mask will I have to retype all 500 telephone #'s to get
them in the right format? Or is there a way to convert the existing numbers
to the default format?
Thank you.

The input mask does two things:

- It constrains what the user can type on input
- It (optionally) adds formatting characters to the display

Changing an input mask will NOT delete or alter your stored data in
any way. It's not stored in the table as data; it's *just a formatting
tool*.

If you want an input mask - type it in! You're NOT restricted to the
masks provided by the wizard. If you were to type

\H\ 000-000-0000

into the Input Mask property of the field, just like that, as a text
string, you'll see that you should have your comfortable old mask
back.

John W. Vinson[MVP]

 

[EKW]

Thanks John. I really don't want the old one back as I'm changing the way
the info is to be displayed.
Questions: It seems that when I add the new default mask, the numbers
already in the table and forms don't change to the new mask. Which means
I'll have to retype or change them to display in the new format. Right? Is
there a trick to do this easily? I've got 5 or 6 hundred to do.

In order to get the new mask to show in the data entry forms and queries do
I have to delete the field with the old mask (in the query or form design)
and insert the field with the new mask?

When I analyze the query with Excel or publish with Word, will the mask
format be retained in Excel?
Thanks for your time,--
Kaye

 

[John Vinson]

Thanks John. I really don't want the old one back as I'm changing the way
the info is to be displayed.
Questions: It seems that when I add the new default mask, the numbers
already in the table and forms don't change to the new mask. Which means
I'll have to retype or change them to display in the new format. Right? Is
there a trick to do this easily? I've got 5 or 6 hundred to do.

To change the way data is *DISPLAYED* (rather than controlling how
it's entered) use a Format property instead of a mask.

Exporting to Excel or to text will ignore both input masks and
formats. You'll need to use the Format() *function* to explicitly cast
the field into a new format.

John W. Vinson[MVP]