Time Calculations and Validation Rule Problem

[Con Giacomini]

My form is for entering "In" and "Out" times for various machine operations.
It is essential that the calculated elapsed time (Out-In) cannot exceed 4
hours. This works OK until the operator fails to enter the 'a' (AM) or 'p'
(PM). For example she enters 4:00 p as the "In" field and 6:00 p as the
"Out" field, the elapsed time correctly calculates 2 hours.
However sometimes she neglects to type the 'p' for the "Out" field. The
entry automatically defaults to 'a' when left blank. The resulting
calculation now shows 14 hours, which is the right calculation, but it
exceeds our 4 hour limit. The Validation Rule does not catch this error. Can
anybody point me in the right direction to fix this problem? May thanks.

Con Giacomini

 

[Wayne Morgan]

What is the validation rule that you are currently using? Also, you may want
to try an input mask and perhaps use 24 hour time formatting instead of 12
hour with the am & pm.