Auto populate half of a serial number in a form field automatically

[Koolaid]

I would love to learn how to auto populate half of a serial number in a form field automatically so I do not have to type the beginning 8 numbers that are always the same anyway as part of a long 20 number serial. I am assuming the default value can be made to do this BUT I have no idea which function it is within Access or how to properly type it correctly.

Thanks from this noob in advance


Koolaid

[NTC]

There is more than 1 way to skin this cat. Part of the answer depends on your data structure and when this is to occur.

For instance you could set the table's field property, or the form's text property to have a default value of those first 8 characters - so that at least this much is there to begin with. Or you could write some VBA to insert those 8 characters upon tabbing into the field or tabbing out of the field....

[Koolaid]

And what would the command be to input something like this? I'm trying to use the least amount of VBA as possible since I barely know Access let alone VBA lol Thanks!

[rpeare]

Also note, if the first 8 characters never change you can avoid entering them altogether and rely on the INPUT MASK, your data would only be stored with the last X characters but be displayed with all of them.

For instance if you had an input mask of:

"SN123456"&\ 000000

Every time you went to type in a new serial number it would automatically be populated with the first 8 characters SN123456 and require 6 following digits, or you could just forget the input mask and only enter the last X digits then when you need to print a bar code, or a label concantenate the first 8 static characters with the contents of the field

SerialNumber = "SN123456" & [SNSuffix]

[Koolaid]

Awesome!! It just so happens I was messing with the mask option before reading this. I'll give the options a try. Appreciate it

[Koolaid]

Also note, if the first 8 characters never change you can avoid entering them altogether and rely on the INPUT MASK, your data would only be stored with the last X characters but be displayed with all of them.

For instance if you had an input mask of:

"SN123456"&\ 000000

Every time you went to type in a new serial number it would automatically be populated with the first 8 characters SN123456 and require 6 following digits, or you could just forget the input mask and only enter the last X digits then when you need to print a bar code, or a label concantenate the first 8 static characters with the contents of the field

SerialNumber = "SN123456" & [SNSuffix]

Btw, you're awesome! I went ahead with the mask input option and it also helped me with the next part, which was to only have to search in a query for the last 12 numbers. It auto finds the whole string based on just inputting the last 12 numbers out of the 20. Appreciate it again!