Trying to make a Default Value for the beginning of a field.

[GSBones]

I created a database to track purchase orders, and have a field called 'DocNbr' to hold the invoice number. It is not a key field, and don't want it to be, as sometimes there can be duplicates.



The field is always 13 characters in length, 99% of the time the first 5 characters are constant, and the remaining 8 are a combination of date and sequence number that must be entered manually.

What I'm looking for it to do, is when you tab into that field, the first 5 characters are auto populated, then you type in the remaining 8. (Ideally, after those 8 are entered it goes automatically to the next field without hitting Tab.) There are occasions when those first 5 need to change, so I would like the opportunity to replace them when entering data in that field.

I can get close to what I want with the Input Mask, and Default Vault, as it will populate the field with those 5 characters, but when I type the remaining 8, it overwrites the first 5. Unless I use the cursor to position it after those first 5.

Hope this makes sense.

[June7]

Can use code to position the cursor at the end of the string. Example for a combobox:

Private Sub cbxSample_Enter()
If Not IsNull(Me.cbxSample) Then Me.cbxSample.SelStart = Len(Me.cbxSample)
Me.cbxSample.Dropdown
End Sub

For a textbox just don't use the Dropdown code.

[GSBones]

Thanks for the help.
That code did help in positioning the cursor correctly. However when it stored the field in the record, it only stored what was typed, not the first 5 default characters.
In the end I got tired of messing with it and created 3 separate fields that make up the sections of the Invoice number. It ended up doing what I was after anyway.

[June7]

The input mask would have to be set to save the value with the literal parts. Review Access Help about input mask for specifics.

But your solution is also good.