LIKE "###[-]###" doe not work

[Bazsl]

I have a short test field that must be in the format 999-999, that is, three digits, a hyphen and three more digits. I am using an input mask of 000\-000. I also have a validation rule of LIKE "###[-]###" but the validation rule always fails. What is the correct validation rule for data of the form 123-456? Thanks.

[ranman256]

queries use LIKE statement uses * or ?.
mask uses #

[John_G]

You don't need a validation rule if the input mask indicates what characters are allowed, and which characters are required. MS Access won't allow invalid data to be entered.

[Bazsl]

LIKE "???-???" does not work nor does LIKE "???[-]???". I am still missing something.

[Bazsl]

My problem is not what I thought. LIKE "###-###" works correctly as a validation rule IF I do not have an input mask. However, if I add the input mask 000\-000 the validation rule fails and displays the validation text. So, the real question is, why can't I have both an input mask and a validation rule?

[ssanfu]

Did you open the table and look at the value stored in the field?
Did the value have the hyphen?
Do you want the store the hyphen as part of the value in the field?

[John_G]

...why can't I have both an input mask and a validation rule?

You can - except that you have be sure that the two are compatible.

An important feature of the input mask is this: the literal characters (in your case the "-") are not stored with the data unless you include the second section of the input mask a "0" (Check the help for input mask).

Your input mask is 000\-000, which means that if you enter what looks like 123-456, what you really get is 123456 as the stored value. But the validation rule is expecting 123-456, so it fails.

If you change the input mask to 000\-000;0, then when you enter what looks like 123-456 actually gives you 123-456, which passes the validation rule test, and all is well.

[Bazsl]

The value stored in the field does contain the hyphen.
I do want the hyphen stored in the field.

[Bazsl]

John_G, Thanks. Your solution solved the problem. How do I look at the help for input masks? When I click the input mask field in design view and press F1 I get a Web page that says "Unable to service request". The same is true no matter which property is selected when I press F1.