Storing data with a custom format

[clancy76]

Hi all, I have a field with a custom format that contains a dash near the end. Essentially it will look like this: 1234567-89 Is there a simple way to accomplish this? The end users tend to type it in without the dash - I know I can use the input mask in the text box but the data wouldn't be STORED with the dash in the table, correct? I need the data to be stored in the table with the dash, 1234567-89. Thanks in advance!

[ranman256]

have an invisible text box (txtBox2) connect to the actual table.
user enters data in txtBox1 and the afterupdate code corrects it:

if instr(txtBox,"-") = 0 then
  txtBox2 = left(txtBox,7) & "-" & right(txtBox,2)
else
  txtBox2 = txtBox
endif

[clancy76]

Brilliant, thanks Ranman. Surprised this isn't easier to do on the backend, but your solution will work perfect for me.

[pbaldy]

FYI, the second argument of an input mask determines whether the character is stored or not. From:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...2-4a47832de8da

The second part is optional and refers to the embedded mask characters and how they are stored within the field. If the second part is set to 0, the characters are stored with the data, and if it is set to 1, the characters are only displayed and not stored. Setting the second part to 1 can save database storage space.