troubles with validation rules

[focosi]

I have two fields in a table where I would like to force users to fill in as follows

1) Like "1#-####" (i.e. I want : number 1-any number - any number-any number-any number-any number)



2) Like "A-##:##" (i.e. I want : letter A - any number-any number : any number-any number)

They don't seem to work to me. What's wrong in my syntax ???
Thx

[rpeare]

Don't make it a validation rule, make it an input mask, it will prevent anyone from entering data in a format you don't want.

[focosi]

input mask just suggests what to type in but leaves user able not to fill all placehorders, which is not good to me. I have to validate.
While now I have managed "Like "1#-####" Or Is Null" to work ok, I can't find a way to maximatize the first letter in the following validation rule

Like >"A*##:##" Or Like >"A*##" Or Like >"A*###" Or Like >"A*###:##" Or Is Null

The symbol ">" capitalize letters in an input mask, but it seems not to work in a validation rule... Any idea ? Am I obliged to apply capitalization in vba ?
Furthermore the * acts as a wildcard for whatever comes after it ? Any way to let it to be read as text instead of as a wildcard ?
Thx

[rpeare]

that it doesn't matter if it's lower case or upper case, when you display it you can use the ucase(left(fieldname,1)) function to change it to upper case when you look at it on a query or form etc.

[focosi]

that it doesn't matter if it's lower case or upper case, when you display it you can use the ucase(left(fieldname,1)) function to change it to upper case when you look at it on a query or form etc.

Fixed it. Square parenthesis encased the asterisk ! I use the following as field validation rule in my table....

Like "A[*]##:##" Or "A[*]##" Or "A[*]###" Or "A[*]###:##" Or Is Null

and the following in my AfterUpdate control event to capitalize first letter :

Private Sub control_name_AfterUpdate()
Me.control_name= UCase(control_name)
End Sub

Thanks !