inserting "dashes" into text field

[desimoreno]

Hi, I'm trying to update some fields in Access (2003), but my key link between the two tables came from two separate sources and have been formatted differently. the field is a pole location ID. it consist of three categories. example is 12D3-X1-03. one table uses dashes, while the other table doesn't "12D3X103". I'm going to create a new field called Pole No. I want to populate it with the dashes. can you please show me how to do this? while you're at it, could you also show me how to "remove" the dashes
thank you in advanced.
desi
PS, if you don't mind, I'd really appreciate an email at desim@mid.org

[Dal Jeanis]

The two items you need to know are the substring function (Mid()) and concatenate operator (&). You can also use Left() or Right() to get some substrings.
http://www.techonthenet.com/access/f...string/mid.php

Dim str1 As string
Dim str2 As string
Dim str3 As string

str1 = "12D3X103"

str2 = mid(str1,1,4) & "-" & mid(str1,5,2) & "-" & mid(str1,7,2)
' str2 is now 12D3-X1-03

str3 = mid(str2,1,4) & mid(str1,6,2) & "-" & mid(str1,9,2)
'str3 is now 12D3X103

[desimoreno]

thank you. . .I also had one emailed to me that also worked, so I Thought I'd share this as well

insert the dashes. . .
left([pole_id],4)&”-“&mid([pole_id],5,2)&”-“&right([pole_id],2)

remove the dashes
Replace([pole_id]”,”-“,””) - I didn't try this one yet, but I did try the one to insert

thanks