unbound field

[slimjen]

Have an unbound search field drop down SSN#. The format is @@@-@@-@@@@ in the
table. I have the impact mask for SSN. So when users type in the field to search
it; they have to type the whole SSN# not the first few digits and it
autopopulates. How can I get the field to popup after the first few numbers are
entered? They also complain they need to be at the beginning of the field to
start which if they don’t (start somewhere after the first) they get an error
which they say slows them down. If I remove the input mask; they can do what they want but they don't use hypens so the record doesn't return. Help pls.

[June7]

They want the cake and eat it too?

Try:

Calc a field in query removing the hyphens and use that field as the search field with the combobox. The combobox RowSource would also have the SSN numbers calced without the hyphens, this would be hidden column, the value with hyphens would be the display column.

SELECT Replace([ssn],"-","") As SSNnoHyp, ssn FROM tablename ORDER BY ssn;

[slimjen]

getting datatype mismatch. My ssn field is a text field. Thanks

[June7]

Datatype mismatch where? Enclose in apostrophes value used as criteria for a text field. Post code or query sql.

[slimjen]

Datatype mismatch. SSN field is text

SELECT DISTINCT qryEmpSSN.SSN, Replace([ssn],"-","") AS SSNoHyp
FROM qryEmpSSN
ORDER BY qryEmpSSN.SSN;

[June7]

Don't understand why that is happening.

The query works for me.

You said the combobox is unbound?

Why pull the RowSource from query instead of table?

[slimjen]

Because there's criteria for the form and I don't need all the records(SSN) the table itself have a lot of records.

[June7]

What criteria in the query restricts the records?

Since I can't replicate issue with the RowSource sql, I can't offer a solution.

[slimjen]

I tried the code with just a table as the source of the form and it works. But when I put it on the unbound field i get the datatype mismatch. Something to do with the unbound field.

[June7]

Combobox RowSource works for me. I am testing on an unbound form.