Dashes disappearing until mouseover

[armyofdux]

I am trying to import records to an existing table within Access from Excel. All of my column fields match from Excel to Access, and the data imports fine. Within Access I have the tbl design set to input mask the SSNs so it does not drop leading zeros. This is important because of the SSN being unique to the student. The strange thing is when i import these SSNs it drops out the dashes until the mouse is placed over the the individual SSN. Only when it is clicked will the dashes show back up. While it is more of an annoyance, I need it with the dashes so when i print reports it displays properly. Any ideas?

[June7]

So the Excel data has the dashes?

I just tested an import of SSN from Excel and viewing on a form with and without input mask, not getting the behavior you describe.

[armyofdux]

The data is already imported. At face value it looks like this... 123456789 but when you mouse over or click in the individual field it changes to this 123-45-6789 without any input from me... when you exit the field it reverts.

[June7]

So dashes are not imported with the data. I tested this situation as well, still don't get the behavior. Dashes are always displayed on form.

Did you use the input mask dialog to set up the mask?

If you want to provide db without SSN data, follow instructions at bottom of my post.

[armyofdux]

Yes I used the input mask. Acting strange.

[armyofdux]

Here is how I was using it.

[June7]

Can try deleting and recreating the textbox.

[armyofdux]

Can try deleting and recreating the textbox.

Not with 800+ worth of records

[June7]

Why would existing records prevent rebuilding the textbox? Build a whole new form if that's what it takes. Corruption of objects and controls is not unknown.

[armyofdux]

Why would existing records prevent rebuilding the textbox? Build a whole new form if that's what it takes. Corruption of objects and controls is not unknown.

This is not a form. This is within the tbl itself that the behavior is occurring.

[June7]

I still did not see this behavior in the table.

Remove the input mask setting from the table.

Build form and textbox with input mask.

What happens?

I seldom set properties in table that can be set in controls on form.

[armyofdux]

I can do that. But the problem I have is when I import into the tbl via excel. I get a new set of records to input every week and its much easier to import the records as opposed to entering in via a form. I will try the form method for now.

[armyofdux]

With the input mask on the form it formulates properly and behaves normally. I think there will be too many records to process though. Whereas the import function would be better suited. Back to the drawing board i guess.

[armyofdux]

I found the problem. The formatting of the SSN field in the excel file was set to Social Security Number. Thus it was input masking itself prior to importation into Access. These Socials derived from a text only format so the input masks were adding the dashes in as opposed to it being real-time text.

[June7]

Import or data entry, I would not be concerned with formatting in table because users should not work directly with tables and queries, only forms and reports. And when I (developer) look at tables/queries I prefer to see the data in its natural state, not masked with formats or lookups.

I tried import with the Excel SSN formatting and still could not replicate the behavior. Oh well, glad you got it working.