input mask causing strings unexpected in vba/sql

[gangel]

Sorry for the seemingly stupoid title, but i have a basic question:

I have an input mask for a BSB (banking code in australia)

The BSB is in the format of 123-456

So i have 000\-000 as my input mask.



The table fills well and the input mask shows the right thing (___-___) but when i use vba the number is returned as 123456 and the dash is gone...

Sooooo what am i doing wrong!!!?

Gangel

[CJ_London]

Sooooo what am i doing wrong!!!?

in principle nothing. Just a misunderstanding about how it works.

Your data is stored as a number but 'presented' as a string using the format and/or input mask properties. So in your vba and sql you would use for example

WHERE BSB=123456

but to present it in a query you would use

BSBFormatted: format(BSB,"000-000")

or use the format property of your BSB control on a form or report

[gangel]

great thanks ajx, that helps