OK, I know how to handle the input masks but....

I use a short date (02-Nov-07) with an input mask !00-00-00;0;_ but when I use an input mask !00-00-00;;_ it appears to work just as well.

So now my question is: what is the function of the last 0 ---> !00-00-00;0;_ ?

opalhort

I use a short date (02-Nov-07) with an input mask !00-00-00;0;_ but when I use an input mask !00-00-00;;_ it appears to work just as well.

So now my question is: what is the function of the last 0 ---> !00-00-00;0;_ ?

opalhort

the second field specifies whether Microsoft Access stores the literal display characters in the table when you enter data. If you use 0 for this section, all literal display characters (for example, the parentheses in a phone number input mask) are stored with the value; if you enter 1 or leave this section blank, only characters typed into the control are stored.

So as the field is a date it doesn't matter.

Thanks stickyb,

All is clear now. I still have problems with the help files in Access203 but found the info on an old PC yesterday which still has Access 97.

Even though I designed our mdbs (many years ago) I simply forgot the syntax of the input masks.

opalhort