Chapter 2: Creating Access Tables
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l (^) Third section: Defines the “placeholder” character that tells the user how many characters
are expected in the input area. Many input masks use pound signs (#) or asterisks (*) as
placeholders.
The following characters are used to compose the Input Mask string:
l (^0) : A digit is required, and plus (+) and (–) minus signs are not permitted.
l 9 : A digit is optional, and plus (+) and (–) minus signs are not permitted.
l (^) #: Optional digit or space. Spaces are removed when the data is saved in the table. Plus
and minus signs are allowed.
l (^) L: A letter from A to Z is required.
l ?: A letter from A to Z is optional.
l (^) A: A character or digit is required.
l a: A character or digit is optional.
l (^) &: Permits any character or space (required).
l C: Permits any character or space (optional).
l (^). (period): Decimal placeholder.
l , (comma): Thousands separator.
l (^) : (colon): Date and time separator.
l ; (semicolon): Separator character.
l (^) - (dash): Separator character.
l / (forward slash): Separator character.
l (^) < (less-than sign): Converts all characters to lowercase.
l > (greater-than sign): Converts all characters to uppercase.
l (^)! (exclamation point): Displays the input mask from right to left. Characters fill the
mask from right to left.
l (^) \ (back slash): Displays the next character as a literal.
The same specifiers are used on a field’s Property Sheet in a query or form.
An Input Mask is ignored when importing data or adding data to a table with an action query.
An Input Mask is overridden by the Format property assigned to a field. In this case, the Input
Mask is in effect only as data is entered and reformatted according to the format specifier when the
entry is complete.
The Input Mask Wizard
Although you can manually enter an Input Mask, you can easily create an Input Mask for Text
or Date/Time type fields with the Input Mask Wizard. When you click the Input Mask prop-
erty, a Builder button (three periods) appears in the property’s input box. Click the Builder button
to start the wizard. Figure 2.19 shows the first screen of the Input Mask Wizard.