InputMask Property

You can use the InputMask property to make data entry easier and to control the values users can enter in a text box control. Read/write String.

expression   Required. An expression that returns one of the objects in the Applies To list.

Remarks

Input masks are helpful for data-entry operations such as an input mask for a Phone Number field that shows you exactly how to enter a new number: (___) ___-____. It is often easier to use the Input Mask Wizard to set the property for you.

The InputMask property can contain up to three sections separated by semicolons (;).

In Visual Basic you use a string expression to set this property. For example, the following specifies an input mask for a text box control used for entering a phone number:

Forms!Customers!Telephone.InputMask = "(###) ###-####"

When you create an input mask, you can use special characters to require that certain data be entered (for example, the area code for a phone number) and that other data be optional (such as a telephone extension). These characters specify the type of data, such as a number or character, that you must enter for each character in the input mask.

You can define an input mask by using the following characters.

For a control, you can set this property in the control's property sheet. For a field in a table, you can set the property in table Design view (in the Field Properties section) or in Design view of the Query window (in the Field Properties property sheet).

You can also set the InputMask property by using a macro or Visual Basic.

When you type data in a field for which you've defined an input mask, the data is always entered in Overtype mode. If you use the BACKSPACE key to delete a character, the character is replaced by a blank space.

If you move text from a field for which you've defined an input mask onto the Clipboard, the literal display characters are copied, even if you have specified that they not be saved with data.

Note   Only characters that you type directly in a control or combo box are affected by the input mask. Microsoft Access ignores any input masks when you import data, run an action query, or enter characters in a control by setting the control's Text property in Visual Basic or by using the SetValue action in a macro.

When you've defined an input mask and set the Format property for the same field, the Format property takes precedence when the data is displayed. This means that even if you've saved an input mask, the input mask is ignored when data is formatted and displayed. The data in the underlying table itself isn't changed; the Format property affects only how the data is displayed.

Example

The following table shows some useful input masks and the type of values you can enter in them.