How do I use an input mask?

Valid input mask characters

Microsoft Access interprets characters in the InputMask property as shown in the following table.

Character Description
0
Digit (0 through 9, entry required; plus [+] and minus [-] signs not allowed).

9
Digit or space (entry not required; plus and minus signs not allowed).

#
Digit or space (entry not required; blank positions converted to spaces, plus and minus signs allowed).

L
Letter (A through Z, entry required).

?
Letter (A through Z, entry optional).

A
Letter or digit (entry required).

a
Letter or digit (entry optional).

&
Any character or a space (entry required).

C
Any character or a space (entry optional).

. , : ; - /
Decimal placeholder and thousands, date, and time separators. (The actual character used depends on the regional settings specified in Microsoft Windows Control Panel.)

<
Causes all characters that follow to be converted to lowercase.

>
Causes all characters that follow to be converted to uppercase.
!
Causes the input mask (input mask: A format that consists of literal display characters (such as parentheses, periods, and hyphens) and mask characters that specify where data is to be entered as well as what kind of data and how many characters are allowed.) to display from right to left, rather than from left to right. Characters typed into the mask always fill it from left to right. You can include the exclamation point anywhere in the input mask.

\
Causes the character that follows to be displayed as a literal character. Used to display any of the characters listed in this table as literal characters (for example, \A is displayed as just A).


Input mask examples

The following table shows some useful input mask (input mask: A format that consists of literal display characters (such as parentheses, periods, and hyphens) and mask characters that specify where data is to be entered as well as what kind of data and how many characters are allowed.) definitions and examples of values you can enter into them.



Input mask definition Examples of values
First line is the input mask, second line is the example data


(000) 000-0000
(206) 555-0248


(999) 999-9999!
( ) 555-0248
(206) 555-0248

(000) AAA-AAAA
(206) 555-TELE

#999
2000

>L????L?000L0
GREENGR339M3
MAY R 452B7

>L0L 0L0 T2F 8M4
00000-9999 98115-
98115-3007

>L<??????????????
Maria
Pierre

ISBN 0-&&&&&&&&&-0
ISBN 1-55615-507-7
ISBN 0-13-964262-5

>LL00000-0000
DB51392-0493