Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Creating custom formats
For all data types except AutoNumber, an arrow appears at the right end of the
Format box when you click it. For some data types, clicking the arrow displays pre-
defined Format property options. For example, clicking the arrow after selecting the
Format box for a field assigned the Yes/No data type displays a list that includes the
True/False, Yes/No, and On/Off formatting options, with their default values. Clicking
the arrow after selecting the Format box for a field assigned the Date/Time data type
displays a list of predefined date and time formats. However, a field assigned the Short
Text data type has no default predefined formats.
You can construct custom Format properties to control the display of fields assigned
the Short Text data type in much the same way you construct input masks. The follow-
ing table describes the characters that are available.
Character
Description
@
Required character (can be blank).
&
Optional character.
!
Characters entered into the placeholder string fill it from left to right.
You can include the exclamation point anywhere in the string.
<
All characters that follow are converted to lowercase.
>
All characters that follow are converted to uppercase.
*
Character that follows becomes a fill character.
\
Character that follows is displayed as a literal character.
“any text”
Characters enclosed in double quotation marks are treated as literal
characters.
[color]
Applies a color to all characters in a section of the format. Can be black,
blue, cyan, magenta, red, yellow, or white.
TIP
Blank spaces; plus (+), minus (-), and financial symbols ($, £, ¥); and parenthe-
ses are recognized as literal characters without double quotation marks and can be
placed anywhere in the format. Other common math symbols, such as slash (\ or /)
and the asterisk (*), must be surrounded with double quotation marks.
