Date/Time input Mask not available

[LMB]

Hi Guys,

First time using Access 2003. Was using 2000 before. In the design of my
database, it was suggested to me to keep start date and time in one field.
I did that but when I created my form, I notied that my field start time
didn't have an input mask. I went back to the table and time and date were
not an option to pick from when I clicked on input mask. I checked and
everything seems to be installed. When I go to add/remove programs there
are no "install on first use" icons, everything looks like it's installed?
My date and time field masks are either date or time.

Thanks,
Linda

 

[John Vinson]

In the design of my
database, it was suggested to me to keep start date and time in one field.
I did that but when I created my form, I notied that my field start time
didn't have an input mask.

In my experience, date and time fields don't really benefit much from
input masks; in fact they often get in the way! You can type

9/18 10:00

or

18 Sept 10am

or however you prefer to type dates; within reason, Access will
interpret the result correctly.

If you really want to save your users the effort of hitting the slash
and colon keys, at the cost of having to type lots more numbers, you
can roll your own input mask:

90/90/00 00:00aa

for example.

John W. Vinson[MVP]

 

[LMB]

Sorry Guys. I just made my own by copying my input masks from 2000.

Linda

 

[LMB]

Oh The users will like that...I'll go try it with no mask...Just let them
type it any way they want? I need to calculate number of hours a patient
was on a ventilator so the correct time is important. Could you give me an
example of how I would make an expression in a query to calculate hours
based on a person typing in StartDtTm of 12/31 10 am
EndDtTm 1/2 8 am

Thanks,
Linda