automatic format for a credit

[Guest]

Hi,
Is it possible to set up a database to automatically put a minus sign before
a number that is a credit. The field aleady is called Credit Amount, so it
seems to me that having to take the extra time to put in a minus sign is not
necessary. Yet the person who made the form insists that she wants a - before
the number which is put in the area called Credit Amount. Can you set up a
form to automatically show the minus sign. And if so then how is it done.
It would be so much easier if the minus sign just appeared since the field
is already called Credit Amount, as it is having to put in the minus sign is
a wasted keystroke.
Please help, this is causing a major fight at work.

 

[Joseph Meehan]

Hi,
Is it possible to set up a database to automatically put a minus sign
before
a number that is a credit. The field aleady is called Credit Amount, so it
seems to me that having to take the extra time to put in a minus sign is
not
necessary. Yet the person who made the form insists that she wants a -
before the number which is put in the area called Credit Amount. Can you
set up a form to automatically show the minus sign. And if so then how is
it done.
It would be so much easier if the minus sign just appeared since the field
is already called Credit Amount, as it is having to put in the minus sign
is
a wasted keystroke.
Please help, this is causing a major fight at work.

What is she going to do if she needs to enter a negative number in that
credit field?

In accounting a credit is usually not a negative number. Indicating it
as such could confuse others using the program. If it is just her, why not
just make it look like there is a minus sign. Just put a text "-" in the
right position in front of the filed and make the text box with no outline?

 

[Guest]

What is she going to do if she needs to enter a negative number in that
credit field?

In accounting a credit is usually not a negative number. Indicating it
as such could confuse others using the program. If it is just her, why not
just make it look like there is a minus sign. Just put a text "-" in the
right position in front of the filed and make the text box with no outline?

It seems to be just her that wants the credits, which are in a field labled
Credit Amount, to show with a minus sign so as to help indicact that they are
credits. I think that reports will also be run off of this database, but the
reports will show the credits in a Credit Amount column. So actually putting
in a minus sign so help show a credit amount in a column already called
Credit Amount is redundent (sp). but I will make that suggestion, that the
field label be called
Credit Amount -
But then she will probably say that it looks like a dash and is too far from
the number that is entered. Is it possible to left justify the number that is
entered, so that it appears right next to the minus sign? LIke this:
-1
-12
-123
-1234

 

[Joseph Meehan]

It seems to be just her that wants the credits, which are in a field
labled
Credit Amount, to show with a minus sign so as to help indicact that they
are credits. I think that reports will also be run off of this database,
but the reports will show the credits in a Credit Amount column. So
actually putting in a minus sign so help show a credit amount in a column
already called Credit Amount is redundent (sp).

It also is wrong because it indicates that it is really a Debit.

but I will make that
suggestion, that the field label be called
Credit Amount -
But then she will probably say that it looks like a dash and is too far
from
the number that is entered. Is it possible to left justify the number that
is entered, so that it appears right next to the minus sign? LIke this:
-1
-12
-123
-1234

No problem, just left align the numbers.

There may even be some way of substituting a "-" for the "$" sign in a
currency type or change the format so that it will show a "-" but I have not
looked into it.

I might suggest that if these reports go to someone other than this
woman, they will be wrong. I have been in audit for 30 years and would have
to question those reports.