Data Required in a field

  • Thread starter Thread starter radiaz via AccessMonster.com
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radiaz via AccessMonster.com

Hello,

I have some fields where I'd like certain data to be entered. The fields are,
length
Width
Height

When someone is doing data entry, and go to that field, I'd like for them to
get the following
Width _ _ ' - _ _ "
Height _ _ ' - _ _ "

That way they'll know that the data has to be entered as for an example, 19'-
2"
Currently, I have it as a text field. I don't want it like that.
I tried using the Input Mask, but for some reason it is not working.

Any suggestions,

Thanks

Rita
 
If the values represent a range (minimum width to maximum width), use 2
fields of type number.

One of the basic rules of data normalization is that your fields should
always be atomic, i.e. you never put 2 things in the one field.

Once you have the 2 fields, you can easily present them on your form so that
it looks the way you described.
 
In addition to Allen's comments, you should not be using Width and Height as
field names. Form and Report objects and sections of Width and Height
properties which may cause issues in the future.
 
Thanks for the response.
I went ahead an created
the fields like
Room_Width_1
Room_Width_2

Now, how do I set those fields to take the following;

19'
2"

I want the single and doubled quotation to show. Or when that text box is
selected, Access puts in the single or doubled qoutation in.

Thanks,

Rita


Duane said:
In addition to Allen's comments, you should not be using Width and Height as
field names. Form and Report objects and sections of Width and Height
properties which may cause issues in the future.
Hello,
Click to expand...
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
Rita
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Rita, I suggest you standardize on one measurement (either inches or feet),
and add the extra character as a label outsite the field itself.

By making the contents of the field a pure number only, your database will
be much more powerful. You will be able to calculate areas, sort correctly,
find values in a range or even overlapping, and so on.

If you use a Text field so you can store the unit, you will have these
problems:
a) It will sort as text. For example, 18 sorts before 8 as text (since the
first character, the 1 is less than the first character of the other value,
the 8.)

b) You will have problems when you come to creating criteria for your
fields. Literal criteria for Text fields needs to be included in quotation
marks. Since you are using both the single quote and the double quote within
the field, you are going to find yourself stuck for things like a DLookup().
More info on that:
http://allenbrowne.com/casu-07.html

If you cannot standard on one type of measurement, you will need to add 2
more fields:
Room_Width_1_Unit
and
Room_Width_2_Unit
so the user can select the unit of measurement for each one.

--
Allen Browne - Microsoft MVP. Perth, Western Australia.

Reply to group, rather than allenbrowne at mvps dot org.

radiaz via AccessMonster.com said:
Thanks for the response.
I went ahead an created
the fields like
Room_Width_1
Room_Width_2

Now, how do I set those fields to take the following;

19'
2"

I want the single and doubled quotation to show. Or when that text box is
selected, Access puts in the single or doubled qoutation in.

Thanks,

Rita


Duane said:
In addition to Allen's comments, you should not be using Width and Height
as
field names. Form and Report objects and sections of Width and Height
properties which may cause issues in the future.
Hello,
Click to expand...
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
Rita
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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