Help with Input Mask

[Guest]

Hello,

I'm a complete newbie trying to design a relatively simple data base for
organizing choir music. I need to store arranger and composer names and be
able to search for them. I will not need to track or display first and last
names separately, so I would rather not use separate fields. But I need to
have the data input consistently. Is there a way to create an input mask or
validation rule to insure "Last name, First Name" format?

Thank you,

 

[Guest]

Hi Leslie

No - I don't think so as there is no way of telling if a name is the 1st
name or the surname

As an example - John Wayne (Wayne is my 1st name and his surname)

I would use 2 fields - much better idea

Good luck

 

[fredg]

Hello,

I'm a complete newbie trying to design a relatively simple data base for
organizing choir music. I need to store arranger and composer names and be
able to search for them. I will not need to track or display first and last
names separately, so I would rather not use separate fields. But I need to
have the data input consistently. Is there a way to create an input mask or
validation rule to insure "Last name, First Name" format?

Thank you,

No there is no mask to do what you wish to do.
How would Access know whether you wish to enter Harry James or James
Harry? Either name can be a Last Name or a First Name..
Nor, if there was one, should you use it.
Whatever you think you will not ever need do, soon enough you will
need to do it!

Save the First, Middle, and Last Names in 3 different fields.

It's easy enough to put the names together,
= [LastName] & ", " & [FirstName] & " " & [MiddleName]
It's quite a different story to separate the field into 3.

 

[Guest]

Makes sense! Thank you. I guess I'll have to do the work of putting the two
fields together into a third.

 

[Guest]

I understand. Thank you. I was trying to avoid the work of putting the two
fields together in forms and such. But I guess it's unavoidable!