Phone Number Field

[Chaster]

My table contains both a BusinessPhone and BussinessFax field. When I set
up my table I set the input mask to the default phone number mask.

I have created a cboSelectFax that is based on a query that just pulls the
fax numbers sorted asending.

When I look at the data in the combo some numbers show as (212)-222-2222 and
others show as 2223334444

When I search for a number that is in my table and stored in the
(212)-222-2222 format it will only allow me to put in the 1st 3 numbers
before the search fails. If the number I am searching for is in the just
text format it allows me to complete the search.

I think maybe the best way? to format my data, in the phone fields in the
table, is just as text without any input mask. I will apply the mask on the
forms from now on.

My questions are:

Do You argee that this is the best policy or should applying the input mask
in the table design OK?

Any idea why I can only find the 1st 3 numbers when the data is in the (213)
format?

Thanks in advance for any insight you may be able to shead on this.

 

[Tim Ferguson]

My table contains both a BusinessPhone and BussinessFax field.

Hmmm: what happened to HomePhone, MobilePhone, PagerNumber, HomeFax,
LoCallNumber etc. etc? You may see some benefit from redesigning this
relationally, but still...

When I
set up my table I set the input mask to the default phone number mask.

Ugh: I have to confess a deep-set loathing of the Input Mask, which make a
perfectly ordinary Windows text box act like no other interface control on
God'd Good Earth: whatever training users bring to their Windows
applications is not going to cover this mostrosity.

That having been said, though, some people seem to like them...

Do You argee that this is the best policy or should applying the input
mask in the table design OK?

This is another reason for steering well clear of them, in that they screw
up the data as well as the user. I really don't want anything that lies to
me about what is in the field. It's better to use the Format property on
the text box to control what the user sees, and validation code in the
BeforeUpdate event to watch what they are putting in. Telephone numbers, in
particular, are so flexible that it is hard to create any kind of mask that
really overs all eventualities without being so forgiving as not to provide
any real protection in the first place.

Still, that's one person's point of view

Best wishes


Tim F