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masking/data entry issue

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    masking/data entry issue

    I created a phone number field in a native table defined as character 10. I set up a field rule on the Data Entry tab for a simple mask (000) 000-0000. I placed the field on a form; however, I can't enter a full phone number. It won't allow me to enter more than (888) 888-, which is a length of 10. In the properties window - format tab, I changed the display format width to 14. I still cannot enter a full phone number.

    What am I missing here?

    Thanks,
    BobA
    Robert Adler
    Alpha Anywhere Programmer/Developer
    Eagle Dbase Solutions, LLC
    http://www.eagledbasesolutions.com/

    sigpic

    #2
    Re: masking/data entry issue

    You prrobably checked the box in the Field Rules that says save the mask literals.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: masking/data entry issue

      Thanks for your reply. I checked the box that says "Do not store mask literals in field." The issue is not so much the masking, it's that the field on the form won't accept more than 10 characters, including the mask literals. It seems there is an issue with the width of the field. The only place I could find to change this is on the Format tab of the Field Properties window. I thought that would fix the issue but it doesn't.

      Bob A
      Robert Adler
      Alpha Anywhere Programmer/Developer
      Eagle Dbase Solutions, LLC
      http://www.eagledbasesolutions.com/

      sigpic

      Comment


        #4
        Re: masking/data entry issue

        Are you entering:
        left parenthesis then 3 digits then right parenthesis and so on?
        Or are you entering 123456789?
        Don't enter the parenthises or dash, that's alpha's job.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: masking/data entry issue

          I'm only entering the numbers. The mask won't allow you to enter anything else. I changed the length of the field in the table to 14 instead of 10. Now I can enter the full number.

          Then I viewed the table in browse mode and found that the literals for the mask are being stored in the table, even though I selected "Do not store mask literals in field." This is the issue I believe. Is there a bug in the software? Why are the literals being stored in table when I checked "Do not store..." on the Data Entry tab?

          Bob A
          Robert Adler
          Alpha Anywhere Programmer/Developer
          Eagle Dbase Solutions, LLC
          http://www.eagledbasesolutions.com/

          sigpic

          Comment


            #6
            Re: masking/data entry issue

            I selected "Do not store mask literals in field." This is the issue I believe.
            I believe this issue was brought up once before and I can't recall if it was determined to be a bug. Do a meesage board search to find out.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: masking/data entry issue

              Bob,

              What is the length of the field on the form? Regardless of how the table is set up, sometimes it can haunt you when the field on the form is too short. Look under field properties and go to the Format tab.

              My 2 cents,
              Steve

              Comment


                #8
                Re: masking/data entry issue

                Originally posted by Steve Andrews View Post
                Bob,

                What is the length of the field on the form? Regardless of how the table is set up, sometimes it can haunt you when the field on the form is too short. Look under field properties and go to the Format tab.

                My 2 cents,
                Steve
                Originally posted by boba View Post
                I changed the display format width to 14.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: masking/data entry issue

                  That's right. I set the width of the field on the form to 14, but it wouldn't accept more than 10 until I changed the length of the field in the table to 14.

                  Again, the masking literals are being saved in the table, but I have that turned off in the field rules.

                  Is there a bug in the software? I can't believe I'm the first person to discover this if there is. How do you report bugs to Alpha?

                  Bob
                  Robert Adler
                  Alpha Anywhere Programmer/Developer
                  Eagle Dbase Solutions, LLC
                  http://www.eagledbasesolutions.com/

                  sigpic

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: masking/data entry issue

                    Before judging it as a bug..search the board first. As I said, it was brought up in the last 3-6 months.

                    I can't help you whether it's a bug or not. I am using v8. Maybe someone with v9 might check on this.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: masking/data entry issue

                      You were right G. I found a thread from last December.

                      http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/al...ht=masking+bug

                      Apparently the masking doesn't work as it should.

                      Bob
                      Robert Adler
                      Alpha Anywhere Programmer/Developer
                      Eagle Dbase Solutions, LLC
                      http://www.eagledbasesolutions.com/

                      sigpic

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: masking/data entry issue

                        Bob,
                        Apparently the masking doesn't work as it should.
                        Or, as Tom Baker stated in the referenced thread, the documentation is incorrect. But I think the more obvious discrepancy or incorrect behavior is the point that a checkbox is present that says you can choose to either store or not store the mask literals and apparently it will store them irregardless of the checkbox value.

                        Seeing as how version 9 is still fixing bugs (well, maybe....who knows!), I would present this to have this aspect fixed or removed. A bug report can be generated via the Help->Send a Bug Report.
                        Mike
                        __________________________________________
                        It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.
                        It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
                        Henry David Thoreau
                        __________________________________________



                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: masking/data entry issue

                          Hi Guys,

                          Phone Mask does work. See thumbnail.

                          First line = Do not store checked
                          Second line = Unchecked.

                          Field length=16.

                          Secret, make field length 1 character longer than you actually need and don't forget, that a space is a character.
                          Regards
                          Keith Hubert
                          Alpha Guild Member
                          London.
                          KHDB Management Systems
                          Skype = keith.hubert


                          For your day-to-day Needs, you Need an Alpha Database!

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: masking/data entry issue

                            A nice "find" Keith! Bet a few people that have had this issue from way back would've like to have had you find this then!! :) Now I wonder if somehow this is by design in some way and if so would like to hear the explanation for having to add the extra space. Regardless this is another tidbit that would be nice to have in the documentation.
                            Mike
                            __________________________________________
                            It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.
                            It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
                            Henry David Thoreau
                            __________________________________________



                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: masking/data entry issue

                              Don't know about v9, but it is certainly a bug in v8.
                              I hardly ever use field rules, so never came across it before.
                              Alpha will store the mask literals even if you tell it not to. This means, you need a 14 character field for a 10 character tel number.

                              If in v9 you have to have an extra character, that tells me the bug was partially fixed. Don't see why you have to have it? In v8, using 14 characters only will accomodate a tel number with literals.

                              Keith:
                              What sort of mask is this?
                              Code:
                              (999)-999 9999
                              Shouldn't be:
                              Code:
                              (999) 999-9999
                              ??

                              Comment

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