Number formats

I am building a database that has a contracts table, which
contains various information about our different
contracts. I have pay methods fields and description
fields, ex. paymethod1, description1, paymethod2,
description2. I need the paymethod fields to be formatted
in such a way that I can enter numbers such as 1500.00
or .12, because the pay method can be different for each
contract some are a percent of something and some are flat
fees. I have been trying different number formats and
custom number formats, but every time I enter a number
beginning with a decimal point and tab to the next field
it changes the value to zero. Any tips on how to solve
this problem?

Andrea,
In addition to what Tim said about normalizing your data, you should check
the Field Length of the number fields. If they are set to Long Integer, then
you should change them to Double.

--
Lynn Trapp
MS Access MVP
www.ltcomputerdesigns.com
Access Security: www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm


"Andrea" wrote in message
...
I am building a database that has a contracts table, which
contains various information about our different
contracts. I have pay methods fields and description
fields, ex. paymethod1, description1, paymethod2,
description2. I need the paymethod fields to be formatted
in such a way that I can enter numbers such as 1500.00
or .12, because the pay method can be different for each
contract some are a percent of something and some are flat
fees. I have been trying different number formats and
custom number formats, but every time I enter a number
beginning with a decimal point and tab to the next field
it changes the value to zero. Any tips on how to solve
this problem?

I am not sure if this makes any difference but the numbers
in the paymethod feilds will be strictly for informational
purposes no calculations will be done with them. All I
need is for the numbers to show.
-----Original Message-----
Andrea,
In addition to what Tim said about normalizing your
data, you should check
the Field Length of the number fields. If they are set to
Long Integer, then
you should change them to Double.

--
Lynn Trapp
MS Access MVP
www.ltcomputerdesigns.com
Access Security: www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm


"Andrea" wrote in
message
...
I am building a database that has a contracts table,
which
contains various information about our different
contracts. I have pay methods fields and description
fields, ex. paymethod1, description1, paymethod2,
description2. I need the paymethod fields to be
formatted
in such a way that I can enter numbers such as 1500.00
or .12, because the pay method can be different for each
contract some are a percent of something and some are
flat
fees. I have been trying different number formats and
custom number formats, but every time I enter a number
beginning with a decimal point and tab to the next field
it changes the value to zero. Any tips on how to solve
this problem?


.

No, that won't make a difference. If the number fields are INTEGER, then
they cannot have decimals.

--
Lynn Trapp
MS Access MVP
www.ltcomputerdesigns.com
Access Security: www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm


"Andrea" wrote in message
...
I am not sure if this makes any difference but the numbers
in the paymethod feilds will be strictly for informational
purposes no calculations will be done with them. All I
need is for the numbers to show.
-----Original Message-----
Andrea,
In addition to what Tim said about normalizing your
data, you should check
the Field Length of the number fields. If they are set to
Long Integer, then
you should change them to Double.

--
Lynn Trapp
MS Access MVP
www.ltcomputerdesigns.com
Access Security: www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm


"Andrea" wrote in
message
...
I am building a database that has a contracts table,
which
contains various information about our different
contracts. I have pay methods fields and description
fields, ex. paymethod1, description1, paymethod2,
description2. I need the paymethod fields to be
formatted
in such a way that I can enter numbers such as 1500.00
or .12, because the pay method can be different for each
contract some are a percent of something and some are
flat
fees. I have been trying different number formats and
custom number formats, but every time I enter a number
beginning with a decimal point and tab to the next field
it changes the value to zero. Any tips on how to solve
this problem?


.