Input Mask

Hi Folks - Here's my problem. I have a table with a phone number field. Data
entry for this field was not controlled or validated. I have manually
'cleaned up' the mess. Now, I want to create an input mask that stores the
literal values. I know how to create an input nask that stores the values,
but here's the glitch .... The phone number for the exosting records
displays properly, but it is not storing the literal values. It only stores
the literal values for new records. Am I missing something, or do I have to
update all the old records with parentheses, spaces and hypens? If so, can
someone suggest the best method.
Thanks!!

Michael

On Sat, 4 Dec 2004 08:50:18 -0500, "Michael"
wrote:

do I have to
update all the old records with parentheses, spaces and hypens? If so, can
someone suggest the best method.

You do. The Input Mask has no effect on existing records.

Run an Update query. If what's in there now is free of punctuation,
e.g.

4445551234

you can run an Update query updating [Phone] to

"(" & Left([Phone], 3) & ") " & Mid([Phone], 4, 3) & "-" &
Right([Phone], 4)

to get

(444) 555-1234

John W. Vinson[MVP]
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