ACC2000: How to Replace the Default Input Mask Error Message

ID: Q210343

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access 2000

Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multiuser skills.

This article applies to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) and a Microsoft Access project (.adp).

SUMMARY

This article shows you how to substitute your own custom message for the generic error message that occurs when you violate an input mask on a form. The generic error message for input mask violation is:

The value you entered isn't appropriate for the input mask '!\(999") "000\-0000;;_' specified for this field.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Solution Providers, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/mcsp/

For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

You can trap input mask violations and substitute your custom error message for the generic error message in the form's Error event. The following sample Visual Basic code demonstrates this method:


Private Sub Form_Error (DataErr As Integer, Response As Integer)
   Const INPUTMASK_VIOLATION = 2279
   If DataErr = INPUTMASK_VIOLATION Then
      MsgBox "There was an input mask violation!"
      Response = acDataErrContinue
   End If
End Sub

Setting the Response parameter to acDataErrContinue lets you ignore the error and continue without displaying the default error message. You can then supply a custom error message in place of the default.

If you have multiple controls on your form with different input masks, you can use Screen.ActiveControl.Name to get the name of the control causing the error. The following sample code demonstrates this method for a form with phone number, social security number, and ZIP code fields:


Private Sub Form_Error (DataErr As Integer, Response As Integer)
   Const INPUTMASK_VIOLATION = 2279
   Dim Msg As String
   If DataErr = INPUTMASK_VIOLATION Then
      Select Case Screen.ActiveControl.Name
         Case "Phone"
            Beep
            MsgBox "The phone number you entered is invalid!"
         Case "SSN"
            Beep
            MsgBox "The SSN you entered is invalid!"
         Case "Zip"
            Beep
            MsgBox "The ZIP code you entered is invalid!"
         Case Else
            Beep
            Msg = "An input mask violation occurred in control "
            MsgBox Msg & Screen.ActiveControl.Name & "!"
      End Select
      Response = acDataErrContinue
   End If
End Sub

REFERENCES

For more information about On Error event procedures, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type "error event - event procedures" in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

For more information about the Screen object, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type "screen object" in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

Additional query words: inf

Keywords : kbusage kbdta AccCon KbVBA
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto