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ACC2000: How to Replace the Default Input Mask Error Message

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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.

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More information

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers 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 requirements. 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

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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.

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Keywords: KB210343, kbvba, kbusage, kbprogramming, kbofficeprog, kbhowto, kbdta

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Article Info
Article ID : 210343
Revision : 4
Created on : 10/11/2006
Published on : 10/11/2006
Exists online : False
Views : 372