How to test the length of a field on data entry?

[BobS]

This seems very simple but I can't find how to do it. I wrote a form that is in data entry mode when the data is entered. The primary key field should always be a length of 5, how do I check the length and give a error if less then 5?

Thanks,
Bob

[TheSmileyCoder]

Im guessing you have the user type the key? If so, you can add code to the control's BeforeUpdate. Asumming your textbox is called: tb_Primary you do like this.

Select your textbox, open the properties window, then the events tab. Find the BeforeUpdate, and click the 3 ... on the right hand side of the window, and select Event Procedure. You will now be taken to the VBA editor looking like this:

Private Sub tb_Primary_BeforeUpdate(Cancel As Integer)

End Sub

Modify it to look like this, and you should be good to go:

Private Sub tb_Primary_BeforeUpdate(Cancel As Integer)
  If len(Me.tb_Primary)<>5 then
    'Input error  
      Msgbox "Primary Key must be 5 charecters long, please correct"
    'Cancel the update of the field
      Cancel=true 
  End If
End Sub

[BobS]

Thank you for your answer. I actually tried something similar to this under BeforeUpdate and I also tried your code also. I agree that the code will test the field length. The problem seems to be this is not executed because the form is marked as a DATA Entry (yes). I moved the code into another form where DATA Entry was marked to NO and it worked fine. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Bob

[TheSmileyCoder]

Did you use the beforeUpdate of the form or of the textbox?

[BobS]

I was doing the text box. I changed to the before/update on the form and it worked. I guess you have to do this because I had set the data entry property of the form to 'yes'.

Thank you for your time & help.

Bob