Simplify Typing Phone Numbers

Suppose that you always include parentheses and a hyphen when you enter a supplier’s phone number, like this: (503) 555-5485. Save time by creating an input mask that lets Microsoft Access automatically add the parentheses and hyphen for you. An input mask controls how data is entered in a field.

Open the Suppliers table, click Design View, and then click the Phone field to display its properties.

Do you have other data with formatted characters?   You can have Microsoft Access automatically add formatted characters for other types of data, such as social security numbers or postal codes.