ACC2000: How to Set Data Entry to Begin at the Far Left or Far Right of a Control That Has an Input Mask (268102)

MORE INFORMATION

1. In a new Microsoft Access database, create a form that is not based on any table or query with the following specifications:

      Form: Test1
      -----------------
      Caption: TestForm
   
      Text box
      ------------
      Name: Field1
      
      Text box
      --------------------------
      Name: MyDate
      Input Mask: 99/99/0000;0;_
   					

2. View the form in Form view, and then click in the middle of the MyDate control. Note that the mouse pointer appears where you clicked, instead of at the beginning or end of the control.
3. Switch back to Design view of the form, and on the View menu, click Code. Type or paste the following code:

   Option Compare Database
   Public stayPut As Boolean
   
   'On each record set stayPut to False
   Private Sub Form_Current()
       stayPut = False
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub myDate_Click()
       setStart
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub myDate_DblClick(Cancel As Integer)
       setStart
   End Sub
   
   Sub setStart()
   Dim x As Variant
   Dim intWait As Integer
   
   'Important: You may need to increase or decrease the value of
   'intWait to have it work smoothly on your system.
   
   intWait = 200
   
   'If stayPut is false, wait, then send keystroke for the Home key.
   'This moves the cursor to the beginning of the field.
   
       If stayPut = False Then
           For i = 1 To intWait
               x = DoEvents
           Next i
   
   'Note: To have the cursor move to the far right,
   'replace "{Home}" with "{End}".
   
           SendKeys "{Home}"
   
   'Next, stayPut is set to True in case you want to select
   'a portion of the field after getting inside it.
   
           stayPut = True
       End If
   End Sub
   
   
   Private Sub myDate_LostFocus()
   'Once you are out of the field, stayPut is set back to False so
   'the setStart procedure will run the next time the field is clicked.
   
       stayPut = False
   End Sub
   					

4. Close the Visual Basic Editor, and then save the form.
5. View the form in Form view again, and then click anywhere in the MyDate control. Note that the mouse pointer moves to the far left of the control.