Forms that contain predefined series of numbers and letters such as For Official or Office use, patient numbers, account numbers, contract numbers and similar can use an arbitrary mask to control and limit the alphanumeric characters entered into a text field.

1. To create an arbitrary mask in a text field, double-click the text field to open the Text Field Properties. Click the Format tab and choose Special from the Format category menu.

2. Select the Arbitrary Mask, Special Option.

3. In the box that appears with the Arbitrary Mask option the text can be added. In this example, Doc- is the preformatted text. The AAA and 999 indicate the variable alphanumeric characters. A capitol “A” represents alpha characters either upper of lower case. The “9” represents numeric characters. A capitol “O” represents either alpha or numeric character. In this example, spelling DOC would have made the “O” a variable. Spelling Doc using upper and lower case avoided that problem.

4. Note the tool tip indicating the pattern of numbers necessary to fill the field properly. In an official/office use presumably the users would know the pattern necessary. Typing incorrectly elicits a warning message. While the warning does indicate the pattern sequence the user would need to know that the “A” indicates an alpha character and the “9” a numeric character.

Click here to download a PDF tutorial/example.

Arbitrary mask with Tooltip and warning.