I have a cell that is a drop down Y / N once this is entered I want it to auto enter the current date in a date field (but I also want to be able to edit the cell if need be)

I had the date field set up so that it was an auto enter calculation

If(Selection1 = "Y", Status(CurrentDate), "")

But when I click to add a new contact it simple adds in a "?" - which I assume is a formatting thing?

How should I tackle this?

S

Usually the question mark indicates that the field on your layout is too small to display the data.

I would check to make sure that

1) your date field is defined as a date field in field definitions,

2) that your calculation is specified to deliver the result as a date and

3) that the field in the layout is formatted for a date as you want it displayed and the field is sized accordingly.

Phil

Its fine if I enter it as a simply a auto calc of status(CurrentDate) every time I click new it adds the current date fine no "?"

Its just when I use

If(Selection1 = "Y", Status(CurrentDate), "")

that I get the problem

Checked all your three tips too!

Simon

Question marks in a date field usually signify a text null instead of a date null. Use TextToDate("") or better yet Case( Selection1 = "Y", Status(CurrentDate) ), unless you want the field to clear when Selection1 is changed. You say auto calc, meaning auto-enter calc? In version 6, such a field will not update once initialized. Use a true calculation field instead.

thanks I would use a true calc but then the field can't be modified.

Then you may want to perform a lookup on the calc field using a self-relationship based on the record's serial number.

Use 'texttodate("")'as your else statement. You are getting the "?" because the "" is putting text in a date field.