Here is a set of custom functions for formatting an auto-entered field instruction when the field is blank. It formats the instruction in a light gray italic font, while the data in the field is formatted as black plain font. Of course you can specify your own colors and styles.

AE_Instructions (fieldData; displayText)



Case ( 



fieldData <> displayText and not IsEmpty ( fieldData );

NormalText( fieldData );



InstructionText ( displayText )



 )

InstructionText ( Text )



//Makes the selected text light gray in color and in italics

TextStyleAdd ( TextColor ( text ; RGB ( 75 ; 75 ; 75 ) ) ; Italic )

NormalText ( Text )



//Makes the selected text Black in color and Plain in font.

TextStyleAdd ( TextColor ( text; RGB ( 0 ; 0 ; 0 ) ) ; Plain )

In the actual auto-enter settings for the field you would use the AE_Instruction function, like so...

AE_Instruction (Name_First; "enter first name")

So simple, and yet quite useful. Thanks for sharing Kurt!

Am I missing something? The instruction text is not removed when data is entered into field. It just becomes black and plain along with data.

Figured it out. Set the field behavior to "Select entire contents of field when entered"