Text in a Number field - what am I doing wrong?

[Zulu]

I have a field that usually contains a dollar amount. But sometimes I'll want to be able to put in text instead. So I created a field with a type of Number, and allowed the user to override.

I then set the number formatting of the field to currency.

When I type numbers in, all is well. But when I type text in, it does not appear in the field on my layout. The data is there, you just can't see it unless you select the field.

What am I doing wrong here? What I want is a field that will automatically format to currency any number I input, but also display text if I input somethign else.

[LaRetta]

Zulu,

It's never recommended to mix field types like this. Your number field will tolerate the text but will not recognize it (as you've found out). The only thing you can do is punt.

There are some great currency Custom Functions which can format numeric text but, however you go about it, I think it will be important to keep your dollars as straight number as well. Believe me, you'll want that eventually.

Here's one way and it's a kludge. The text doesn't always show until you leave the field; seems it requires a commit to change the RGB() function (as with all calculations). And it will not accept both number and text. It will wipe out the text and just keep the number. That is logical when you think about it - somehow it needs to know whether you are entering dollars or a comment. And it's set to give numbers the priority.

Ah well ... it was fun playing with it and I hope it's of some help.

LaRetta

NumText.zip

[lmead]

Please tell me where to find the "currency custom functions" you mentioned.

[LaRetta]

You need Developer to insert a Custom Function. Here are a few I've run into:

Formatting Numbers and Add Dollar Format .

You can also search here on FM Forums ... there have been many posts addressing the issue. I use the examples from the first link I provided.