Format (Field) Dialog Box
Makes it possible for you to specify format expressions for output generated from Field report controls in the Report Designer or Label Designer. For more information, see Format Expressions for Field Controls.
Note
Depending on the setting of the _REPORTBUILDER system variable, this dialog may be replaced by an alternative user interface. For more information, see _REPORTBUILDER System Variable.
General formatting options
Format
Specifies a format expression, which can include format codes and format template characters, instead of selecting options from the Editing options group.Character
Specifies that the output from the Field report control has Character type and displays the appropriate options in the Editing options group.Numeric
Specifies that the output from the Field report control has Numeric type and displays the appropriate options in the Editing options group.Date
Specifies that the output from the Field report control has Date type and displays the appropriate options in the Editing options group.
Editing options
Displays format options depending on the data type selected. Selecting these options inserts a formatting code in the Format box in the Report Expression dialog box. For more information, see Report Expression Dialog Box.
To upper case
Displays output with Character type in uppercase characters.Ignore input mask
Determines how additional format templates display with output of Character type.If Ignore input mask is checked, additional characters in the format template characters display interleaved between characters from the evaluated field expression.
If Ignore input mask is cleared, additional characters in the format template function replace (or overlay) characters from the evaluated field expression.
For example, suppose a record in the underlying table contains the characters ABC1234, and you specify the format template NNN-NNNN. Selecting the Ignore input mask check box displays ABC1234 as ABC-1234; while clearing the Ignore input mask check box displays ABC1234 as ABC-234.
Left justify
Aligns output with Character or Numeric type with the leftmost position in the Field control.Right justify
Aligns output with Character type with the rightmost position in the Field control.Right justify
Aligns output with Character type with the center of the Field control.Blank if zero
Does not display output with Numeric type that consists only of zeroes.(Negative)
Displays and encloses negative values in output with Numeric type with parentheses (()).SET DATE format
Specifies that output appear as a date using the current format setting of the SET DATE command. For more information, see SET DATE Command.British date
Displays output as a date in British date format. For more information, see SET DATE Command.CR if positive
Displays and follows positive values in output with Numeric type with the text, "CR (credit)".DB if negative
Displays and follows negative values in output with Numeric type with the text, "DB (debit)".Leading zeros
Displays all leading zeroes in output with Numeric type.Currency
Displays output with Numeric type using the currency format specified on the Regional tab in the Options dialog box. For more information, see Regional Tab, Options Dialog Box.Scientific
Displays output with Numeric type in scientific notation, which can be useful for very large or small numbers.
See Also
Tasks
How to: Specify Data Types for Field Controls