How to create a static negation sign (-) in a textbox

[technocraze]

Hi community experts,

Environment
MS Acess, visual basic

May i knw whether is there a way to create a static negation sign (-) in a textbox? Is there a possiblity that this can be done using expression builder or code wise. If so hw can it be achieved? It mean that whenever the form is being loaded, the negation sign will be there and it mux be static. tks

[NeoPa]

Set the Control Source of the control to (="-").

[NeoPa]

I don't know what you mean by being static in this context.
Try it out, if it does what you want fine, just post back confirming. If it doesn't, just let us know what else you need as clearly as you can.

[Killer42]

I think it's the Input Mask you're looking for.

[NeoPa]

I don't get that from the question.
That wouldn't display the minus (-) on opening the form...

[Killer42]

I don't get that from the question.
That wouldn't display the minus (-) on opening the form...

I took "static" to mean that the text box should always have the minus sign there, thus forcing the entry of a negative number. I could be wrong, of course.

And I haven't tested this, just thought it was something worth looking at. Perhaps I'm mixing it up with the old Masked Edit control?

[NeoPa]

I wasn't merely being argumentative ;)
I was interested in your thinking too.
I don't think it works like that - it would control the operator input rather than showing the character. I was wondering whether the OP actually wanted a (-) that couldn't be edited at all.

[Killer42]

I wasn't merely being argumentative ;)
I was interested in your thinking too.
I don't think it works like that - it would control the operator input rather than showing the character. I was wondering whether the OP actually wanted a (-) that couldn't be edited at all.

I've just been playing briefly with a text box with an input mask of "-0000" and it seems to do something kind of similar to what I expected. Maybe the OP would be better off simply placing a label on the form with a "-" in it.

[MMcCarthy]

I wasn't merely being argumentative ;)
I was interested in your thinking too.
I don't think it works like that - it would control the operator input rather than showing the character. I was wondering whether the OP actually wanted a (-) that couldn't be edited at all.

To settle the 'argument' ...

If the poster simply wants to display a '-' sign then the input mask can be used but this will not store the number as a negative. However, if the poster wishes to enforce a negative number be entered then the validation rule of <0 must be set in the control or table properties.

Mary

[Killer42]

Guess we just need to wait for some input from technocraze, now. At least we've managed to provide some ideas.

[technocraze]

Environment
MS Acess and visual basic

Yes, NeoPa and Killer42 were right! What i need is what they have responded in the post. This mean that the entry will only take in negative sign and that sign cannot be erased, edited or replaced. Any ideas as to hw that can be achieved either through coding, expression builder or even macros?

I have been thinking hard for all possible combinations and solutions but it seems to come in vain. I am also thinking of concatenating the negative sign with the numerial values of the textbox but nt too sure hw can that be achieved.
Ex: "-" + Me.TextBox1.Value

HI guys tks for the response. To make it simple what i need is to display the negative sign in the textbox and it must be permanently there, which mean that user are not able to edit that negation sign ("-"). Whenever the form is loaded that negative sign must be there.

The purpose of the textbox in this context is used to accept a numerical value, which mean that when the user save the data to the table, the sign together with what have been entered in the textbox will be displayed.

I have tried with what some of the experts in this post have suggested such as mask and greater than 0 in the validation rule but it seems to have macro error and no value can be entered.

What i am thinking is to use the expression builder to achieve but still trying hard on that expression.

Normally, I will take the effort to try first before posting because i dnt want to take things for granted and expect the community experts to do the work for me.

Ex: Textbox1
Permanent negative sign (-)
value for the textbox - (2)
Overall it will become -2

This are the what have tried so far but to no avail.
Load event . Me.TextBox1 = "-"
Got Focus - Me.TextBox1 = "-"
Validation rule - < 0
ControlSoure - ="-"
input mask = "-"

[NeoPa]

Try putting this procedure into your form's module :

Private Sub TextBox1_AfterUpdate()
On Error Resume Next 'Just in case operator enters non-numeric value
    If Nz(Me!TextBox1, 0) > 0 Then Me!TextBox1 = -Me!TextBox1
End Sub

It won't put the sign in as such, but will ensure that any figure entered is treated as negative regardless of the sign entered.

[technocraze]

Cool MAN NeoPa! this is what i want to achieve. Once again tks for the concerted effort made.

[NeoPa]

Glad to help.