How to replace "the value you entered isn't valid" with a custom message

[Adam Tippelt]

Is it possible to stop this message from appearing?

I've got a couple of unbound textboxes that I want to use as filters for start date/end date type parameters. I wanted to use the build-in calendar option to let users select a date (as well as being able to type it in) so I set the format of the text boxes to Short Date. However in doing this it means that this "invalid value" message now pops up when the date format is wrong, as opposed to the LostFocus event I had to check the date format and alert the user.

Any idea if it's possible to hide/disable these kinds of messages? Would it be in a similar way to DoCmd.SetWarnings False/True?

Thanks.

Adam.

[NeoPa]

You could check out Custom Error Messages, but I don't think this is your best approach. As what you require is a little unusual you can expect to use a fiddly solution. Mine would be to clear any format of the TextBox control on Entry (the event), and determine it again After Update (event) by the value entered. That way you wouldn't be constrained by the Format while entering data.

[pod]

Jeez Neo, you're quick on the draw :)



Adam if you want to go the "Custom Error Message" way then catch the error number and display a custom message in relation to that number

Private Sub somefunction()
    On Error GoTo errorCatching
 
    '...some code
 
errorCatching:
    msgbox Err.Number
    ' you will have to determine what number 
    ' comes up as you enter some wrong data 
    ' for testing purposes 
 
    If Err.Number = 2421 Then 
        MsgBox ("please enter an appropriate date")
    End If
End Sub
 
 
 

[Adam Tippelt]

Mmm yeah I don't think that approach would work - that seems to be based around using the run time error codes, whereas this doesn't have one.
The reason I used format was because it seems to be the cleanest way to get a calendar for the text boxes, unless there's another way? (aside from building a calendar form)

[pod]

best for me is to force users to select a date from the control, no more formatting problem

[Adam Tippelt]

pod
have you tried catching the error number and then displaying a custom message in relation to that number

All my procedures already use error trapping. However this is not an 'error' in the sense that the coding is triggering a run time problem with a code. It's caused by the data inputted, not the design, and shows just a standard messagebox with an OK button, just informing the user that the value isn't valid.

[Adam Tippelt]

Mmm the control-only idea could work, but how could I restrict access and still have the calendar functional? Locking the textbox stops user from editing it themselves, but it also stops the calendar from updating the value. And obviously setting the Enabled value to no will stop the users from entering the field at all, which means the calendar won't appear.

[pod]

no need to lock ...you could set the onClick textbox event to show the calendar and set the focus to it. Then after the user clicks a date, you set that value to the textbox
...with a bit more code to make it work

I hope this helps

Private Sub Calendar2_Click()
   Text0.Value = Calendar2.Value
   Text0.SetFocus
   Calendar2.Visible = False
End Sub
 
Private Sub Text0_Click()
   Calendar2.Visible = True
   Calendar2.SetFocus
End Sub

[NeoPa]

OnClick assumes the operator will always use the mouse. Try OnEnter instead for more reliably working code.

PS. Was the (main) idea (Event procedures to clear the Format property when entering data into the control) in post #2 missed? I don't see any response to it and was wondering why it might not be appropriate.

[NeoPa]

Adam Tippelt:
However this is not an 'error' in the sense that the coding is triggering a run time problem with a code. It's caused by the data input

Although I still think this approach limited and am not recommending it, I do believe that ADezii's article on error message substitution may well work in this scenario too (as well as for the more usual code error messages).

[Adam Tippelt]

Although I still think this approach limited and am not recommending it, I do believe that ADezii's article on error message substitution may well work in this scenario too (as well as for the more usual code error messages).

Doesn't ADezii's article work on the basis that the error has a run time code that you use to distinguish what should be done for each error? As the 'error' I have doesn't have a code, surely this wouldn't work? (Unless it has a code but doesn't display it?)

PS. Was the (main) idea (Event procedures to clear the Format property when entering data into the control) in post #2 missed?

Yes...yes it was. :)
I think I completely misread that post - I thought you were talking about removing the Format option completely, but you're talking about temporarily.

Huh...that might be suitable...I'll investigate that and say if it works. :)

Thanks.

Adam.

[Adam Tippelt]

@Pod can you actually reference the ActiveX Calendar in the way you're suggesting? I can understand that working from a form-build calendar, but I was hoping to avoid adding one of them in.

[Mihail]

Why not use IsDate() function to verify if the value in your text box is a valid date ?

[Adam Tippelt]

I am Mihail - that's exactly what my own code uses. But the problem is that the system has it's own built in error/messagebox for textboxes formatted for dates. I'm trying to stop this firing so that it'll display my own message instead.

[Adam Tippelt]

Mine would be to clear any format of the TextBox control on Entry (the event), and determine it again After Update (event) by the value entered. That way you wouldn't be constrained by the Format while entering data.

Unfortunately your suggestion does not quite work NeoPa. The calendar icon only appears when you enter the textbox (and subsequently disappears when you exit the textbox), so to disable the textbox's format On Entry would be to remove that functionality completely.

I tried applying a similar sort of strategy to things like the Keydown event, and while this works the problem with that strategy is the calendar icon doesn't seem to disappear, so you're left with an unusuable and misleading calendar icon, and I can't seem to get it to disappear...

[Mihail]

So Adam, do not format the text box. Make a label where you show the good format to enter (i.e yyyy:mm:zz). Then check using code if the user enter data as you teach him in the label. It is just an idea. More: I think that NeoPa's suggestion to use a Calendar control is the best. What about to replace your text box with the Calendar control ?
Good luck !

[Adam Tippelt]

Ah. I've just realised that I think I've been thinking of something else when you've all been saying Calendar control...I always forget about ActiveX controls...
Yes maybe that would be a suitable replacement. I'll see how that works.

Cheers.

Adam.

[pod]

I am attaching a simple version of what I was suggesting. I added the onEnter event as well as Neo suggested.

You may want to play with the events to simulate the action as you see fit...

I hope it helps

[Adam Tippelt]

Ah just spotted your example - that's pretty much what I'd ended up doing. Seems to work well enough.

Thanks.

Adam.