An input mask is defined as a type of template that is used when entering data into a field that follows some sort of format. For example, the phone number 4827482234 is much harder to read than (482) 748-2234. Access can set up input masks to make sure data is entered completely and correctly. The Employees table in the Northwind sample database makes use of such an input mask:

 

Different data types have different input masks. To set up or modify an input mask, open a table in design view:

 

 

When you click in a field property that is not a direct field where you can type, or a combo box, a small symbol will appear ().on the right-hand side. Click it to start the Input Mask Wizard:

 

 

Here you can select from the various input masks that are available. The first option is the phone number mask; give it a try by clicking in the Try It text box and typing. Click Next.

 

Here you can change the placeholder character to some other symbol than the underscore character. Click Next.

 

 

You can choose how you would like to store the data in the table, either with the symbols or without the symbols. If you choose to keep the symbols in the database to make the data easier to read, you must make sure the data type for the Phone Number field is Text. Non numerical characters are not allowed in a Number field. Click Next, and then Finish to complete the wizard. If you close the Employees table design view, and then open the table in Datasheet view, you will see that the Home Phone field has the input mask applied to it: