Formatting fields
For many fields, you can choose a format in which the field is displayed from the Format list. The list of formats varies depending on the type of field selected. In some cases, you can also leave the Format choice blank or use code letters to enter a custom format.
If you have existing records in the database, you can preview the effects of most display formats by right-clicking the relevant entity, and selecting Records. Due to the potential scale of format conversion, Multi-Line Text formats cannot be previewed.
You can choose a format for fields of the following types:
- Text
Formats: Upper Case, Lower Case, Upper First, or left blank to show the text as entered
- Calculated Date
Formats: Long Date, Medium Date, Short Date, Custom (with m d y)
- Calculated Number
Formats: Custom (with #.0)
- Real Number
Formats: Custom (with #.0)
- Date
Formats: Long Date, Medium Date, Short Date, Custom
- Hyperlink
Formats: Upper Case, Lower Case, Upper First, or left blank to show the text as entered
- Time
Formats: Long Time, Medium Time, Short Time, Custom (with h, m or n, s am/pm and a separator)
- Currency
Formats: Currency (using Windows currency symbol), Custom (with #.0)
- Multi-Line Text, Multi-Line Text (Append Only)
Formats: Upper Case, Lower Case, Upper First, or left blank to show the text as entered
You can define a custom format by entering code letters and extra text, or display the field unformatted by leaving the entry blank. If you specify a custom format, the field either contains the code that you enter or is blank; it never contains the word Custom.
Note: Be aware that when formats are applied to numerical field types (Currency, Calculated Number, and Real Number fields), the displayed accuracy or number of decimal places might be limited. Add a hint to the Description of such fields that queries should test for a difference of plus or minus the least significant digit rather than absolute equality.