Character Filter Dialog

The Character Filter dialog, accessible from the Transform tab of the Data Source property page, allows you to force the contents of the selected data source to conform to certain rules. Although you can use the options on the Character Filter dialog with any of the different data source types, you will generally use them when reading input from a database or entering data into the data entry form at print-time.

• Allowable Characters. Specifies the type of characters that will be accepted as input into the data field. When characters other than those specified in Allowable Characters are read from a database or entered into the data entry form, the undesired characters will be removed from the data.

  For example, if you specify that only numbers will be allowed, any letters or spaces will be removed. In this case, if the Warn When Data Validation Fails option is enabled, a message will be displayed if any non-numeric characters are encountered to indicate that they have been removed.

• Characters. Specifies the characters that will be accepted when the Allowable Characters option is set to "Custom."

Input Mask

• Select Sample Mask. Opens the Select Sample Mask dialog, which allows you to select one of several prepared sample input masks. Available when the Allowable Characters option is set to "Set by Input Mask."

• Input Mask. Allows you to create and/or display the template to which the data will be forced to conform. Available when the Allowable Characters option is set to "Set by Input Mask."

• Test. Displays an example of the data template specified in the Input Mask field; also allows you to enter data to test that the data template works as desired.

• Placeholder Character. Specifies the character that will be displayed as the placeholder in the Test area, as well as the text input box on the data entry form.

• Print Literal Characters. When enabled, specifies that the characters entered as part of the data template in the Input Mask field will be displayed on the template; additionally, they will be printed on the items.

  Rather than toggling the option on and off, you can enable or disable the Print Literal Characters option by manually entering a 0 (enable) or a 1 (disable) between the two semi-colons in the Input Mask field.

• Fill In Characters From Right To Left. When enabled, specifies that data entered into the field will appear from the right and shift to the left rather than the default direction of left to right.

  This option affects data received from a Database Field or Embedded Data data source only. Data entered into the data entry form at print-time will always fill from left to right.

Options

• Convert to Uppercase. When enabled, changes alphabetical data to capital letters.

• Convert to Lowercase. When enabled, changes alphabetical data to lowercase letters.

• Warn When Data Validation Fails. When enabled, specifies that a message will be displayed when the data contains unacceptable characters. You will be allowed to remove the unacceptable characters and continue or cancel the print job.

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