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Use the Character Filter dialog to force the contents of the selected data source or data entry control to conform to certain rules. You can use the options on the Character Filter dialog with any of the different data source types; however, typically they are used when input is read from a database or when data is entered into the data entry form at print time.

To access this dialog, use one of the following methods:

• For template objects, click next to Character Filter.

• For data entry controls, click next to Character Filter on the Data Entry property page.

• For query prompts, click next to Character Filter on the More Query Prompt Options dialog.

The available options for configuring a character filter include the following:

• Allowable Characters: Specifies the type of characters that are accepted as input into the data field. When characters other than those that are specified in Allowable Characters are read from a database or entered into the data entry form, the unwanted characters are removed from the data. For example, if you specify that only numbers are allowed, any letters or spaces are removed. In this case, if the Warn When Data Validation Fails option is selected, you receive a message if any non-numeric characters are encountered to indicate that they were removed.

  Input Mask

  The following options are available when the Allowable Characters option is set to Set By Input Mask:

  • Select Sample Mask: Opens the Select Sample Mask dialog, which you can use to select one of several preconfigured sample input masks.

  • Input Mask: Specifies that you can create and/or display the template to which the data is forced to conform.

  • Test: Displays an example of the data template that is specified in the Input Mask field. You can also use this option to enter data to test whether the data template works the way that you want it to.

  • Placeholder Character: Specifies the character that is displayed as the placeholder in the Test area and in the text input box on the data entry form.

  • Print Literal Characters: Specifies that the characters that are entered as part of the data template in the Input Mask field are displayed on the template and printed on the items. Rather than toggling the option, you can turn the Print Literal Characters option on or off by manually entering a 0 (on) or a 1 (off) between the two semicolons in the Input Mask field.

  • Fill In Characters From Right To Left: Specifies that data that is entered into the field appears from the right and shifts to the left rather than filling in the default direction of left to right.

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

  Regular Expression

  The following options are available when the Allowable Characters option is set to Set By Regular Expression:

  • Select Sample Regular Expression: Opens the Select Regular Expression dialog, where you can select the expression that you want to use from several common regular expressions. When you close the Select Regular Expression dialog, the selected expression populates the Regular Expression field, where you can edit it further as needed.

  • Regular Expression: Specifies the regular expression that you want to be used for the character filter. You can populate this field by using any one or more of the following methods:

  • Click Select Sample Regular Expression, and then make a selection from the Select Regular Expression dialog.

  • Enter the expression that you want in the field.

  • Click the icon to the right of the field, and then click the expression element that you want to add to the expression.

  • Test: Displays an example of the data template that is specified in the Regular Expression field. You can also use this option to enter data to test whether the data template works the way that you want it to.

• Characters: Specifies the characters that are accepted, based on the option that is selected for Allowable Characters. When the Allowable Characters option is set to Custom, you can use the Characters field to specify the characters that are allowed. This option is available for any Allowable Characters selection except Set by Input Mask or Set by Regular Expression.

Options

• Convert to Uppercase: Changes alphabetical data to capital letters.

• Convert to Lowercase: Changes alphabetical data to lowercase letters.

• Warn When Data Validation Fails: Specifies that a message is displayed when the data contains unwanted characters. You can then remove the unwanted characters and then continue or cancel the print job.