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Access Input Masks Exercise Result

Objective

Set up a field-level input mask using the Input Mask Wizard so that the SSN field accepts Social Security Numbers in a consistent format.

Your submission

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What “correct” looks like in Access

In this exercise, you were asked to open the Consultants table in Design View, add a new SSN field, and then apply the Social Security input mask using the wizard. When configured correctly, the table design and SSN field properties should resemble the figure below.
Consultants table design showing the SSN field and its Input Mask property
Consultants : Table
The SSN field is configured as a text field and uses a Social Security input mask. The key detail is that the Input Mask property enforces the SSN shape during data entry.

Field properties (SSN field selected) 
| Property        | Typical Value                     |
|----------------|-----------------------------------|
| Data Type      | Short Text (Text)                 |
| Field Size     | 9                                 |
| Input Mask     | 000-00-0000;_                      |
| Required       | No (depends on your rules)        |
| Allow Zero Len | No                                |
Table fields (example) 
| Field Name     | Data Type   |
|----------------|------------|
| ConsultantID   | AutoNumber |
| LastName       | Short Text |
| FirstName      | Short Text |
| SSN            | Short Text |
Consultants table design showing the SSN field and its Input Mask property.

How the Input Mask Wizard supports the objective

The objective of this lesson is not just “creating a mask,” but using the mask to control the format of data at entry time. In other words, the user can’t accidentally type an SSN in a random shape, because the mask guides and restricts input.

Steps that match the exercise instructions

  1. Open the Consultants table in Design View. This is where you define field properties that apply to the table itself.
  2. Add a new field named SSN, and set the Data Type to Short Text (called Text in some older Access documentation).
  3. Set Field Size to 9. This matches the number of digits in an SSN when you store digits only.
  4. In the field properties area, locate the Input Mask property and click the builder button (...) to launch the Input Mask Wizard.
  5. Select the Social Security Number mask, test it in the wizard, and click Finish. After saving the table, the SSN field will enforce the mask whenever SSNs are entered.

What the SSN input mask is doing

  • 0 means “a digit is required” (0–9).
  • Dashes ( - ) are literal characters shown to the user to guide entry.
  • The semicolon options control placeholder behavior and (depending on settings) whether literals are stored.

✅ Bottom line: the Input Mask Wizard helps you enforce a consistent SSN format at the table level, reducing entry errors and improving data quality.


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