Time would have to be typed with a colon For example, my computer shows 9:12 pm so I could type "21:12" or "9:12 p".

Likewise, if it's 11:03 pm, it could be entered as "23:03", "23:3", "11:03 p", "11:3 p" and access will convert it to 2303

ok, so here is my problem, when I type with a colon, I get a message Enter time as HHnn (4 Digits, EG, 1812). Then, when I type just 1812, I get the value you entered isn't valid for this field. But double-click adds the current time as HHnn

Dolt, I forgot about the simple solution. Add an input mask of either: 00:00 or 09:09. This would allow the user the enter in 24-hour time and access will convert to the appropriate time and typing the colon would be optional. Your Format would then omit the colon when displaying.

For example: With input mask 09:09, you could enter 0101, 01:1, 1:1, 1:01 and your field would show 0101. Use all zeroes to require the user to enter 4 digits. you just have to remember that this would be 24-hour time format.

Some time videos that also handle time entery: Military Time and Fitness 58

You could also use 00:00a or 09:09a if you wanted to be able to type a or p optionally for am/pm. This would allow the user to enter 24 or 12 hour time.

so input mask of 00:00 instead of 0000?

yeah, with that input mask, you don't have to type the colon but Access will interpret it as if it's there so it will accept the time properly. You can still the format property as hhnn so it won't show the colon when it's displayed.

* still set the format property

Thank you, that seemed to work. Now, do I get a field to show the proper format for a phone number (000) 000-0000? I have the format and the input mask set to  (000) 000-0000

Just to be sure, a phone # should be entered as a text field. Then your formatting would be:

Format:  (@@@) @@@\-@@@@
Input Mask \(000") "000-0000

Basically, since it's a text field, you want your format treated like text so "@" is for required characters and "&" is for optional characters. The input mask access will likely convert it like what I have above.

Format a text field (Microsoft)

Control data entry formats with input masks (Microsoft)