Q117263: How to Clear the Text of MaskedEdit Control w/o Clearing Mask

Article: Q117263
Product(s): Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
Version(s): 3.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 02-NOV-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition for Windows, version 3.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, version 3.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Traditionally, to clear the text of a MaskedEdit control, you would set
the control's Mask Property to an empty string, and then set its text
property to an empty string:

     MaskedEdit1.Mask = ""
     MaskedEdit1.Text  = ""

Here's a better method. Modify the Mask property according to the following
steps. Then assign the Mask property to the text property of the MaskedEdit
control:

1. Replace Every occurrence of the pound sign (#) or question mark (?) in the
  Mask string with an underscore (_). The underscore is the default value for
  PromptChar.

2. Retain the literal characters and any spaces in the Mask string in their
  original positions.

For Example, if the Mask property has this value:

  (###) ###-#### Ext(#####)

and the PromptChar value is an underscore (_), use the following piece of
code to clear all the text and set the focus back to the MaskedEdit
control:

     MaskedEdit1.Text = "(___) ___-____ Ext(_____)"
     MaskedEdit1.SetFocus

Additional query words: 3.00 formatted format MaskEdit Masked Edit

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB300Search kbVB300
Version           : :3.0

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.