forcing character length

[rbemiller]

I have the following control source of a text box on my report.

="*Z" & [Forms]![frmRcv]![identity_column] & "*"

This basically lets the ID number (identity_column) be read by a barcode scanner, and puts a Z in front of it. Works fine.

However, the system we're scanning it into requires that the identity_column be exactly 10 characters long. But our numbers are all from 1 to 4 characters long.

How can I force the length of the field to be 10 characters? Can someone show me how to do this with the above code?

Thanks

 

[Travis]

How do you want to Pad the bar code?

Leading Zeros: 0000001234
Trailing Zeros: 1234000000

Spaces?

Leading
="*Z" & Right("0000000000" & [Forms]![frmRcv]![identity_column],10) & "*"

Trailing
="*Z" & Left([Forms]![frmRcv]![identity_column] & "0000000000",10) & "*"

 

[rbemiller]

Thanks for your reply Travis.

I ended up figuring it out. I actually needed spaces between the Z and the ID number, not zeros. At any rate, the correct code follows:

="*Z" & Format([Forms]![frmRcv]![identity_column], "@@@@@@@@@@") & "*"