>>>Hi, I was looking for a solution to this:
>>>We have a date field that if it contains a date, it means the item is closed.
>>>If it is blank, it means still pending.
>>>Now a new status is that it will be neither of these so a mgr wants all zeros to denote this. But it won't accept this, so what could be input to denote a 3rd status?
>>
>>Backcolor?
>>Update:
>>
>>Sometimes I use a shape as a frame for things like this. (Visible -- !visible to mark the state)
>
>Thanks for the ideas, the color prob wouldn't work as the data table needs to reflect the reality. If they can't agree on a crazy date, then I guess Sergey's idea may need implementing although this is an establish app and no one like's too much change!

This is something I do not understand.

-crazy date is a bit outdated (we have had some problems wit 9.9.1999 for example)

-Somewhere the new status must be stored. You have a use for empty and !empty so you need something differnt.
It could be Null for the date field or an other field.

-Now you need something to display this

NULL is easy - the control will show it on an instant.
for anything else

-This could be a new object
or
-or a behaviour change to a existing one

A new object might use its controlsource
-anything else, except DYNAMIC* of a grid needs manual coding (catch record change and set something like backcolor etc.)

Agnes