>The char idea with the IAC checking seems to be the right one, but a little different, no inputmask. That fouls up the data entry, but I think I'm we're the right direction. When the field is left, when you check valid H & M, you also check len. If 4, insert : for HH:MM, if len = 3, insert to H:MM form, then redisplay. Something like that will work, it looks like.

Why would a inputmask like "99:99" foul data entry? With "99:99" you will always have the time in a "standard/canonic" format in the database and on screen without any programming effort.

Vlad