# also allows spaces, which is so not relevant for numeric.

>>>Hilmar,
>>>
>>>Back in the late eighties, I decided that since there were two ways to use an input mask for numeric input (the other is "99:99"), I'd differentiate how I'd use them.
>>>
>>>If the control source was, indeed, numeric, then I'd use the "#" character. If, however, the control source was actually text, such as a zip code or, in your case, a time, then I'd use "9".
>>>
>>>This gives me the advantage of knowing, simply by looking at the mask, what data type the control source is.
>>
>>Are the two really equivalent? I am not sure about the help file in this case.
>
>I believe so. I've never seen a problem with this technique over the last 10+ years.