>>Well, computers, software = sometimes unexpected behaviour.
>>But I'd be surprised though that this would not work in vfp8 where it did in vfp6
>>I'm sure you can get it to work in vfp8
>>
>I checked in VFP9, it doesn't work here either. So, the solution is to unbind for a moment and bind back.
>
>>And btw, I'd say that this is normal behaviour. When it comes to InputMasks for a DateTime, vfp knows best. That's why they get blanked out as soon as vfp is able to determine it's date/datetime either by binding or by setting the value
>>
>
>If it knows best, why I can type anything if the Format is not set? It should not allow me to type "mama" there.

Because it does not know yet it is a datetime.

There are two ways for it to know it is a datetime. (1) Bind it to a datetime field and (2) set its value to any datetime value.

Just did the test

&& NO format
&& no inputmask
&& no value
&& no Controlsource
 >> Mama && ok

&& a value { / / :} or a ControlSource

>> Mama && the bell rings, but I do not see her appear