Picture (string, picture)

Basic and Crystal syntax.

Arguments

• String is a text string to be formatted according to the picture format.
• Picture is a text string representing the way you want the characters in the string to be printed.

Return

string

Action

Picture (string, picture) prints a string or values in a text string in a predetermined format.

Typical Uses

Picture can be used to print a string "2065555555" in a telephone number format "(206) 555-5555", or to print other strings in fixed formats.

Examples

The following examples are applicable to both Basic and Crystal syntax:

Picture ({customer.FAX},"(xxx) xxx-xxxx" )

Prints the values in the Fax field in the format (805) 555-5555, (313) 555-2555, etc.

Picture ({customer.REGION}, "[xx]")

Prints the values in the Region field in the format [AK], [CA], etc.

Comments

• Picture must be enclosed in quotes.
• Use the character "x" in the mask to designate characters from the string.
• If the database field includes brackets or other formatting, for example (xxx) xxx-xxxx, you will not be able to convert it to xxxxxxx. The parentheses and hyphen will still appear.