Validation of data

Ability will automatically check that any data you try to enter into a database field is of the right type (as set when you designed the table). As you would expect, a field set to take numeric values will not be allowed to accept text.

However, there is another level of validation available to you when you are formatting fields. This allows you to exclude data that is of the right data type for the field but is perhaps outside the range of data you want to appear in this field. You can specify a validation rule (see Validation rule) for what is acceptable or unacceptable within the data type you set. Furthermore, you can write your own error message or validation text (see Validation text), which will be displayed whenever you attempt to enter data that breaks the validation rule.