Format masks define how data returned for a field is converted to, or from, a string. For example, a field might return the value "7000", but you want to display it as "$7,000.00". To do this, you apply a format mask to the field. The original data is not truncated when using a format mask.
As shown in the table below, when Format is used with Decimal, the period (.) in the format mask is replaced with the indicated character. Alternatively, when Format is used with Group, the comma (,) in the format mask is replaced with the indicated character. See Common Formats for information on valid number formats.
| Input / Output value | Format | Decimal | Group |
| 10.0 | #.# | . | , |
| 1,546.99 | #,###.## | . | , |
| 1g546d99 | #,###.## | d | g |
| €1.546,99 | €#,###.00 | , | . |
| $1,546.99 | $#,###.00 | . | , |
The following table shows that when Format, Decimal, Group, Length, and Precision are used together. Format always overrides Length and Precision.
| Input | Format | Decimal | Group | Length | Precision | String output | Number output |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.0 | #.# | . | , | 5 | 2 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| 10.0 | . | , | 5 | 2 | 010.00 | 10.0 | |
| 10.01 | . | , | 2 | 1 | 10.0 | 10.01 | |
| 1,546.99 | #,###.## | . | , | 10 | 3 | 1,546.99 | 1546.99 |
| 1,546.99 | 0#,###.000 | . | , | 01,546.990 | 1546.99 |