Getting Started > Entering Data

Using Formatted Fields

Formatted fields are fields used to enter phone numbers, zip codes, percentages, and dollar amounts without having to type dashes and parentheses. The punctuation marks are displayed in the field.

As you type data in a formatted field, the punctuation marks function as follows:

• The punctuation mark acts as a placeholder that is skipped over as you type information.

Example:Example:In a phone number field, the cursor moves to the right of the parenthesis after you type the three-digit area code.

• The punctuation mark is added to the field after the cursor is moved to another field.

Example:Example:After you type 80 in the Percent field in the Coverage tab of the Insurance Plan window and move the cursor to the next field, the percent sign is automatically inserted at the end of the field.

The following formatted fields are used in the software:

• Time:Time:You do not need to type the colon that is displayed between the hour and minutes.
  
  Example: Type 012 and press Tab. 1:20p is displayed in the field.

• Date:Date:You do not need to type the forward slash marks that are displayed between the month, day, and year. Type a zero before single-digit months.
  
  Example: Type 02 for February.

• Dollar Amount:Dollar Amount:You do not need to type the dollar sign in formatted fields used for dollar amounts. When you type a decimal point as part of the amount, the cursor is automatically moved to the right of the decimal point.

• Percentage:Percentage:You do not need to type the percentage sign in formatted fields used for percentages. The sign is displayed after the cursor is moved to another field.

• Phone and Fax numbers:Phone and Fax numbers:You do not need to type the parenthesis or hyphen when typing information into formatted fields that are used for phone numbers.

• Social Security numbers:Social Security numbers:You do not need to type the hyphens used to divide Social Security numbers.

• Zip Code:Zip Code:You do not need to type the hyphen used to divide the standard five-digit code and the
  four-digit extension.

• When adding an account, patient, provider, or referring doctor, the City, State, and Zip Code fields default to the practice’s address.