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Devextreme Input Mask Include Mask Characters In Value

5 min read Oct 03, 2024
Devextreme Input Mask Include Mask Characters In Value

Handling Mask Characters in Devexpress Input Masks

The Devexpress Input Mask component provides a convenient way to format user input in a variety of ways. However, a common question arises: how do you include the mask characters within the value itself? This is especially relevant when dealing with formats like phone numbers, where you might want to include the country code or separators in the displayed value.

Here's a breakdown of how to achieve this in Devexpress Input Mask, with a focus on JavaScript:

Understanding the Devexpress Input Mask

The Devexpress Input Mask component offers a versatile method to enforce specific formatting rules on user input. It utilizes a mask string to define the expected structure of the value. For example, the mask string "(999) 999-9999" would enforce a phone number format with area code, prefix, and line number.

The Challenge: Mask Characters in the Value

By default, the Devexpress Input Mask component doesn't include the mask characters within the value itself. It uses them as placeholders for input and removes them from the final value. This is often desired for data storage and processing but can pose issues if you need to display the value with the mask characters intact.

Solutions for Including Mask Characters:

1. The showMask Property:

The most straightforward way to achieve this is by setting the showMask property to true. This ensures that the mask characters are displayed alongside the user's input.

// Example
$(function() {
  $("#phone-input").dxMaskedBox({
    showMask: true,
    mask: "(999) 999-9999",
    // Other options
  });
});

Explanation:

  • showMask: true: Instructs the Input Mask to include the mask characters in the displayed value.

2. Utilizing Custom Formatting:

For scenarios that require more specific control over the formatting, you can implement custom formatting using the onValueChanged event handler.

// Example
$(function() {
  $("#phone-input").dxMaskedBox({
    mask: "(999) 999-9999",
    onValueChanged: function(e) {
      // Extract the formatted value
      const formattedValue = e.value;
      // Display the value with mask characters
      $("#display-value").text(formattedValue);
    },
    // Other options
  });
});

Explanation:

  • onValueChanged: Triggers a function every time the value changes.
  • Extract the formatted value: Obtain the value formatted by the Input Mask.
  • Display with mask characters: Update the desired element (here, #display-value) with the value containing mask characters.

Considerations:

  • Data Storage: Remember that the showMask property primarily affects the displayed value. For data storage, you may need to process the value to remove the mask characters and store only the user-entered digits.
  • Custom Formatting: When employing custom formatting, be mindful of the potential for unexpected behavior if your mask and formatting logic don't align properly.

Conclusion

Devexpress Input Mask offers flexibility in formatting user input. Including mask characters in the value can be achieved using the showMask property or custom formatting techniques. Carefully choose the method that best aligns with your data storage and display requirements to ensure a user-friendly and efficient experience.

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