---
title: "Masked Textbox Control"
slug: "using-the-masked-textbox-control"
description: "This document demonstrates how to use the Masked Textbox component in Decisions. By using the Masked Textbox, Designers can ensure that users properly fill out Forms, and display validation errors when Form inputs are invalid.  "
tags: ["User Experience", "Look and Feel"]
updated: 2025-06-18T14:32:23Z
published: 2025-06-18T14:32:23Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Masked Textbox Control

## Overview

The Masked Textbox Form control outputs data according to the format defined by a Value Type. The Value Type dropdown provides validation for default and custom [Regex](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Guide/Regular_Expressions).

## Example

1. [Create a Flow](/v9/docs/create-flows) and add a **Show Form** step from the **Toolbox**panel. Click PICK OR CREATE FORM and [create a new Form](/v9/docs/create-forms).
2. In the Form Designer, add three **Labels**(PC Name, Email, MAC Address), three **Masked Textbox** controls (PCName, userEmail, macAddress), and a **Button**control (Submit).  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-16_16h03_13.png)
3. On the **Properties**panel, for each of the Masked Textbox control fields, the default **Value Type** is **General**. Select the userEmail field and change the Value Type to **EmailAddress**.

| Value Type Option | Description |
| --- | --- |
| General | Accepts any text formatting or characters |
| Number | Enforces the textbox only to accept numbers |
| Decimal | Configures the textbox only to accept numbers and decimal values |
| Currency | Configures the textbox only to accept number values and only two decimal place values |
| EmailAddress | Sets the textbox only to accept string values that contain an @ sign |
| SSN | Configures the textbox only to accept a 9 digit SSN format |
| PhoneNumber | Enforce the textbox only to accept a 10 digit Phone number |
| Custom | Allows users to define their own custom string formatting |

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-16_16h07_24.png)
4. Select the Masked Textbox control for the macAddress field and set the Value Type to **Custom**. Enter "^([0-9A-F]{2}[:-]){5}([0-9A-F]{2})$" in the **Custom Mask (Regex)**field.

| Regex Section | Function |
| --- | --- |
| ^ | The beginning of the line |
| ([0-9A-F] | Any numbers from 0-9 or uppercase letters |
| {2} | Two letters or digits |
| [:-]) | The separator can be a : or - |
| {5} | Any five characters comprised of upper letters (A-F) or numbers (0-9) |
| ([0-9A-F] | Any numbers from 0-9 or uppercase letters |
| {2}) | Two letters or digits |
| $ | End of the value line |

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-16_16h16_24.png)
5. Select the **Override Display Mask** option which will allow a user to customize the displayed format.  In the **Custom Display Mask**field, enter "99-99-99-99-99-99". A 9 is used to enable the end-user to enter any digit. Using another number will set that number in the format. Click **Save**and close the Form Designer.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-16_16h18_43.png)
6. Set the Input fields to **Ignore**for the **mac Address**, **PC Name,** and**user Email** fields. Connect the **Submit**path to the **End**step. Click Save to save changes to the Flow.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-18_10h31_19.png)

### Debug

1. On the top action bar, click **Debug**.
2. Click START DEBUGGING.
3. The Form will display. Attempt to select the Submit button without providing valid text in the masked textboxes and an error message will display.
4. Provide valid text and click Submit.

---

For further information on Forms, visit the [Decisions Forum](https://community.decisions.com/categories/Forms).