How to automate adding characters to a field in a ticket?

[Joshua Young]

I am trying to set an automation for incoming tickets that will check a field and if it isnt formatted properly to automate a correction to the data in the field. 

The field is an ssn field that allows users to enter the ssn as either 123456789 or 123-45-6789. And the preferred formatting is the latter. 

i was able to get as far as when an issue is created, if the field does not contain "-" then edit field.

im stuck on how to retain the inputted data and add the "-" characters 

any help is appreciated, thank you,

[Kalyan Sattaluri · Accepted solution]

Hello @Joshua Young 

Probably many ways to do this, I could think of substring function.

if my field was called "Text 1", then below will give me formatted string:

{{Text 1.substring(0,3)}}-{{Text 1.substring(3,5)}}-{{Text 1.substring(5,9)}}

In my test, I am checking if length is 9, then do this step:

[Joshua Young]

thank you for your help, im going to try this in my environment

[Kalyan Sattaluri]

Please store your original SSN value in a variable, modify the variable as above and finally store that variable back in your field.

[John Funk]

Hi Joshua,

Are you using an Advanced Form? If so, you might be able to set the format there to enforce the entry. 

[Joshua Young]

im not using a form here, just a custom field on the ticket.