Linking SQL Server Databases AND Data Formatting Like InputMask

Hi

I have two questions : 1) Linking SQL Server Databases
2) Data Formatting like InputMask

1) I want to know if there is a way to link two seperate SQL server databases (it's tables) within the same server (local server). I created one Global database - with clients, etc. tables. The reason I did it like this is that I have to handle three seperate invoices databases, but using the same clients, etc. tables to get their information from. I used MS Access like this, linking Clients, etc tables from the Clients Database with the three other Databases. It worked fine but now I need some new features like setting the InvoiceNumber to something different, eg . 04/0001 for this year and then 05/0001 for next year. My Access databases can't change this numbers - it's just a autonumber I used. I know some Visual Basic code can make a change like perhaps adding a new column like InvYear and then adding it together with InvoiceNumber to get the Invoice Number, but I want to change it to SQL Server because I want to learn how SQL Server works. I am just starting out and not doing courses.

2) The other thing is I want to know if there is some feature in SQL Server to make data input easier, like a InputMask in Access where you can let a text column be formatted as you want. Eg. for a telephone number, it can store it in the format you made; like (011) 123 4567, not like you typed it : 0111234567.

I would appreciate some help.

Thank you

Corné