Creating a 'word search' in a query

[Erika M.]

I am building a reference FAQs/Answers database in which we will be doing
searches using keywords. Can you tell me the best way to build this search
engine? I have built a query and the criteria for the "Question" field looks
like this as of now:

Like "*" & [Enter Keyword] & "*"

However, that only allows me to enter one word at a time, and it has to be
spelled exactly the way it is spelled in the table in order for it to pull
up. I would know to use * and other expression helpers, but others running
viewing this form would not know. How can I give users the option to enter
more than one keyword? Or better yet, what is the best advice you can offer
someone who is building a search engine for their table.

Thank you again!! You all are great!

 

[Jeff Boyce]

Erika

You don't really expect Access (just a dumb computer program) to "know" that
someone misspelled the word "transport" when they entered it in response to
your parameter prompt, right?<g> If you can come up with a pattern for ALL
the ways folks might creatively misspell ALL words, you could program Access
with that ?!?

And the ability to search for more than one term is going to require a bit
of work. After all, do you want them to search for Word1 AND Word2, or
Word1 OR Word2? And how many Words do you want to allow (again, Access is
dumb, you'll have to be specific)?

You might want to look into building a search form, rather than trying to do
this via a query's parameters. Search on-line for Access-related search
form approaches.

Good luck!

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP