Query using multiple values from one text box

  • Thread starter Thread starter shm135
  • Start date Start date
S

shm135

Hi,

I have a form called Test. On this form, I have a textbox where I can
type query criteria. I would like to be able to type multiple criteria
into this textbox and use this textbox to filter my query results.

For example, on my Test form textbox, I'd like to be able to type
("Alaska" OR "Alabama") and would like to then filter my query based
on what I type into this textbox.

Currently, when I type one thing into the textbox "Alaska," the query
properly filters to all results that equal "Alaska." However, when I
type another piece of critiera "AND Alabama" or "OR Alabama", the
query returns no results.

How can I accomplish this?

Thanks
 
Well, I don't think it will work by directly passing that textbox
value to the query. The query ends up searching for the actual string
of "Alaska OR Alabama", which of course returns no results..


You could use some VB code to parse the string and manually generate
your WHERE clause of the SQL statement. Using the InStr() funciton,
you could search for strings such as " OR " and " AND ", and determine
from there how to build out the WHERE clause of the SQL. It's not the
simplest thing to code, but it's certainly possible. If you want to
try this route, we can assist with how the code will look.


Or you might be able to just use multiple text boxes on your form.
 
On Fri, 14 May 2010 06:14:37 -0700 (PDT), shm135 <[email protected]>
wrote:

I'm guessing you have a query:
select * from myTable where StateName = Forms!myForm!myTextbox
You later use this query as the recordsource for some form or report.

The reason your current solution does not work is because there is no
StateName with a value of Alaska OR Alabama, regardless of how you put
the doublequotes.
The solution is to use an IN clause:
select * from myTable where StateName in ('Alaska', 'Alabama')
(note that I use single-quotes; will come in handy below)
I have noticed in the past that this does not work in a query:
select * from myTable where StateName in (Forms!myForm!myTextbox)

The workaround is to forget about the query and assign the
concatenated string to the recordsource property directly:
private sub form_open
if isnull(Forms!myForm!myTextbox) then
msgbox "Yo! Gimme some state(s)"
else
me.recordsource = "select * from myTable where StateName in (" &
Forms!myForm!myTextbox & ")"
end sub
Now if you put 'Alaska', 'Alabama' in the textbox it should work.

-Tom.
Microsoft Access MVP
 
If it's something pretty static, like all the US States and Territories, you
could save that data into a table then base a multi-select list box on it.
Then it's just a matter of clicking on all the state names. As a bonus, you
don't have to worry about misspelling things like Conneticut. ;-)
 
Another way, not the best, is to enter items separated by a space like this --
Alaska Alabama Texas
Use criteria --
Like "*" & [Enter item(s) for search] & "*"

It has drawbacks in that if you enter Bill it will pull Bill,
Billboard, and Billards.
 
I'm guessing you have a query:
select * from myTable where StateName = Forms!myForm!myTextbox
You later use this query as the recordsource for some form or report.

The reason your current solution does not work is because there is no
StateName with a value of Alaska OR Alabama, regardless of how you put
the doublequotes.
The solution is to use an IN clause:
select * from myTable where StateName in ('Alaska', 'Alabama')
(note that I use single-quotes; will come in handy below)
I have noticed in the past that this does not work in a query:
select * from myTable where StateName in (Forms!myForm!myTextbox)

The workaround is to forget about the query and assign the
concatenated string to the recordsource property directly:
private sub form_open
if isnull(Forms!myForm!myTextbox) then
  msgbox "Yo! Gimme some state(s)"
else
  me.recordsource = "select * from myTable where StateName in (" &
Forms!myForm!myTextbox & ")"
end sub
Now if you put 'Alaska', 'Alabama' in the textbox it should work.

-Tom.
Microsoft Access MVP









- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Thank you all for your responses! I think I may have accidentally
marked one of your responses as SPAM- for that, I apologize!

You're right Tom. This is what I am doing now and it is not working:
select * from myTable where StateName in (Forms!myForm!myTextbox)

To further elaborate- I have a multiselect listbox, whose AFTERUPDATE
event transfers my selections to a textbox, with the word OR in
between. Then, I am setting the query criteria equal to the textbox.
If I make one selection, it works. More than one selection and it does
not work. In the end, I want to use my selections for an UPDATE query.
How can I go about this using the recordsource method you describe
above.

Essentially, I want to first pull out all of the records whose
statename is equal to my form textbox. Then, I want to be able to
update the Point of Contact field for multiple states at one time. How
do I do this?

Thanks!
 
Thank you all for your responses! I think I may have accidentally
marked one of your responses as SPAM- for that, I apologize!

You're right Tom. This is what I am doing now and it is not working:
select * from myTable where StateName in (Forms!myForm!myTextbox)

To further elaborate- I have a multiselect listbox, whose AFTERUPDATE
event transfers my selections to a textbox, with the word OR in
between. Then, I am setting the query criteria equal to the textbox.
If I make one selection, it works. More than one selection and it does
not work. In the end, I want to use my selections for an UPDATE query.
How can I go about this using the recordsource method you describe
above.

Essentially, I want to first pull out all of the records whose
statename is equal to my form textbox. Then, I want to be able to
update the Point of Contact field for multiple states at one time. How
do I do this?

Thanks!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Does anyone have any input to help? Thanks for your time.
 
shm135 said:
I'm guessing you have a query:
select * from myTable where StateName = Forms!myForm!myTextbox
Click to expand...
[quoted text clipped - 66 lines]
- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Does anyone have any input to help? Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...

What did you need help with?
Click to expand...

have a multiselect listbox, whose AFTERUPDATE
event transfers my selections to a textbox, with the word OR in
between. Then, I am setting the query criteria equal to the textbox.
If I make one selection, it works. More than one selection and it
does
not work. In the end, I want to use my selections for an UPDATE
query.
How can I go about this using the recordsource method you describe
above.


Essentially, I want to first pull out all of the records whose
statename is equal to my form textbox. Then, I want to be able to
update the Point of Contact field for multiple states at one time.
How
do I do this?
 
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