I want to create a SQL query for an Access database. I want the query to return records based on parameters entered by the user, unless no parameter for a particular field is entered, in which case it would return all records where that field exists.

Example (and I hope this is clear):

The database is a list of documents of county records, containing a document name, a county name, a document summary, etc. I want the user to be able to look up records either by county, or document name, or both. So the query form will request the user to enter a parameter in the appropriate field. If they enter no parameter, the query is to assume all records containing any value for that field are being requested.

Some one suggested the statement below, but I get an
"Invalid use of vertical bars in expression" error.

Anyone know the correct Access syntax?

select * from records
where dName like '%' || nvl('&dName','') || '%'
and county like '%' || nvl('&county','') || '%';

Thanks for your help,

Durwood

Durwood,

How is the user choosing the parameters?

Kevin

dartcoach

It will be done in ASP. What I need is an example of how to query an Access database so that if no parameter is passed it assumes that all data in the field satisfies the query.

Thanks!

Would something similar to this work?

If the fields queried were A, B, and C.

Select * from mytable
where ((mytable.A = form.A) OR isnull(form.A)) AND
((mytable.B = form.B) OR isnull(form.B)) AND
((mytable.C = form.C) OR isnull(form.C));

This way, if the Field on the form contains data it will be used to select data. If the field on the form is empty, that field is ignored for the purposes of the query.

Hope this helps.
:)
Darron

Bingo! That may well be it.
Thanks,

Durwood

i think durwood would benefit by learning some VBA. I think it's bad practice to refer to forms in queries. Just think... The more forms you have, the more form specific queries you need. You should just have a couple of general information queries, and use VBA to filter them.

"Life is a Database"