what is the purpose of the 'wildcard' in data base queries

#1 (**permalink**) 28-Jul-2006, 08:00 AM

Hi...can anyone help?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/information-technology/9207-what-purpose-wildcard-data-base-queries.html

*

#2 (**permalink**) 28-Jul-2006, 08:00 AM

"Boyo" wrote in message
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=9207
news:A8F99C95-FCAF-43E1-B9B4-DACD941562AB@microsoft.com...
> Hi...can anyone help?

Wildcard * represents "any number of characters"
Wildcard ? represents "any single character"

If I want all records with "Bob" in the [FirstName] field I use...
WHERE [FirstName] = "Bob"
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=9207

If I want all records that start with the letter "B" in the [FirstName] field I
use...
WHERE [FirstName] Like "B*"

If I want all records that start with the letter "B" in the [FirstName] followed
by any two characters followed by a "D" and then anything afterwards field I
use...
WHERE [FirstName] Like "B??D*"

In other database systems the * would be replaced by % and the ? would be
replaced by _.

--
Rick Brandt, Microsoft Access MVP
Email (as appropriate) to...
RBrandt at Hunter dot com

#3 (**permalink**) 28-Jul-2006, 08:00 AM

"Rick Brandt" wrote in message
news:m8%7g.3047$fb2.2059@newssvr27.news.prodigy.ne t...
>
> In other database systems the * would be replaced by % and the ? would be
> replaced by _.

That may be a little misleading. If you're using ADO, you still use %
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=9207
instead of *, and _ instead of ?, even if you're using Access as the client.

--
Doug Steele, Microsoft Access MVP
http://I.Am/DougSteele
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=9207
(no e-mails, please!)