Search to return all records matching search term

J

Jackie

I have a database with one table of 16 fields and a form to enter data.

I would like to set up the facility to search the table and return all
instances of the search text.

I have very limited knowledge of Access and programming so, if there is a
way, may I ask that it is simple please!

Thanks

Jackie
 
T

TedMi

Will the search always be conducted on the same field? If not, will the
search be limited to a single field (column) which might change from one
search to the next? If you intend to search for text in *any* column, you
have a serious problem with the design of your table - each field in a
database is meant to hold a single fact, and all facts with a particular
meaning should reside in only one column. Databases are not meant to search
across columns.
And further - what do you mean by "all instances of the search text"? The
entire record containing the text?
 
J

Jackie

At the moment the database is being used in Lotus Approach.

In Approach, with the table open, I can click on Find, then select the field
I want to search on, hit Enter and it returns complete records for all the
instances it finds.

For instance, if I want to know all records relating to Mr Smith in the
'Client' field, I type 'Mr Smith' in the Client field, and all his records
are displayed in a table view showing all fields for those records. Ditto
searching for MA705 in the 'Client code' field, etc etc. So yes, the search
will be limited to a single field which might change from one search to the
next.

Hope this makes it clearer!

The reason I want to see if I can use the database in Access is that the
Approach database is on one computer which is acting as a server for two
others. All the computers are using the database for entries.
Unfortunately, since the 3rd computer was added to the 100MB Workgroup,
searches on the database have become from slow to grinding to a halt.
Although I have received advice from Approach users via a mailing list, and
looked up the problem on the web, none of the suggestions help and I can't
find an Approach consultant in the UK. Hence my wanting to try out Access,
but if I can't get it to search the way Approach does, I'm probably wasting
my and your time...
 
T

TedMi

Yes, you can do that in Access. See Help for the topics "Filter by Form" and
"Filter by Selection"
 
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