200k records will be just as fast in Access as any other db.
Make sure you have these 4 fields indexed.
Avoid leading wildcards. (Training wildcards can still use the index.)
Create a SQL statement that matches all the criteria entered, when the use
hits the Search button. You can build the search form like this example:
http://allenbrowne.com/ser-62.html
but don't use the leading wildcard.
With that approach, Access should be able to give you the results almost
instantaneously.
--
Allen Browne - Microsoft MVP. Perth, Western Australia
Tips for Access users -
http://allenbrowne.com/tips.html
Reply to group, rather than allenbrowne at mvps dot org.
"Kelvin Beaton" <kelvin at mccsa dot com> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a table with about 200,000 records and six fields, FirstName,
>LastName, SSN, DOB, Gender, AccountNumber.
>
> I need to have about six people be able to search by FirstName, or
> LastName or SSN, or DOB.
>
> The data is static so I can give them each a copy of the database with the
> data local on their PC.
> I have MS SQL Server also if it would help to put the data there.
>
> I'm thinking to use drop down list for them to search.
> It would be nice if they were searching by last name, that the first name
> could be in the drop down also, but if that makes things even slower, the
> we'll have to live with just one field dropdown.
>
> Any words of wisdom on how the make looking up data preactical speed wise?
>
> Thanks
>
> Kelvin