I'm slowly working my way through being able to display DB results from a
user-input form which has 5 fields. My problems are these:

3 of my 5 fields are simple text fields where a user can enter any part of
what they think they may need eg. they may enter "sm" if they are not sure
if a surname if "smith" or "smyth". The results would then display all
records containing "sm". I'm not sure which comparison to use - do I use
"contains" or "like". What's the difference?
The remaining 2 of 5 fields are drop down lists where the user selection is
pre-defined. I presume I would make the comparison "equal" in this case.

Now, my biggest issue - I would like records to be returned regardless of
how many fields are filled in(obviously assuming a minimum one one field is
chosen by the user). So - as an example, if all the text entry fields are
left blank, and only one drop down item is chosen, I would like all records
that match that selection to be returned. Similarly, if two text fields are
completed, I would like all records returned that match the entry in these
two fields. There of course can also be text fields filled and drop-down
lists selected.
I have tried using "or" from the "And/or" for all of the five fields
(assuming that this is the correct choice), but records that don't match are
also returned. What am I doing wrong? Could it have something to do with the
first option in the drop down lists being left blank (ie. <option></option>)
and this is being picked up somewhere?

Any help appreciated!

Tx.

Mart

Martin:
This should help with your first question: Description of the SQL syntax
that is generated by the FrontPage Database Results Wizard
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306430 scroll down to the Text Field
Queries section.

--

~ Kathleen Anderson
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
Spider Web Woman Designs
Expression Web Resources: http://www.spiderwebwoman.com/xweb/
FrontPage Resources: http://www.spiderwebwoman.com/resources/
Please reply to the newsgroup for the benefit of others


"Martin Stabrey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm slowly working my way through being able to display DB results from a
> user-input form which has 5 fields. My problems are these:
>
> 3 of my 5 fields are simple text fields where a user can enter any part of
> what they think they may need eg. they may enter "sm" if they are not sure
> if a surname if "smith" or "smyth". The results would then display all
> records containing "sm". I'm not sure which comparison to use - do I use
> "contains" or "like". What's the difference?
> The remaining 2 of 5 fields are drop down lists where the user selection
> is pre-defined. I presume I would make the comparison "equal" in this
> case.
>
> Now, my biggest issue - I would like records to be returned regardless of
> how many fields are filled in(obviously assuming a minimum one one field
> is chosen by the user). So - as an example, if all the text entry fields
> are left blank, and only one drop down item is chosen, I would like all
> records that match that selection to be returned. Similarly, if two text
> fields are completed, I would like all records returned that match the
> entry in these two fields. There of course can also be text fields filled
> and drop-down lists selected.
> I have tried using "or" from the "And/or" for all of the five fields
> (assuming that this is the correct choice), but records that don't match
> are also returned. What am I doing wrong? Could it have something to do
> with the first option in the drop down lists being left blank (ie.
> <option></option>) and this is being picked up somewhere?
>
> Any help appreciated!
>
> Tx.
>
> Mart
>

Hey Kathleen. Thanks again. I got it sorted.

Mart

"Kathleen Anderson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Martin:
> This should help with your first question: Description of the SQL syntax
> that is generated by the FrontPage Database Results Wizard
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306430 scroll down to the Text Field
> Queries section.
>
> --
>
> ~ Kathleen Anderson
> Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
> Spider Web Woman Designs
> Expression Web Resources: http://www.spiderwebwoman.com/xweb/
> FrontPage Resources: http://www.spiderwebwoman.com/resources/
> Please reply to the newsgroup for the benefit of others
>
>
> "Martin Stabrey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I'm slowly working my way through being able to display DB results from a
>> user-input form which has 5 fields. My problems are these:
>>
>> 3 of my 5 fields are simple text fields where a user can enter any part
>> of what they think they may need eg. they may enter "sm" if they are not
>> sure if a surname if "smith" or "smyth". The results would then display
>> all records containing "sm". I'm not sure which comparison to use - do I
>> use "contains" or "like". What's the difference?
>> The remaining 2 of 5 fields are drop down lists where the user selection
>> is pre-defined. I presume I would make the comparison "equal" in this
>> case.
>>
>> Now, my biggest issue - I would like records to be returned regardless of
>> how many fields are filled in(obviously assuming a minimum one one field
>> is chosen by the user). So - as an example, if all the text entry fields
>> are left blank, and only one drop down item is chosen, I would like all
>> records that match that selection to be returned. Similarly, if two text
>> fields are completed, I would like all records returned that match the
>> entry in these two fields. There of course can also be text fields filled
>> and drop-down lists selected.
>> I have tried using "or" from the "And/or" for all of the five fields
>> (assuming that this is the correct choice), but records that don't match
>> are also returned. What am I doing wrong? Could it have something to do
>> with the first option in the drop down lists being left blank (ie.
>> <option></option>) and this is being picked up somewhere?
>>
>> Any help appreciated!
>>
>> Tx.
>>
>> Mart
>>
>
>