Find exact word matches

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Using a query - I want to search for specific words within a description. So,
I want to find all descriptions of LAMP from entries like Desk Lamp, Overhead
Lamp, Bedside Lamp, etc. When I use the wildcard *lamp* I get unwanted
returns like Clamp.
What operator would determine only returning rows with the whole word Lamp
in them.

Thanks
 
Using a query - I want to search for specific words within a description. So,
I want to find all descriptions of LAMP from entries like Desk Lamp, Overhead
Lamp, Bedside Lamp, etc. When I use the wildcard *lamp* I get unwanted
returns like Clamp.
What operator would determine only returning rows with the whole word Lamp
in them.

Thanks
Click to expand...

It will depend upon your data layout.
Add a space around the word.

Like "* lamp *"
An Overhead Lamp with shade
Lamp is in the middle of the text.

Like "* lamp"
Desk Lamp
The end of the text is Lamp

Like "Lamp *"
Lamp Shade
Lamp is at the beginning of the text.

If you wish to be prompted for the search word, use:
Like [Enter Word] & " *"
Like "* " & [Enter Word]
Like "* " & [Enter Word] & " *"
etc.
 
Try searching on * lamp* with the leading space.

Or if business rules support it, normalize your data. For example the parent
table would hold Lamp and the child table would look like:

Desk
Overhead
Bedside
Outdoor
 
If you define a word as a string surrounded by spaces, you can use.

Field: SearchThis: " " & [The field] & " "
Criteria: Like "* " & [Match What] & " *"

Note the addition of spaces at the beginning and ending of the field for
search purposes. If your definition of a word is more complex then you
would need more complex criteria. For instance
Bedside Chair/Stool

If you were to search for chair or stool as a word, you wouldn't get a
match.
 
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