MS Access query filter problem

[Brett]

I have created a fairly basic database in Access with approx 20
columns/fields in the primary table. I am trying to build several queries
which filter the data differenty. When in "Design View" for the query every
column/field can be sorted with standard criteria except for two. These two
fields have one thing in common: unlike every other field which is populated
"manually" via a form, these two are populated via pull-down menus (the
values of which are sourced from separate tables). No matter what criteria I
use, the query refuses to return any records when I filter on these two
fields. Any ideas out there? Tks in advance-

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

My guess is that you have fallen victim to the "lookup field" flaw in
current Access table design. For some reason, years ago, designers at
Microsoft thought it would be a neat feature to allow users to work directly
in tables. Access is the only database system on earth that encourages this.
It is a bad idea. Users should only interact with data via forms and
reports. If they are knowledgeable, you can allow them to interact with
queries. Only admins and the developers should ever be allowed to see
tables. For the reasons lookup tables are bad, see:

http://www.mvps.org/access/lookupfields.htm

My advice is to correct the design. If that is not an option, you'll need to
fix your queries to add the correct sorting tables.