txt box as inut to query criteria

[papa jonah]

I have created a form with a text box (txtInput). My hope is to be
able to enter a string to be used as criteria in a query. For example,
I want to be able to enter *elect* into the text box and have the query
result in anything that has "electrical" or "electric" in it. The way
that I have built the query inlcudes the following for the criteria.
[Forms]![query form]![txtInput]
It doesn't work. If I substitute the above criteria with "*electr*" -
it works fine.

This is modeled after a similar structure that uses a combobox instead
of a text box which also works.

Any ideas?

 

[fredg]

I have created a form with a text box (txtInput). My hope is to be
able to enter a string to be used as criteria in a query. For example,
I want to be able to enter *elect* into the text box and have the query
result in anything that has "electrical" or "electric" in it. The way
that I have built the query inlcudes the following for the criteria.
[Forms]![query form]![txtInput]
It doesn't work. If I substitute the above criteria with "*electr*" -
it works fine.

This is modeled after a similar structure that uses a combobox instead
of a text box which also works.

Any ideas?

Is the criteria Field's datatype Text?
Change the query criteria to:
Like "*" & [Forms]![query form]![txtInput] & "*"

Then just enter elect (not *elect*) in the text control.

The form must be open when the query is run.