Widcard as criteria

[John S.]

Hi,

I've just been handed a database that uses "*", Access wildcard, as data in some fields.

I need to use them as characters, and to be able to query them in or out as needed.

I've learned how this is done many years ago but I've forgot the Syntax.

Can anyone assist>?

John

 

[CJ_London]

surround with square brackets

like " abc[*]def*"

you can use the replace function

like "*" & replace(myfield,"*","[*]") & "*"
see this link

Use wildcards in queries and parameters in Access - Microsoft Support

support.microsoft.com

 

[John S.]

I don't need to replace anything. Is replace a part of the syntax?

Like "*"
Or
Not like "*"

Like "[*]" ?
(use stand alone or with other criteria)

 

[John S.]

Go it !!

Like "[*]"
Not Like "[*]"

Thank you

 

[CJ_London]

Go it !! - not sure you have

Like "[*]" will only find records which only populated with a single * - but in that case you would use ="*"
Not Like "[*]" will find records which have multiple characters or a single character which is not a * - in which case you would use <>"*"

in both cases, Like is not required