I have read a bunch of the posts concerning formating queries. It appeared that most are geared toward the end result and not the user input. So...can a sort of input mask be used when prompting a user for input in a query? This concerns the inputting of dates. At present the input is a simple:

Between [Start Date] and [End Date]

If you enter ##/##/#### or ##/##/## the information I am hoping for is returned. If you enter ###### or ######## then you get nothing. How do I get the /'s?

I am beginning to think that finding the Loch Ness monster and Big Foot would be easier than tangling with an Access query.

No, you cannot do this with a parameter prompt in a query. You really should use a FORM for input for queries/reports and not do the [Enter Something] in queries.

Using a form you can do all that you want.

Man, that was a fast reply. Thanks for your help. I will try the FORM route.

Take care

boblarson:

I took your advice and attempted using a FORM. I used an expression builder to execute upon the clicking of a button. It is not working how I had hoped. Here is how I am attempting to determine what employees were hired during a user defined time period:

tblEmployees - contains employee information (first name, last name, date of birth, hire date, etc.)

formEmployeeHirePeriod
txtEmpStartHirePeriod - user enters a date
txtEmpEndHirePeriod - user enters a date
toggleHirePeriod - executes expression below upon being clicked

Using the expression builder I entered:

FROM tblEmployees
WHERE (((tblEmployees.DateHired) Between [txtEmpStartHirePeriod] and [txtEmpEndHirePeriod]))
ORDER BY tblEmployees.DateHired

If this is in the query you need to also tell it which form this is on:

WHERE (((tblEmployees.DateHired) Between [Forms]![YourFormNameHere]![txtEmpStartHirePeriod] and [Forms]![YourFormNameHere]![txtEmpEndHirePeriod]))

Thanks again for your assistance. boblarson for President 2012!