Help! Criteria Confusion

[Wheeze]

Hello,
I am building a defect database using Access 2007. I have three text boxes (tbClockNumber, tbClockNumber2, and tbClockNumber3) on a form where the users can enter the clock number/ clock numbers that had the defect. I need a criteria for a report, to pull a clock number that someone wants to look up. I need the criteria to search for the clock number in all three text boxes and put the data associated with that clock number on the report.

I basically need a criteria to search three fields of a query for the clock number that the user wants to find. I have tried putting ([Find Clock Number]) in the criteria box for the clock number field, ([Enter the Same Clock Number]) in the criteria box for the clock number 2 field, and ([Enter the same Clock Number Again]) in the clock number 3 field. The problem is it is searching one row from a table for the same Clock Number in all three text boxes. Where I need it to search the whole table for the Clock Number that the user entered into the criteria to pull it from all three text boxes.

Any help or recommendations would be appreciated.:banghead:

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Why do you have three Text boxes for Clock number? There is only one clock I take it? Or is there three?

tbClockNumber, tbClockNumber2, and tbClockNumber3

 

[Wheeze]

Each employee has a clock number almost like their id, so employee 5243, 5243 is their clock number id. If it is more then one employee's fault that there is a defect. The auditor will enter in each employees id or clock number into the text boxes. To show who had the defect.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Does your table have three fields ClockNumber, ClockNumber2, and ClockNumber3?

 

[Wheeze]

Yeah it does. Thanks again for helping sorry I am new to access and these forums!

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Yeah it does. Thanks again for helping sorry I am new to access and these forums!

Why?

Please explain the need to have Three fields when one would do.

 

[Wheeze]

At first I did start off with one field. The users would enter more then one clock number into the text box or field. So I made two more Clock Number text boxes for the Query's criteria so they would enter one clock number into each text box if needed, instead of multiple in one. So I could separate them out and try to pull the clock number I was looking for, for my report.

How would one field work better?

Again I am new to access really and i am accepting any ideas or recommendations.

 

[Brianwarnock]

Disclaimer
I promised myself that being 8 years retired and no longer having Access I would stick to excel and not answer Access problems.

But I am surprised that nobody has come on and mentioned normalisation, in effect you have a one to many relationship, just think of the changes you would have to make if you found that 4 people could have the defect.
I think that you need at least 2 maybe 3 tables but people could advise better than I , it might be worth closing this and posting in tables forum to get a better DB design

Brian