Real time data entry search engine

[Bob Scarborough]

I am building an estimating database for my son who is a plumber. We have 2 major suppliers of products but neither of them record the description the same way. e.g. One supplier may record a product as a "6MTR 20MM Cu Tube HD" Whilst the other records it as a "Copper Tube HD 6 Mtr X 20MM" There are over 25,000 items in the product list so "Copper" and "CU" appear often as do words like "PVC" "Bend" and various sizes "20MM, 40MM, 60MM, 80MM, 100MM etc" Naturally enough both suppliers have different part numbers for the same product.

I can build queries or use filtering to get down to the records. But I would really like real time filtering like you often see in your Outlook address book, in that the more characters you type the more it narrows down the person registered in you contacts list.

I have used wild card strings in queries and filtering which get around the problem but you have to press Find or Search and also type in the Wild card characters which is not all that slick for a non technical user. I want the result set to automatically populate itself on the form so that it will make it easy for the operator to select the product they want.

 

[Rich]

Something like this may help

 

[Bob Scarborough]

Rich,

Thanks for the reply. It's close to what I want but not quite. Your search is looking at the first characters in the "Full Name" column. Using your data file I want to be able to search for say the String "London" and then perhaps a string like "horn". to narrow it down to a few records. I want if possible to have the search strings in the same field but not necessarily based on lefthand side string.

So I am looking at finding records based on a Like statement

Here are a selection of the records I am looking at.

Description Part Number Unit Trade RRP Markup Supplier
"COPPER TUBE CUTTER CAPACITY 15/16"" (EA)" 7700070-1 $32.87 $37.76 $4.89 Reece
COPPER TUBE CUTTER WHEEL EASTM T1000/312 (EA) 7100844-1 $9.93 $12.27 $2.34 Reece
COPPER TUBE EXPANDER HANDLE ONLY (EA) 7701350-1 $176.14 $176.14 $0.00 Reece
CORE CUTTER 40MM X 100MM 22161548658 EA $193.02 $193.02 $0.00 TradeLink
CORE CUTTER 50MM X 100MM 22161548661 EA $230.20 $230.20 $0.00 TradeLink
CORE CUTTER 65MM X 100MM 22161548767 EA $265.84 $265.84 $0.00 TradeLink

So if possible I would like to find records based on say "Cutter" and then "Tube".

I hope this makes a little more sense. Buttom line I want to be able to find a tube cutter and then find if either Reece or Tradelink stock the product and then select the lowest price. As you will see their part numbering system is totally different as is the way their Description is constructed.

Thanks again for any suggestions..

 

[Bob Scarborough]

Problem solved

To Rich and all the other posters out there thanks for all your help.
What a great site. I am amazed at the volume of traffic and the prompt support given to all and sundry.

Once again thankyou!