Simple Question.......?

[bluenose76]

Is it possible to have a sort criteria set on a field that is populated in a table by a lookup?

The reason i am asking is that although i can get a query to show the entire contents of the table, when i try to have a criteria eg:

[please enter registration]

or just in case it is spelt wrong:

Like "*" & [please enter registration] & "*"

This will give a blank return? what am i doing wrong?

Please advise.

Regards
Bev

 

[Brianwarnock]

If the string in a Like is not matched in the field search nothing will be returned, ie if your registrations start Hthen numerics and N then numerics are entered no match, the best way to tackle this is to drive the query from a form which has a drop down list populated from the table.

Brian

 

[bluenose76]

Brian,

Thank you for your reply, I have tried this with a Like criteria and a normal sort and bot are qithout sucess.

I am using a value that is exactly as it is in the table, i have even copied the criteria and pasted it in tothe query when requested to see if i was getting it wrong and still ti does not work.

My problem is that for what i am tryign to acheive, the only thing that is common throughout is the vehicle registration and because it appears in several tables, i populate this using a lookup field, but now i am tryign to query basing upon this lookup field i cannot get it to work?

Can anyone help me with this?

Best regards
Bev

 

[Brianwarnock]

I don't really understand your questions , because the use of Sort, and Criteria to filter records, are different, but you can, in a query, do both on fields that are populated in the table using a lookup.
I'm about to go on holiday but if you can attach your database somebody may be able to help.

Brian

 

[neileg]

Are you using table level lookups? These create no end of bother and sometimes simply stop things working properly. It is far better to use a combo box control in a form to populate your tables. You lookup may be showing the registration but your table may be showing a different key field.

If this is a real world application rather than an assignment, bear in mind that vehicle registrations are not good candidates for a primary key. Because registration numbers can be transferred, one vehicle can have more than one registration during its life and the same registration can refer to more than one vehicle.