Access 2000 Intermediate

Parameter Queries

When running a query, you may not know what criteria to put in at the time. It's possible your needs for the query can change. In this situation, you can place a holder in the criteria field in lieu of the actual criteria. This is called a Parameter Query. When the query is actually run, the criteria will then be requested. The primary advantage of using a paramter query lies in being able to use the same query for many different possibilities of criteria, such as shifting dates or different product lines.

To set one up, simply place a statement in square brackets [like this] in the criteria section. Here is a sample for our Transactions table. (To zoom in on the cell and type the long criteria, we hit the [SHIFT]+[F2] keys.)

<Click here> to see a video demonstration of this parameter query in action. (1.21 MB)

A parameter to find a text string in a particular field would be set up this way:

Like "*"&[Enter a Value]&"*"

The *'s are the wildcard character for any sequence of text. The ampersands (&) connect the asterisks to either side of the parameter brackets.