I am trying to put a search function on my database. It is a very small db with only one table that lists equipment part numbers, serial numbers and a few other criteria.

I would like to use a dropdown box to select the field that is to be searched and am unsure how to do it. For the actual search, I have used individual queries for each column to be searched and done a parameter value search (which I found on your website thank you).

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Richard Answers:

So you want the drop-down box to have a list of FIELD names in it? That's certainly doable. OK, let's say you want to be able to search on FirstName or LastName. Make a static combo box with just one column and put those values in it. Name the combo box "FieldName". Now make a blank text box called MyParameter where the person will actually type in the value they're looking for.

Now, make a command button with the following code in it:

DoCmd.OpenForm "CustomerForm" ' whatever your customer form is called
Forms!CustomerForm.RecordSource = "SELECT * FROM CustomerTable WHERE " & FieldName & "='" & MyParameter & "'"

When Access compiles that SQL Statement, it will replace the variable names with your data and you'll get something like:

SELECT * FROM CustomerTable WHERE FirstName='Joe'

So the code will open the form and then set the RecordSource property of your form to that SQL statement, basically showing any and all records that meet that criteria.

I cover this in more detail in my Access 311 class:

http://www.599cd.com/site/courselist/access/access311/