HELLLP! Over my head, need help- Any MSAccess gurus on?

[comsymp]

Trying to create a pop-up to search a data table and am SOOOOOO way over my head!

[redqueen]

1. I think with the data table open

you should be able to click the Forms button and then design the search form, then set the mode to 'pop up'.

Been a long time, though...

[comsymp]

2. TY

Have managed to muddle thru to that point. Unfortunately, that's about where I got stuck- can't figure how to set it up to call up the table headers that need to be searchable, and can't get the @#$% "#name?" out of the @#$% prompt box

:argh:

[redqueen]

3. Are you using a wizard to create it?

Or the design view?

[comsymp]

4. Design view-

Other than the main form, I haven't had much luck with Wizard- it refuses to read my mind.

[redqueen]

5. lol

I never used design view... could launch it and give it a shot though...

[comsymp]

7. Anything, anything!!!

My boss is such a nice guy- I really hate to rob him of his fantasies of my competence...

[KurtNYC]

6. I got a different way

Write the query with a {question?} (those should be square brackets but you know the formatting on here won't let me show those) prompt built in. When you call the query you get the pop up.

[comsymp]

9. That's what I was trying to do, originally

Query automatically took it to the table, tho, so that's why I did the manual pop-up form... Did I miss something obvious (no surprise)?

[KurtNYC]

10. A query like

"Select * from TABLENAME where FIELD = {what to match?}"

And then either base a form on that query or just call that query directly

[LynzM]

12. Yup,

Just make sure those are square brackets, and put what you want the prompt to be in there. If you're using the query builder, you need the field you want to filer on in a column, and then put that in the criteria field, something like {Enter Start Date} or whatever, since that's what you'll see when it does the popup. If you want to give details about the table, fields and criteria, we could probably write the SQL for you directly! :)

[comsymp]

14. Well, since my head just exploded...

(did i mention the part about not having an effin' clue what i'm doing?)

[KurtNYC]

16. Or my personal favorite

which is to have an unbound text box on the form and pull whatever is entered there into the query by referencing it like this

Forms!{nameofForm}!{nameofTextBox}

Using square brackets for those {}'s

[LynzM]

8. I have a few minutes...

Try again to explain what you want to do... You want a box to pop up when, where, and to do what? To get data for a query to populate something? Need more info! :)

[comsymp]

11. OK, in a nutshell

(and I've undoubtedly got the buzzwords all wrong)

OK, open the program- Main Menu will have 3 buttons- Form, Reports & Query.

(Form is working great, btw! Haven't started on Reports yet- can't wait /s)

Basically, what we're doing is compiling data on parts that are being returned for repair, so we have a table with stuff like:

Customer, Service Order, Part #, S/N, Aircraft Type and a few others- the ones I listed are the ones my boss wants to be able to search by.

So what he'd like is to be able to hit "Query", have a box pop up into which he could type, say, "747" and have all data entries in the table with Aircraft Type = 747 come up.

[LynzM]

13. Ok, here's a start

Go to queries and 'New'.

You should get a wizard popup with the list of tables you have. Select and double-click on the one you want to use. Close that pop-up. Now you will have the fields in that table on the top. Highlight the ones you want to have show up in the query, and drag down into the bottom fields. In the one that has the "Type" stored, in the criteria row, put something like {aircraft type}. Save (name something clear like "Results by Aircraft Type") and close the query. Double-click on the query and it should pop up a box with Aircraft Type. Be aware, though, that you have to enter the EXACT MATCH in a box like that to get results. Better to put it on a form that will display all the results when you choose the type from a drop-down box.

You're boss doesn't want to sub-contract this project, by any chance? ;)

[comsymp]

17. At this point, I'd subcontract it out of my own pocket!

OK, am following your instructions- BRB

[LynzM]

15. One more thing, a recommendation

If you're really going to get into this, I recommend the book

Access 2002 Programming By Example, by Bob Villareal. It's a QUE book, and it's great about taking you through things step-by-step. It's how I learned Access, and then got more into the programming side of things and got more books! Good stuff.

Dude, I have to go, sorry. Hope that was some help, and hopefully someone else will be on soon to help you through it!

[comsymp]

18. Well, no luck so far

Tried both of your suggestions and obviously missed something- still no pop-up. Think I'll just go home and drink/cry myself to sleep, then try again tomorrow...

Any additional suggestions would DEFINITELY be appreciated, tho- (preferably in one-syllable words with drawings in crayon)

Thanks for all your help!!!

[LynzM]

19. Sorry it took me so long to get back to this

PM me if you're serious about subcontracting stuff, or want to get on the phone and try to talk it through, ok? Otherwise, seriously see if you can get a copy of that book, or similar. Most of the 'by example' series are pretty good. Good luck! :)