ACC: Query with Parameters to Evaluate Complex Criteria

ID: Q103252

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

In Microsoft Access, you can use variable parameters in queries. This article discusses how to construct a query that requires more than one prompt. Each parameter can be used both as criteria and as a field to allow complicated evaluation of the value entered in each parameter.


MORE INFORMATION

The following parameter query is based on the Orders table in the sample database Northwind.mdb (or NWIND.MDB in earlier versions). It selects orders written between two variable dates provided by the user.

If either the Start Date or the End Date is not entered, the query returns all dates greater than or equal to the Start Date, or less than or equal to the End Date. If neither a Start Date nor an End Date is entered, the query returns all orders.

  1. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb (or NWIND.MDB in earlier versions).


  2. Create a new query based on the Orders table.


  3. Enter the following query: 


    4. 
      Query: FindOrdersByDate
      -----------------------------------------------------------
      Field: OrderID
         Show: Yes
      Field: OrderDate
         Sort: Ascending
         Show: Yes
         First Criteria Line: Between [Start Date] and [End Date]
         Second Criteria Line: <=[End Date]
         Third Criteria Line: >=[Start Date]
      Field: [Start Date]
         Show: No
         First Criteria Line: Is Not Null
         Second Criteria Line: Is Null
         Third Criteria Line: Is Not Null
         Fourth Criteria Line: Is Null
      Field: [End Date]
         Show: No
         First Criteria Line: Is Not Null
         Second Criteria Line: Is Not Null
         Third Criteria Line: Is Null
         Fourth Criteria Line: Is Null
  4. On the Query menu, click Parameters. In the Query Parameters box add two entries, one for each parameter in the query, as follows: 


    5. 
      Query Parameters
      -----------------------
      Parameter: Start Date
         Data Type: Date/Time
      Parameter: End Date
         Data Type: Date/Time
  5. To run the query, on the View menu, click Datasheet. Microsoft Access will prompt you for the value of the parameters and will substitute the proper values in the query.



REFERENCES

For more information about these kinds of queries, search the Help Index for "Query by Form," or "Parameter Queries," or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.

Additional query words: queries ui parameter query 


Keywords          : QryParm 
Version           : WINDOWS:1.0,1.1,2.0,7.0,97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: July 9, 1999