Microsoft KB Archive/211459

= HOW TO: Use Wildcard Characters in Microsoft Excel 2000 Parameter Queries =

Article ID: 211459

Article Last Modified on 11/5/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q211459



For a Microsoft Query version of this article, see 164117.

For a Microsoft Excel 98, Macintosh Edition, version of this article, see 188224.

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SUMMARY
 * Microsoft Query Wildcard Character Examples

REFERENCES



SUMMARY
This article describes various wildcard characters that you can use in parameter queries in Microsoft Query.

A parameter query, when you run it, prompts for values (criteria) to use to select the records for the result set so that the same query can be used to retrieve different result sets. By using a parameter query, you do not have to change the query design grid each time that you run the query. Instead, Microsoft Query prompts you for the search criteria. You can specify multiple parameters for a field.

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Microsoft Query Wildcard Character Examples
In the Criteria cell under each field that you want to use as a parameter, type a prompt that is enclosed in square brackets. Microsoft Query displays this prompt when you run the query. The text of the prompt must be different from the field name; however, the prompt can include the field name.

The wildcard characters that are available in Microsoft Query and examples for using these characters in a parameter query are listed in the following table.

 Wildcard                             Parameter character   Definition               query example -

+           Addition                 [Enter Price]+[Cost of Freight]

-           Subtraction              [Enter Price]-[Cost of Freight]

*           Multiplication           [Enter Price]*[Enter Quantity]

/           Division                 [Enter Price]/[Enter Quantity]

=           Equal to                 =[What city?]

<>          Not equal to             <>[All cities but what?]

>           Greater than             >[Greater than date?]

<           Less than                <[Less than date?]

>=          Greater than or              equal to                 >=[Greater than or equal to date?]

<=          Less than or              equal to                 <=[Less than or equal to date?]

And         Both values found        >[Greater than date?] And in the record set       <[Less than date?]

Or          Either value found in the record set       [What city?] Or [What other city?]

Not         Value not found in the record set       Not [All cities but what?]

Between     Range of values          Between [start date] and between what two values [end date]

Like        Compares values to       Like [Enter letter(s) followed by              find a similar value     the % sign (for example, abc%)]

In          Equal to several values  In ([first],[second],[third]) in a list back to the top

