How can I perform an overall search of all table information

I would like have a control button to perform a comprehensive search for
names, dates, number, etc. I am able to search specific queries based on
matching 'names' or 'dates', but I would like to have a search available
similar to a yahoo, where you can input anything and results nearing the
search are returned. Is this possible? I am using Access 2002

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 09:11:06 -0800, Rhino5ice
wrote:

I would like have a control button to perform a comprehensive search for
names, dates, number, etc. I am able to search specific queries based on
matching 'names' or 'dates', but I would like to have a search available
similar to a yahoo, where you can input anything and results nearing the
search are returned. Is this possible? I am using Access 2002

This isn't at all easy - and, in a properly normalized database,
should not be necessary. The "Grandmother's Pantry Principle" of "a
place - ONE place! - for everything, everything in its place" would
suggest that if you're searching for a particular piece of
information, there should be only one place (or at the most a very
few) to look.

For example, consider dates: it would generally make very little sense
to do a global search of all the date/time fields in a database for
#11/25/2001#. You might find a birthdate, six purchase dates, a
table-creation date, 384 record-updated dates, ...

Could you explain the nature of the data you are searching, and why
you feel this capability is needed?

John W. Vinson[MVP]
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