Cannot get the "like" command to work in a sql statement help please

[Peter]

My problem is the last bit of coding below, the like statement does not
work. what I have is a product options field and in it is stored characters
i.e. "avcy" etc what the query does is that if I type in any single
character all the products that match the criteria should be displayed. So
if I typed in an "a" I should get 3 returns (see below) Fields could look
like this:

product.options:
bhw
djhsa
ha
da

so out of the 4 products I would get 3 returns

This is the coding that I am using:

sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category], Products.product_code,
Products.description, Products.price, [images_add]+[product_code]+'.gif' AS
images, '" & Request.QueryString("find") & "' AS byprodcat,
Products.options, Products.detailed_desc, Products.dont_engrave FROM
Products, Extras WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND (('" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')='1')) OR (((Products.price)>10 And
(Products.price)<20) AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find") & "')='2')) OR
(((Products.price)>20 And (Products.price)<30) AND (('" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')='3')) OR (((Products.price)>30) AND (('" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')='4')) OR (((Products.dont_engrave)='" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR (((Products.[pict category])='" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR (((Products.product_code)='" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR (((Products.options) Like '*' & '" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "' & '*')) ORDER BY Products.price "
This is what access would generate, and then I have to change the coding to
make it work (see above)

sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category], Products.product_code,
Products.description, Products.price, [images_add]+[product_code]+"".gif""
AS images, " & Request.QueryString("[find]") & " AS byprodcat,
Products.options, Products.detailed_desc, Products.dont_engrave FROM
Products, Extras WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND ((" &
Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""1"")) OR (((Products.price)>10 And
(Products.price)<20) AND ((" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""2"")) OR
(((Products.price)>20 And (Products.price)<30) AND ((" &
Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""3"")) OR (((Products.price)>30) AND (("
& Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""4"")) OR (((Products.dont_engrave)="
& Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")) OR (((Products.[pict category])=" &
Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")) OR (((Products.product_code)=" &
Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")) OR (((Products.options) Like ""*"" & " &
Request.QueryString("[find]") & " & ""*"")) ORDER BY Products.price "

[Bob Quintal]

I'm having trouble understanding Request.Querystring("find")
Is this a UDF? I think changing the call to Request.Querystring('find')
might help.
Bob Q
"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bp*********@titan.btinternet.com:

My problem is the last bit of coding below, the like statement does
not work. what I have is a product options field and in it is stored
characters i.e. "avcy" etc what the query does is that if I type
in any single character all the products that match the criteria
should be displayed. So if I typed in an "a" I should get 3 returns
(see below) Fields could look like this:

product.options:
bhw
djhsa
ha
da

so out of the 4 products I would get 3 returns

This is the coding that I am using:

sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category], Products.product_code,
Products.description, Products.price,
[images_add]+[product_code]+'.gif' AS images, '" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "' AS byprodcat, Products.options,
Products.detailed_desc, Products.dont_engrave FROM Products, Extras
WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find") &
"')='1')) OR (((Products.price)>10 And (Products.price)<20) AND (('" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')='2')) OR (((Products.price)>20 And
(Products.price)<30) AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find") &
"')='3')) OR (((Products.price)>30) AND (('" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')='4')) OR
(((Products.dont_engrave)='" & Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR
(((Products.[pict category])='" & Request.QueryString("find") & "'))
OR (((Products.product_code)='" & Request.QueryString("find") & "'))
OR (((Products.options) Like '*' & '" & Request.QueryString("find") &
"' & '*')) ORDER BY Products.price "
This is what access would generate, and then I have to change the
coding to make it work (see above)

sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category], Products.product_code,
Products.description, Products.price,
[images_add]+[product_code]+"".gif"" AS images, " &
Request.QueryString("[find]") & " AS byprodcat, Products.options,
Products.detailed_desc, Products.dont_engrave FROM Products, Extras
WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND ((" & Request.QueryString("[find]") &
")=""1"")) OR (((Products.price)>10 And (Products.price)<20) AND ((" &
Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""2"")) OR (((Products.price)>20
And (Products.price)<30) AND ((" & Request.QueryString("[find]") &
")=""3"")) OR (((Products.price)>30) AND ((" &
Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""4"")) OR
(((Products.dont_engrave)=" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")) OR
(((Products.[pict category])=" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & "))
OR (((Products.product_code)=" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & "))
OR (((Products.options) Like ""*"" & " & Request.QueryString("[find]")
& " & ""*"")) ORDER BY Products.price "

[Peter]

Hi Bob
The problem in changing the cell from a like, is that I need to search that
cell because the character I am looking for could be anywhere in that cell
i.e.

I want to find a "a" characters is a cell "kfjnbateq"
a like command would find that

Peter
"Bob Quintal" <Rq******@pants.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:26******************************@news.teranew s.com...

I'm having trouble understanding Request.Querystring("find")
Is this a UDF? I think changing the call to Request.Querystring('find')
might help.
Bob Q
"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bp*********@titan.btinternet.com:

My problem is the last bit of coding below, the like statement does
not work. what I have is a product options field and in it is stored
characters i.e. "avcy" etc what the query does is that if I type
in any single character all the products that match the criteria
should be displayed. So if I typed in an "a" I should get 3 returns
(see below) Fields could look like this:

product.options:
bhw
djhsa
ha
da

so out of the 4 products I would get 3 returns

This is the coding that I am using:

sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category], Products.product_code,
Products.description, Products.price,
[images_add]+[product_code]+'.gif' AS images, '" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "' AS byprodcat, Products.options,
Products.detailed_desc, Products.dont_engrave FROM Products, Extras
WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find") &
"')='1')) OR (((Products.price)>10 And (Products.price)<20) AND (('" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')='2')) OR (((Products.price)>20 And
(Products.price)<30) AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find") &
"')='3')) OR (((Products.price)>30) AND (('" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')='4')) OR
(((Products.dont_engrave)='" & Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR
(((Products.[pict category])='" & Request.QueryString("find") & "'))
OR (((Products.product_code)='" & Request.QueryString("find") & "'))
OR (((Products.options) Like '*' & '" & Request.QueryString("find") &
"' & '*')) ORDER BY Products.price "
This is what access would generate, and then I have to change the
coding to make it work (see above)

sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category], Products.product_code,
Products.description, Products.price,
[images_add]+[product_code]+"".gif"" AS images, " &
Request.QueryString("[find]") & " AS byprodcat, Products.options,
Products.detailed_desc, Products.dont_engrave FROM Products, Extras
WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND ((" & Request.QueryString("[find]") &
")=""1"")) OR (((Products.price)>10 And (Products.price)<20) AND ((" &
Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""2"")) OR (((Products.price)>20
And (Products.price)<30) AND ((" & Request.QueryString("[find]") &
")=""3"")) OR (((Products.price)>30) AND ((" &
Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""4"")) OR
(((Products.dont_engrave)=" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")) OR
(((Products.[pict category])=" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & "))
OR (((Products.product_code)=" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & "))
OR (((Products.options) Like ""*"" & " & Request.QueryString("[find]")
& " & ""*"")) ORDER BY Products.price "

[Bob Quintal]

"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bp**********@titan.btinternet.com:

Hi Bob
The problem in changing the cell from a like, is that I need to search
that cell because the character I am looking for could be anywhere in
that cell i.e.

I want to find a "a" characters is a cell "kfjnbateq"
a like command would find that

Peter

I'm not saying not to use like, but to diagnose your problem, I have to
figure out what Request.querystring() is and does., and what "find" is
and does.
OR Products.options Like
""*"" & " & Request.QueryString("[find]") & " & ""*""))
Is not acceptable use of quotes
LIKE '*'" & request.querystring('find') & "'*'" might be, but it still
seems wrong to me. I need to know about Request.Querystring()
This
Bob

"Bob Quintal" <Rq******@pants.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:26******************************@news.teranew s.com...

I'm having trouble understanding Request.Querystring("find")
Is this a UDF? I think changing the call to
Request.Querystring('find') might help.
Bob Q
"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bp*********@titan.btinternet.com:

> My problem is the last bit of coding below, the like statement
> does not work. what I have is a product options field and in it is
> stored characters i.e. "avcy" etc what the query does is that
> if I type in any single character all the products that match the
> criteria should be displayed. So if I typed in an "a" I should get
> 3 returns (see below) Fields could look like this:
>
> product.options:
> bhw
> djhsa
> ha
> da
>
> so out of the 4 products I would get 3 returns
>
> This is the coding that I am using:
>
> sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category], Products.product_code,
> Products.description, Products.price,
> [images_add]+[product_code]+'.gif' AS images, '" &
> Request.QueryString("find") & "' AS byprodcat, Products.options,
> Products.detailed_desc, Products.dont_engrave FROM Products,
> Extras WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND (('" &
> Request.QueryString("find") & "')='1')) OR (((Products.price)>10
> And (Products.price)<20) AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find") &
> "')='2')) OR (((Products.price)>20 And (Products.price)<30) AND
> (('" & Request.QueryString("find") & "')='3')) OR
> (((Products.price)>30) AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find") &
> "')='4')) OR (((Products.dont_engrave)='" &
> Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR (((Products.[pict
> category])='" & Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR
> (((Products.product_code)='" & Request.QueryString("find") & "'))
> OR (((Products.options) Like '*' & '" & Request.QueryString("find")
> & "' & '*')) ORDER BY Products.price "
>
>
> This is what access would generate, and then I have to change the
> coding to make it work (see above)
>
> sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category], Products.product_code,
> Products.description, Products.price,
> [images_add]+[product_code]+"".gif"" AS images, " &
> Request.QueryString("[find]") & " AS byprodcat, Products.options,
> Products.detailed_desc, Products.dont_engrave FROM Products,
> Extras WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND ((" &
> Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""1"")) OR (((Products.price)>10
> And (Products.price)<20) AND ((" & Request.QueryString("[find]") &
> ")=""2"")) OR (((Products.price)>20 And (Products.price)<30) AND
> ((" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""3"")) OR
> (((Products.price)>30) AND ((" & Request.QueryString("[find]") &
> ")=""4"")) OR (((Products.dont_engrave)=" &
> Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")) OR (((Products.[pict
> category])=" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")) OR
> (((Products.product_code)=" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & "))
> OR (((Products.options) Like ""*"" & " &
> Request.QueryString("[find]") & " & ""*"")) ORDER BY
> Products.price "
>
>
>
>

[Peter]

Bob

The whole thing seams so strange at the very bottom of this message is the
code that Access generates, them to make is work on the server I have to
mess around by putting in single quotes and string out square brackets. If
I take out the kind statement it works fine.

All I want to do is to get a wide card statement i.e. find a single
character in a string

Bob is there anything I can send you to help me solve the problem

Peter
"Bob Quintal" <Rq******@pants.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:ce******************************@news.teranew s.com...

"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bp**********@titan.btinternet.com:

Hi Bob
The problem in changing the cell from a like, is that I need to search
that cell because the character I am looking for could be anywhere in
that cell i.e.

I want to find a "a" characters is a cell "kfjnbateq"
a like command would find that

Peter

I'm not saying not to use like, but to diagnose your problem, I have to
figure out what Request.querystring() is and does., and what "find" is
and does.
OR Products.options Like
""*"" & " & Request.QueryString("[find]") & " & ""*""))
Is not acceptable use of quotes
LIKE '*'" & request.querystring('find') & "'*'" might be, but it still
seems wrong to me. I need to know about Request.Querystring()
This
Bob

"Bob Quintal" <Rq******@pants.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:26******************************@news.teranew s.com...

I'm having trouble understanding Request.Querystring("find")
Is this a UDF? I think changing the call to
Request.Querystring('find') might help.
Bob Q
"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bp*********@titan.btinternet.com:

> My problem is the last bit of coding below, the like statement
> does not work. what I have is a product options field and in it is
> stored characters i.e. "avcy" etc what the query does is that
> if I type in any single character all the products that match the
> criteria should be displayed. So if I typed in an "a" I should get
> 3 returns (see below) Fields could look like this:
>
> product.options:
> bhw
> djhsa
> ha
> da
>
> so out of the 4 products I would get 3 returns
>
> This is the coding that I am using:
>
> sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category], Products.product_code,
> Products.description, Products.price,
> [images_add]+[product_code]+'.gif' AS images, '" &
> Request.QueryString("find") & "' AS byprodcat, Products.options,
> Products.detailed_desc, Products.dont_engrave FROM Products,
> Extras WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND (('" &
> Request.QueryString("find") & "')='1')) OR (((Products.price)>10
> And (Products.price)<20) AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find") &
> "')='2')) OR (((Products.price)>20 And (Products.price)<30) AND
> (('" & Request.QueryString("find") & "')='3')) OR
> (((Products.price)>30) AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find") &
> "')='4')) OR (((Products.dont_engrave)='" &
> Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR (((Products.[pict
> category])='" & Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR
> (((Products.product_code)='" & Request.QueryString("find") & "'))
> OR (((Products.options) Like '*' & '" & Request.QueryString("find")
> & "' & '*')) ORDER BY Products.price "
>
>
> This is what access would generate, and then I have to change the
> coding to make it work (see above)
>
> sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category], Products.product_code,
> Products.description, Products.price,
> [images_add]+[product_code]+"".gif"" AS images, " &
> Request.QueryString("[find]") & " AS byprodcat, Products.options,
> Products.detailed_desc, Products.dont_engrave FROM Products,
> Extras WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND ((" &
> Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""1"")) OR (((Products.price)>10
> And (Products.price)<20) AND ((" & Request.QueryString("[find]") &
> ")=""2"")) OR (((Products.price)>20 And (Products.price)<30) AND
> ((" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""3"")) OR
> (((Products.price)>30) AND ((" & Request.QueryString("[find]") &
> ")=""4"")) OR (((Products.dont_engrave)=" &
> Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")) OR (((Products.[pict
> category])=" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")) OR
> (((Products.product_code)=" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & "))
> OR (((Products.options) Like ""*"" & " &
> Request.QueryString("[find]") & " & ""*"")) ORDER BY
> Products.price "
>
>
>
>

[Bob Quintal]

"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bp**********@hercules.btinternet.com:

Bob

Bob is there anything I can send you to help me solve the problem
Yes there is. It's an explanation of Request.Querystring. Whyat is
Request.Querystring?
Bob
Peter
"Bob Quintal" <Rq******@pants.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:ce******************************@news.teranew s.com...

"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bp**********@titan.btinternet.com:

> Hi Bob
> The problem in changing the cell from a like, is that I need to
> search that cell because the character I am looking for could be
> anywhere in that cell i.e.
>
> I want to find a "a" characters is a cell "kfjnbateq"
> a like command would find that
>
> Peter
>

I'm not saying not to use like, but to diagnose your problem, I have
to figure out what Request.querystring() is and does., and what
"find" is and does.
OR Products.options Like
""*"" & " & Request.QueryString("[find]") & " & ""*""))
Is not acceptable use of quotes
LIKE '*'" & request.querystring('find') & "'*'" might be, but it
still seems wrong to me. I need to know about Request.Querystring()
This
Bob

>
> "Bob Quintal" <Rq******@pants.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:26******************************@news.teranew s.com...
>> I'm having trouble understanding Request.Querystring("find")
>> Is this a UDF? I think changing the call to
>> Request.Querystring('find') might help.
>>
>>
>> Bob Q
>>
>>
>> "Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote in
>> news:bp*********@titan.btinternet.com:
>>
>> > My problem is the last bit of coding below, the like statement
>> > does not work. what I have is a product options field and in it
>> > is stored characters i.e. "avcy" etc what the query does is
>> > that if I type in any single character all the products that
>> > match the criteria should be displayed. So if I typed in an "a"
>> > I should get 3 returns (see below) Fields could look like this:
>> >
>> > product.options:
>> > bhw
>> > djhsa
>> > ha
>> > da
>> >
>> > so out of the 4 products I would get 3 returns
>> >
>> > This is the coding that I am using:
>> >
>> > sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category], Products.product_code,
>> > Products.description, Products.price,
>> > [images_add]+[product_code]+'.gif' AS images, '" &
>> > Request.QueryString("find") & "' AS byprodcat, Products.options,
>> > Products.detailed_desc, Products.dont_engrave FROM Products,
>> > Extras WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND (('" &
>> > Request.QueryString("find") & "')='1')) OR (((Products.price)>10
>> > And (Products.price)<20) AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find")
>> > & "')='2')) OR (((Products.price)>20 And (Products.price)<30)
>> > AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find") & "')='3')) OR
>> > (((Products.price)>30) AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find") &
>> > "')='4')) OR (((Products.dont_engrave)='" &
>> > Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR (((Products.[pict
>> > category])='" & Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR
>> > (((Products.product_code)='" & Request.QueryString("find") &
>> > "')) OR (((Products.options) Like '*' & '" &
>> > Request.QueryString("find") & "' & '*')) ORDER BY
>> > Products.price "
>> >
>> >
>> > This is what access would generate, and then I have to change
>> > the coding to make it work (see above)
>> >
>> > sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category],
>> > Products.product_code,
>> > Products.description, Products.price,
>> > [images_add]+[product_code]+"".gif"" AS images, " &
>> > Request.QueryString("[find]") & " AS byprodcat,
>> > Products.options, Products.detailed_desc, Products.dont_engrave
>> > FROM Products, Extras WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND ((" &
>> > Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""1"")) OR
>> > (((Products.price)>10 And (Products.price)<20) AND ((" &
>> > Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""2"")) OR
>> > (((Products.price)>20 And (Products.price)<30) AND ((" &
>> > Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")=""3"")) OR
>> > (((Products.price)>30) AND ((" & Request.QueryString("[find]") &
>> > ")=""4"")) OR (((Products.dont_engrave)=" &
>> > Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")) OR (((Products.[pict
>> > category])=" & Request.QueryString("[find]") & ")) OR
>> > (((Products.product_code)=" & Request.QueryString("[find]") &
>> > ")) OR (((Products.options) Like ""*"" & " &
>> > Request.QueryString("[find]") & " & ""*"")) ORDER BY
>> > Products.price "
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>
>
>

[Trevor Best]

On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 01:27:11 GMT in comp.databases.ms-access, Bob
Quintal <Rq******@pants.sympatico.ca> wrote:

"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bp**********@hercules.btinternet.com:

Bob

Bob is there anything I can send you to help me solve the problem

Yes there is. It's an explanation of Request.Querystring. Whyat is
Request.Querystring?

ASP.

On the page www.mysite.com/mypage.asp?blah
would return "blah"

--
A)bort, R)etry, I)nfluence with large hammer.

[Trevor Best]

On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 22:55:33 +0000 (UTC) in comp.databases.ms-access,
"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote:

Bob

The whole thing seams so strange at the very bottom of this message is the
code that Access generates, them to make is work on the server I have to
mess around by putting in single quotes and string out square brackets. If
I take out the kind statement it works fine.

All I want to do is to get a wide card statement i.e. find a single
character in a string

Try using "%" instead of "*".

--
A)bort, R)etry, I)nfluence with large hammer.

[Peter]

Trevor

IT WORKED

Thank you very much to you Trevor and Bob for helping me out Thanks

Peter
"Trevor Best" <bouncer@localhost> wrote in message
news:ip********************************@4ax.com...

On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 22:55:33 +0000 (UTC) in comp.databases.ms-access,
"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote:

Bob

The whole thing seams so strange at the very bottom of this message is thecode that Access generates, them to make is work on the server I have to
mess around by putting in single quotes and string out square brackets. IfI take out the kind statement it works fine.

All I want to do is to get a wide card statement i.e. find a single
character in a string

Try using "%" instead of "*".

--
A)bort, R)etry, I)nfluence with large hammer.

[Peter]

Guys can I take this one step further, the like command below, can I make
that case sensitive ???

Like '%' & '" & Request.QueryString("find") & "' & '%')) ORDER BY
Products.price "

Peter
sql = "SELECT Products.[pict category], Products.product_code,
Products.description, Products.price, '" & Request.QueryString("find") & "'
AS byprodcat, Products.options, Products.detailed_desc,
Products.dont_engrave FROM Products WHERE (((Products.price)<10) AND (('"
& Request.QueryString("find") & "')='1')) OR (((Products.price)>10 And
(Products.price)<20) AND (('" & Request.QueryString("find") & "')='2')) OR
(((Products.price)>20 And (Products.price)<30) AND (('" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')='3')) OR (((Products.price)>30) AND (('" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')='4')) OR (((Products.dont_engrave)='" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR (((Products.[pict category])='" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR (((Products.product_code)='" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "')) OR (((Products.options) Like '%' & '" &
Request.QueryString("find") & "' & '%')) ORDER BY Products.price "

"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bp**********@sparta.btinternet.com...

Trevor

IT WORKED

Thank you very much to you Trevor and Bob for helping me out Thanks

Peter
"Trevor Best" <bouncer@localhost> wrote in message
news:ip********************************@4ax.com...

On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 22:55:33 +0000 (UTC) in comp.databases.ms-access,
"Peter" <pe******@hotmail.com> wrote:

Bob

The whole thing seams so strange at the very bottom of this message is thecode that Access generates, them to make is work on the server I have tomess around by putting in single quotes and string out square brackets. IfI take out the kind statement it works fine.

All I want to do is to get a wide card statement i.e. find a single
character in a string

Try using "%" instead of "*".

--
A)bort, R)etry, I)nfluence with large hammer.