Request an update to the FAQ

[Tony Toews]

Folks

2) If you've exhausted your options in the help files, try Google.
( http://groups.google.com/ )
Most likely, someone else will have had a problem similar to
yours.

I'd like to suggest that we, meaning the keeper of the FAQ, add something along the
lines of the following.

===================

If you are searching on a error message number with a minus sign in front or brackets
search only on the mesage number. For example if "(-1517)" search on "1517" The
problem is that search engines will remove the brackets and then treat the text
behind the minus sign as a search item for which articles will be excluded. The exact
opposite of what you want.

===================

Now while this kind of search isn't likely to happen often this can be a problem
enough to be very frustrating to newbie users. Thus I think this is important
enough to add to the FAQ.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
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[MGFoster]

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Quotes can be put around the negative number criteria and get the same
results as just the absolute number criteria. Doesn't everybody know
this? :-) The info should really be on the Google site - I never
found it. I discovered this method by experimentation & knowledge of
db string searches.

Rgds,

MGFoster:::mgf
Oakland, CA (USA)
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Tony Toews wrote:

Folks

2) If you've exhausted your options in the help files, try Google.
( http://groups.google.com/ )
Most likely, someone else will have had a problem similar to
yours.

I'd like to suggest that we, meaning the keeper of the FAQ, add something along the
lines of the following.

===================

If you are searching on a error message number with a minus sign in front or brackets
search only on the mesage number. For example if "(-1517)" search on "1517" The
problem is that search engines will remove the brackets and then treat the text
behind the minus sign as a search item for which articles will be excluded. The exact
opposite of what you want.

===================

Now while this kind of search isn't likely to happen often this can be a problem
enough to be very frustrating to newbie users. Thus I think this is important
enough to add to the FAQ.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm

[Tony Toews]

MGFoster <[e-mail]> wrote:

Quotes can be put around the negative number criteria and get the same
results as just the absolute number criteria. Doesn't everybody know
this? :-)

<chuckle> No, I didn't know that. Or rather I never thought of trying that.

But, to me anyhow, telling people to remove the extraneous characters to me is
simpler.

Tony

--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm

[Tony Toews]

Chuck Grimsby <c.*******@worldnet.att.net.invalid> wrote:

So what's the upshot on this Tony? Do you still what to change the
FAQ?

Yes.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm

[Tony Toews]

Chuck Grimsby <c.*******@worldnet.att.net.invalid> wrote:

a) Note: If you are searching for an error number with a
Minus sign (-), use quotes around the number for
better results.

I think wording it as

a) Note: If you are searching for an error number with a
Minus sign (-), "remove the minus sign and, if any,
brackets to search for just the digits"

would be easier to understand and easier for people to use. It's easier to remove
than add. And which quotes do you use, double or single?

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm

[Tony Toews]

Chuck Grimsby <c.*******@worldnet.att.net.invalid> wrote:

How about:

a) Note: If you are searching for an error number search on
just the digits, without any brackets or Minus signs (-).
Example: For error (-1534), Search for 1534.

Sounds very good to me.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm

[Tony Toews]

Chuck Grimsby <c.*******@worldnet.att.net.invalid> wrote:

Ok, well, having read no objections to the request, I've gone ahead
and put it in.

Thank you!

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm