Search for phone Nos

[Nour469]

Hi,

I encountered a problem and wondering if anyone can help. I have clients and their phone nos stored, I used The data Type: Text and InputMask as "phone: [phone] " but when I conduct a search to find a client by the phone No, Access is not able to find record, although I click the " Match any part of field". when I type the phone No with all the brackets and dash it find it. It is very time consuming for the operator to type the phone No with all the brackets, Is there a way to just type in the No. as in "1231234567" and have access find the record?? I don't care about the brackets, only if I can store the format in a way that will distinguis the area code, Can I add something in the format??
Thanks for any help.

[ADezii]

The 2nd Section of the Input Mask specifies whether Microsoft Access stores the literal display characters in the table when you enter data [( ) and - in the case of Phone Numbers]. If you use 0 for this section, all literal display characters (for example, the parentheses in a phone number input mask) are stored with the value; if you enter 1 or leave this section blank, only characters typed into the control are stored. Try this for your Input Mask, then search for characters only as in :2156478893:

!\(999") "000\-0000;1;_

[Nour469]

Wow, Thanks! It did work.
I have one more question though, in order for this to work.. I have to click "match any part of field" AND unclick "search fields as formatted" which is how search button opens up the box. Is there a way that when I click "search" it automatically saves my search preferences even after I close Access.

Thanks
Nour

[ADezii]

Wow, Thanks! It did work.
I have one more question though, in order for this to work.. I have to click "match any part of field" AND unclick "search fields as formatted" which is how search button opens up the box. Is there a way that when I click "search" it automatically saves my search preferences even after I close Access.

Thanks
Nour

Everything that you are describing can be done programmatically. I'll post some sample code for your convenience:

'txtFindPhoneNum - Create Text Box on Form, this is your Field
                   'to Search on
'acAnyWhere - Search anywhere in the Number for the value entered in txtFindPhoneNum
'False - Perform a Search that is Case 'Insensitive'
'acSearchAll - Search in 'all' directions (Up and Down)
'False - Search for the Number as it is 'Stored' in the Database and not as Formatted
'acCurrent - Search the 'Current' Field (will initially set the Focus to
'True - Start the search at the first Record
 
'If Phone Number Search Field is Null, get outta Dodge!
 
If IsNull(Me![txtFindPhoneNum]) Then Exit Sub
 
Me![HomePhone].SetFocus     'Set Focus to the Phone# Field
DoCmd.FindRecord Me![txtFindPhoneNum], acAnywhere, False, acSearchAll, False, acCurrent, True

[Nour469]

Hi ADezii,

Thanks for your reply, but I am just a beginner and this is too complicated for me. Now, if you tell me where to put this code I might be able to make it work... and does this mean we can do the same thing in MSWord? because I run into this problems when I am doing search in Word as well.
Thanks a million.
Nour

[Nour469]

I am running into another problem, when I open my form or table and click search button, it is openeing the window with look in: FORM and not the field I chose and the option " search field as formatted" is dissabled.
The search function is one of the most important factors in my database and I though it is simple. put the cursor in the field and click search. without having to click and choose different options in order to perform the search
Whate am I doing wrong?
Thanks
Nour

[ADezii]

Hi ADezii,

Thanks for your reply, but I am just a beginner and this is too complicated for me. Now, if you tell me where to put this code I might be able to make it work... and does this mean we can do the same thing in MSWord? because I run into this problems when I am doing search in Word as well.
Thanks a million.
Nour

The code would typically go in the Click() Event of a Command Button, and the syntax should also be compatible with Word.

[Nour469]

Unfortunately it is not working... I am creating a text box, although my nos are already stored in a field in my table. I did enter the codes in the event/onclick section. still getting all kinds of error messages, I changed the name of the "home phone" to "PhoneNo" and when I click search, the Look in: is dissable, the search fields as formatted is dissabled and gives me an error message: The control 'find' the macro is attempting to search cannot be searched. Try on of the following
* add a GoToControl action before the FindRecord action
* for the FindRecord action change the only current firld argument from yes to No
* change the focus to a searchable control.

I have to add that I use the search button not only to search the phoneNo field but also to search the name field or a license no field depending on the what the client has available. I put the cursor in that field and click search.

I am kind of lost!
Nour

[ADezii]

the Look in: is dissable, the search fields as formatted is dissabled

This can happen when the Field that has the Focus immediately before the Find Operation is launched is a Command Button or similar Object, make sure it is a Text Box.