Question : searching a database from a form

I'm trying to create an access database which holds a list of contacts. I want the data to be displayed in a simple form (which I have created) and have a search facility, whereby I enter the company's name in a text box, click the button and the result is displayed. to do this, I've butchered the "text search example" from http://www.microsoft-accesssolutions.co.uk/text_search.htm. It's not pretty and I can only (barely) understand the methodology, but I need an extra feature which I cannot work out how to add. Essentially, the system works if I enter the entire company name. I need to be able to enter the first bit (or ideally any part) of the name and have the system return the matching record. I can sort of make it work, by entering an asterix (wildcard) in the text/search box. This will return the desired record, but it will also show the error message box stating that it couldn't find it, which is not really true.

I've pasted the code that is executed when the button is pressed. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

=============================================================
Private Sub cmdSearch_Click()
    Dim strIDRef As String
    Dim strSearch As String
   
'Check txtSearch for Null value or Nill Entry first.

If IsNull(Me![txtSearch]) Or (Me![txtSearch]) = "" Then
MsgBox "Please enter a value!", vbOKOnly, "Invalid Search Criterion!"
Me![txtSearch].SetFocus
Exit Sub
End If
'---------------------------------------------------------------
       
        'Performs the search using value entered into txtSearch
        'and evaluates this against values in strStudentID
       
        DoCmd.ShowAllRecords
        DoCmd.GoToControl ("strCompanyName")
        DoCmd.FindRecord Me!txtSearch
       
        strCompanyName.SetFocus
        strIDRef = strCompanyName.Text
        txtSearch.SetFocus
        strSearch = txtSearch.Text
   
        'If matching record found sets focus in strStudentID
        'and clears search control

    If strIDRef = strSearch Then
        strCompanyName.SetFocus
        txtSearch = ""
       
    'If value not found sets focus back to txtSearch and shows msgbox
        Else
            MsgBox "Match Not Found For: " & strSearch & " - Please Try Again.", , "Invalid Search"
            txtSearch.SetFocus
    End If
End Sub
=========================================================

Thanks,

Alex.

Answer : searching a database from a form

Closed, 250 points refunded.

modulo
Community Support Moderator
Experts Exchange