Using 'contains' in a query - finding values within strings

[oliviar]

Hi Guys,
I want to look at a column and see if it contains 'xyz' or 'abc' anywhere in the string.

I can't work out which access function is used to see if there is a specific value within a string.

What should I use?

 

[RichardMGreen]

You can use the LIKE function.
The syntax would be something along the lines of

fieldname LIKE "*xyz*"

It also depends if you are using the query designer or straight SQL.
If you are using designer you can just put the LIKE section in the criteria.

 

[oliviar]

Genius!

Although, if you don't mind. Follow up question:
Does the like function look for strings all throughout the value, or just at the start?

 

[RichardMGreen]

If you have the asterisks at either end it will look anywhere in the string.
If you have one just at the end it will look at the beginning of the string and vice versa.

Eg. If you have 3 strings
xyzabc
adcxyz
abxyzc

like "*xyz*" will find all three
like "xyz*" will only find the first one
like "*xyz" will only find the second one