DBCombo Demo of SQL LIKE Predicate (DAO)

The SQL Like Predicate

in a DBCombo Control

The LIKE predicate in an SQL statement gives you the opportunity to use wildcard characters to match records in a database. The following brief demo uses the * character to return records that match anything following the text that is typed into a DBCombo Control.

The wildcard could be used at the start of the match string as well. Other wildcard chararacters include ? for any char and # for a numerical digit.

Instructions for Building this Project:

1. Start a new professional exe.
2. On Form1 put a Data Control named Data1
3. In Data1.DatabaseName choose nwind.mdb
4. On Form1 put a DBCombo Control named DBCombo1
5. Set the DBCombo1.Style property to 1-dbcSimple
6. Set the DBCombo1.RowSource property to Data1
7. Type in the DBCombo1.Listfield: CompanyName

Form1 should look like the picture above.

Now you are ready for the code. Select all of the following code (by clicking on the word 'Option' three times) and copy it to the clipboard [Ctrl][Insert]. Then paste it into the code window of Form1 with [Shift][Insert].

Option Explicit

Private Sub DBCombo1_Change()
    Data1.RecordSource = "Select * From Customers Where " & _
            "CompanyName Like """ & DBCombo1.Text & "*"""
            
    Data1.Refresh
End Sub

Now just run the program and start typing into the DBCombo.