can i do a wild card search in a query table ie.. when my query asks for manufacture can i put "wa*" and it will list everything that starts with a wa?

Sure.

In the criteria add in something like

LIKE [Please enter Your Seach Criteria] & "*"

Just change "Please enter Your Seach Criteria" to whatever you want it to ask them for.

You could also create a form and reference that by replacing

[Please enter Your Seach Criteria]

with

forms!YourFormName!YourTextBoxControlName

Using a form allows you more control over what the user has input and allows for validation.

Again, thank you, i will try this at work. you guys are great

you're welcome.