searching for special character doesnt return anythins

i saved and am searching for all string " ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) '" symbols in within a field content a database, using the following sql string

Code:

---

Select ID From Contacts Where '--' || note || '--'  like '%! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) ""%'

---

i need a way to either escape all the characters, or encode them so search is easier

1-Does that SQL statement work (I assume it is in MS ACCESS)?
2-If Not, then this thread belongs in the Office (for MS ACESS), or the Database, fora, for a better query.
3-If Yes, what field(s) are you searching within (note?)?

This query finds any record with a $ in my 'myField' field. (Chr$(36) is the ASCII equivalent of a dollar sign).
You might be able to loop several queries using each ASCII numeric for each of your special characters, or put in 'or' in the query:

"select ID from contacts where myField like '%' & chr$(36) & '%'"

thanks for responding, but am earching not for a single characer, but the whole set as seen in my question. this was saved ealier in the database

Does that whole set exist together as typed in the query?

What is this supposed to be '--' || note || '--' ? It would be expecting a field name there. I would expect that to through an error

If a 'whole set', as DM asked, then that is simply a string. But I imagine, you want to search for EACH of the spec chars in that set.
You can do that by using < > (less than, greater than) in the chr$(ASCII-NUMBER) for those that fall within a certain range. If any others outside that range, simply and an 'or' in your statement like this:
"select ID from contacts where myField like '%' & chr$(36) & '%' or myField like '%' & chr$(41) & '%'"
Add more 'ors' for each character.

Most of those characters fall between 33 and 47, so you can get most by using the < 47 and >33 symbols in your query.

The % and/or the * may be an issue depending on the DB engine in use and if you are using DAO or the preferred ADO.

Also as I pointed out before

'--' || note || '--'

Is the strangest looking field name I have ever saw. I can't imagine anyway that could work without giving an error. If that is your actual field name then you should seriously consider changing it. As a general rule you should not use spaces in any field or table names. You should also not use special characters nor reserved words in either type of name. If a name does have a space or is a reserved word then you need to bracket it with [ ] in your sql statement

@DataMiser....aye, those two chars DO provide a challenge when searching for them in ACCESS with ADO. However, am sure there is an easy way to fool access and get the return OP needs. Personally never attempted looking for spec chars, but, hey, I guess situations could come up easily. Waiting on OP's response to get a better picture of what he/she needs----loops will work, as will ranges of chr()s.

hello,

Code:

---

note

---

is the field name, the

Code:

---

||

---

is a concatenation operator so if a note value is

Code:

---

some note

---

, then in the select, it it concatenated as

Code:

---

--some note--

---

. this technique is to help me search in all fields at once. i simple just concatenate them as one string and look in that string for what am looking for

Ok.....so, have you attempted anything we have suggested yet?

please note that the database is sqlite