In Microsoft Access, which two wildcard characters are used for pattern matching?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: question mark (?); asterisk ()

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Different database systems support different wildcard characters. Knowing the Access-specific syntax is important for writing correct queries in Jet SQL or Access SQL.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Access differs from SQL-92 standard in wildcard characters.
  • We are specifically discussing Microsoft Access, not SQL Server or Oracle.


Concept / Approach:
In Access, * (asterisk) represents any sequence of characters, and ? (question mark) represents any single character. This contrasts with SQL-92, where % and _ are the equivalents.



Step-by-Step Solution:

Check Access documentation: LIKE 'Sm?th' matches Smith, Smythe, etc.Therefore, Access uses ? and .


Verification / Alternative check:
MS Access Help confirms * and ? as the wildcard set.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
%, _: SQL-92 standard, not Access.
, %: Mixed standard with Access, incorrect combination.



Common Pitfalls:
Using % and _ in Access queries, which will not work unless running in ANSI-92 mode.



Final Answer:
question mark (?); asterisk (*)

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