Exact Matches in Queries

PROBLEM

getting extra items when doing query in query box. Mostly a problem in MacNail Construction Accounting Software but might apply to estimate extractions, schedules etc.
Finds category "aa" as well as category "a".
Extracting "aa" items when wants only "a".

DIAGNOSIS

user is doing a query for category "a", but it pulls all cats that start with the letter "a", including "aa". Ditto for "b" and "bb", etcetera.

SOLUTION

To restrict the query search to a particular item, rather than all entries containing that letter, type
="=a"
into the cat column, exactly as written. That will find only a, not aa, aardvarks, etc. Same goes for any other category letter, or any other section of the query box.

Yes, it's weird, but that's how Excel does exact matches!

COMMENTS

Entered 12/24/92 by Vinay.