Question : Look up an item across multiple fields in a query

I think this one is going to be tough, even for the best of you.

I have a table in which product demonstrations are documented.  Each record allows up to 8 products out of a possible 400 products.  The fields for the products are labeled as Item No 1, Item No 2, Item No 3, and so on.  These 8 fields are not the actual item #s, just fields in which the actual item number can be listed.  When the actual items are listed, they can be listed in any of these fields in no particular order from one record to the next.      

My question is, Is there a way to set up a query to look up any one of these products, by item no across all the fields versus just one of the eight?

For example, I want to know how many times item # 102 was promoted in product demonstrations in 2008.  

At this rate I would have to do 8 separate queries for each of the possible fields, and that still really would help me document them in one report.  

Any ideas?  

Answer : Look up an item across multiple fields in a query

OK.  Sorry if I have confused you.

In Access you can build a query using the "Design View" (which I suspect you have some familiarity (correct me if I am wrong) and you can enter the SQL directly in the "SQL View".

In your case you could enter the query directly in the SQL View ... this is what I originally was suggesting, but I didn't directly say.  You didn't give your table names or a sample DB in your question so I showed a generic 'how to' type of SQL.

If we do this via the Design View, it is similar to what you described above.  See screen shot below.

What you described had the 'column' to be queried in "Field:" value and your "like[Enter the account]" in the "Criteria:" section.  The "[Enter the account]" creates the prompt for the value.  

To answer your question, Lets turn that upside down and put the prompt in the "Field:", e.g.:
   [Enter Item No]
and in the "Criteria:" put the columns to test, e.g.:
    In ([item_1],[item_2],[item_3],[item_4])
Obviously, you will need to change the column names to meet you table.  I only have 4, you should put in all 8 of yours.

Is this clearer?

ITEM-IN-query.JPG (30 KB) (File Type Details) 

Screen shot