Help Checking For Duplicate Entries

Hello,

I'm new to using VBA for MS Access. May I enlist your help, Please.

I'm working on a human resources database for a group of employees. I'm trying to automate their login process after they have opened the database so that each employee's privacy is respected. Using an initial form, employees are separated into "New User" or "Returning User". My problem concerns setting up the "New User" in the database.

The New User is directed to form "frm_NU". The form has several unbound fields which are later carried to the table "tbl_Employees". Two of the fields on the form are used to create the EmployeeID. Those are Initials [INI] and Phone Extension [EXT]. The EmployeeID will be used in a filter so that only that employee's information is made available to the user (simulated Privacy).

Because the employees are unfamiliar with MS Access and its cryptic error messages, I need to create a message box which will give a plain English warning when a user attempts to use an existing ID to create a new record. [EmployeeID] is a field in the table. it is set as a key and does not allow duplicates.

When a new user enters his/her initials and phone extension I want the new ID to be compared to the table and if found, a message should appear. This is a preemptive strike to prevent the user from getting to the more cryptic MS Access error message.

I've tried using Dlookup and Dcount to try to pass some meaningful data to the If statement variable VarX to trigger the message box; assuming that Varx should be something other than Null or Empty

Dim EmpID As Variant
Dim VarX As Variant

EmpID = [INI] & [EXT]

VarX = DLookup([EmployeeID], "qry_Employees", [EmployeeID] = [EmpID])

If VarX <Is Not Empty> Then
X = MsgBox("Another record already exists by that name", vbOKOnly)
Else
Y = MsgBox("Passed", vbOKOnly)
End If

I keep getting an error at the DLookup formula or DCount formula saying: Run-time error; 2001 You canceled the previous operation. It also appears that the DLookup never looks up anything nor does DCount count anything even though I'm purposely entering duplicate information which exists in "qry_Employees". I was expecting VarX to be either the duplicate ID or a record number or record count or something.

Any ideas or constructive suggestions?

Thanks,

Goh