Access query where one field is LIKE another - ms-access

Question

I'm trying to query on on field in one table where it is LIKE a field in another table but am having trouble getting valid results.
I want to find the Pager_ID in tbl_Emergin_Current_Device_Listing_20121126 where it is like the Pager_ID in tbl_AMCOM_PROD.
Some relevant information:
Pager_ID in tbl_Emergin_Current_Device_Listing_20121126 is at most 10 characters and are always numeric characters (example of 10 character Pager_ID: 3145551212).
However, Pager_ID in tbl_AMCOM_PROD can be alpha-numeric (3145551212#att.txt.com, which would be the same user.
All data is stored as text.
I want to be able to find "3145551212#att.txt.com" in tbl_Amcom_Prod.Pager_ID when "3145551212" is present in tbl_Emergin_Current_Device_Listing_20121126.Pager_ID. However, with the code below I'm only finding exact matches (EQUAL instead of LIKE).
current code:
SELECT DISTINCT tbl_emergin_current_device_listing_20121126.userrecno,
tbl_emergin_current_device_listing_20121126.username,
tbl_emergin_current_device_listing_20121126.department,
tbl_emergin_current_device_listing_20121126.carriername,
tbl_emergin_current_device_listing_20121126.protocol,
tbl_emergin_current_device_listing_20121126.pin,
tbl_emergin_current_device_listing_20121126.pager_id,
Iif([tbl_amcom_group_call_leads_and_id].[amcom listing msg id],
[tbl_amcom_group_call_leads_and_id].[amcom msg group id],
[tbl_amcom_prod].[messaging_id])
AS [Amcom Messaging or Message Group ID]
FROM ((tbl_emergin_current_device_listing_20121126
LEFT JOIN tbl_amcom_prod
ON tbl_emergin_current_device_listing_20121126.pager_id =
tbl_amcom_prod.pager_id)
LEFT JOIN tbl_amcom_group_call_leads_and_id
ON tbl_emergin_current_device_listing_20121126.pager_id =
tbl_amcom_group_call_leads_and_id.[ams group call lead])
LEFT JOIN tbl_deactivated_pager_list
ON tbl_emergin_current_device_listing_20121126.pager_id =
tbl_deactivated_pager_list.[pager number];
Sample Results:
UserRecNo UserName Department CarrierName Protocol PIN PAGER_ID Amcom Messaging or Message Group ID
43 Brown, Lewis BJH Verizon 0 3145550785 3145550785 3145550785
52 Wyman, Mel BJH Airtouch (Verizon) (SNPP) 3 3145558597 3145558597 3145558330
I'd also like to see this record but am not with current code:
57 Johnson, Mick BJH AT&T 3 3145551234 3145551234#att.txt.com 3145559876
What change should I be making?
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Something like:
SELECT Pager_ID
FROM tbl_Amcom_Prod a
LEFT JOIN [tbl_Emergin_Current_Device_Listing_20121126] b
On a.Pager_ID & "*" Like b.Pager_ID
This will only work in SQL view, not design view.
You could also use a mixture of Instr & Mid.
SELECT IIf(InStr([Pager_ID] & "",".")>0,
Mid([Pager_ID],1,InStr([Pager_ID],".")-1),[Pager_ID ]) AS PID
FROM [tbl_Amcom_Prod]
WHERE IIf(InStr([Pager_ID] & "",".")>0,
Mid([Pager_ID],1,InStr([Pager_ID],".")-1),[Pager_ID])
In (SELECT Pager_ID
FROM [tbl_Emergin_Current_Device_Listing_20121126])