When I first started using this method I also found it somewhat confusing. It's almost circular logic.
Create an interface form (where the user selects options) where you place text boxes or combo's to get the user supplied query parameters. You also put a command button on the form to open the report.
In the query on which the report is based and in the criteria cell where you want to place the parameter, right click and select "Build" which will take you to the Expression Builder. Double click on Forms, Double click on All Forms and then Double click on the interface form you created. This will give you a list (in the center box) of all the controls on the interface form.
In the expression builder window create the expression as you would normally (>, <, =, etc) but use the controls from the form rather than literals; by double clicking on the control it will be placed immediately to the right of the cursor posistion in the builder window and will contain the correct systax. For example, if you set text box control to prompt for start and end dates enter >= in the expression box and then double click on the control to set it as the value. What you will end up with is something that looks like this:
>=[Forms]![frmUserForm]![txtStart] And <=[Forms]![frmUserForm]![txtEnd]
Here's how it works. The command button on the user form calls the report. The report calls the underlying query. The underlying query looks at the user form to get the parameters. Sounds strange but it works.
You can reference combo boxes, text boxes, etc.
Hope this helps.
[sig]<p>Larry De Laruelle<br><a href=mailto:larry1de@yahoo.com>larry1de@yahoo.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br> [/sig]