Access Query Requires % Char In Like String?

I am building a page which has to search an access table with the text input entered by the user. The thing that is puzzling to me is that the functionality works only when a '%' is explicitly added to the text input at the begginning and end.

If I add '%' programattically in the code behind file, it does not work.
code snippet ( asp page):

<asp:AccessDataSource ID="AccessDataSourcex" runat="server"
DataFile="~/App_Data/company.mdb"
SelectCommand="SELECT [ID], [emp name] AS emp_name, [emp title] AS emp_title FROM [EmpMain] WHERE ([emp name] like [code]...

//the below line is of no use, the % char has to be in the text input

//txtSearch.Text = "%" + txtSearch.Text + "%";

GridView1.DataBind(); <---- this works fine

<--- this does not work, even if I add % chars programatically..


My question is: why does it not work when I programattically add the '%' chars to the search string..