Having a Combo Box drop down after entering a few digits

[ImStuk]

I have a combo box that displays a lot of data to search when I am entering characters in it. I need a way to enter a few characters, then the combo drops down and displays only the items that begin with those characters. I'm hoping to speed things up a bit. For example...I have a Zip Code table that has 40,000 + Zip Codes in it. I want to type "921" then have the combo dropdown and display only zip codes that start with 921...thanks for any help. I would imagine I have to have the Row Source kick in after the third character somehow.

 

[PHV]

Have you tried to play with the AutoExpand property of the ComboBox object ? In conjuction with the LimitToList property and the Dropdown method.

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ222-2244

 

[TheAceMan1]

How are ya ImStuk . . . .

PHV is correct! Only way your gonna do this without additional coding!

See Ya! . . . . . .

 

[randy700]

Actually, AutoExpand only causes the text box portion of the combo box to be filled. It has nothing to do with the dropdown list.

The only method I've found is to use the KeyPress event...

Private Sub cboZipCodes_KeyPress(KeyAscii As Integer)
Me.cboZipCodes.Dropdown
End Sub


Randy

 

[PHV]

randy700, I just said that the behaviour of the AutoExpand feature has dependencies with LimitToList and Dropdown.

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ222-2244

 

[TheAceMan1]

ImStuk . . . . .

With code, you can detect the first three keys and then set [blue]dynamic criteria[/blue] for an SQL used as the [blue]RowSource[/blue].

See Ya! . . . . . .

 

[PHV]

And what about the BackSpace key then ?

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ222-2244

 

[TheAceMan1]

How are ya PHV . . . . .

Using the Change Event: [purple]Len(cbxName.Text & "") = 3[/purple], would be the main trigger. Of course some numeric validation needs to be performed . . . . .

See Ya! . . . . . .