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How to Make an Access Combo Box Search Any Part of a Name

Rana Garcia Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to configure a combo box in Microsoft Access to search for records by typing any part of a name, rather than just the beginning.

How to Make an Access Combo Box Search Any Part of a Name

Product: Microsoft Access
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Filtering a dropdown list in an Access form based on partial string matches.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Access AutoExpand only searches from the beginning of the combo box value, failing to match middle names or surnames unless they are at the very start of the string.

Before you start

Ensure you have the target form open in Design View and are familiar with modifying Form properties, the Property Sheet, and RowSource queries.

Solution 1Recommended

Filter the RowSource using a LIKE Condition

Modify the RowSource query of your combo box to allow wildcards for partial string matching.

By default, Access has no built-in property to change AutoExpand's behavior to search arbitrary parts of a value. The most straightforward workaround is to dynamically filter the combo box's RowSource using wildcards.

Open Query Builder

Open your form in Design View, select the target combo box, open the Property Sheet, and navigate to the Data tab. Click the ellipsis (...) next to the RowSource property.

Add LIKE Criteria

In the Criteria row for your name field, enter a LIKE expression using asterisks as wildcards, such as: Like "*" & [Forms]![YourFormName]![YourComboBoxName].[Text] & "*"

Add a Requery Macro

Save and close the query. In the Property Sheet, go to the Event tab, click the ellipsis next to 'On Change', and add a macro or VBA command to Requery the combo box so the list updates as you type.

Filter the RowSource using a LIKE Condition

Wildcard Performance: Using leading wildcards in a query prevents the database engine from using indexes effectively, which might slow down filtering on extremely large datasets.

Solution 2

Use VBA Code for Instant Filtering

Use Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to dynamically construct and update the combo box records as the user types.

Solution 3

Combine and Reorder Fields in the Query

Format the RowSource to display the most searched text (like the Last Name) at the beginning of the combo box.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Access AutoExpand only search from the beginning of the word?

Access AutoExpand is designed to match keystrokes against the leftmost characters of the displayed column. This default behavior allows users to quickly jump to a specific alphabetical section of a list without executing complex, resource-heavy wildcard searches.

Can I disable AutoExpand in Microsoft Access?

Yes. You can disable AutoExpand by opening the form in Design View, selecting the combo box, navigating to the Data tab in the Property Sheet, and changing the 'Auto Expand' property to No.

Is it possible to search multiple columns in a single combo box?

Yes, you can search multiple columns by creating a calculated field in your RowSource query that concatenates the target columns (e.g., combining First Name and Last Name), and then applying your LIKE search criteria to that combined field.

Does WPS Office have an alternative to Microsoft Access?

WPS Office does not include a direct relational database management system like Microsoft Access. However, WPS Spreadsheet provides robust data management, pivot tables, and advanced filtering tools that can handle many of the tabular data tracking tasks typically managed in simple databases.

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