Autocomplete on form while typing

[Mh2]

Hi there,

I'm creating a checkin app in which I ask some user details in a form and submit it into a CDS table. What I want is to autocomplete what the user insert in a specific DataCardValue while he is typing based on a CDS column.

For example: I'm inserting my company name that is already memorized into a CDS column. While I type, I want the system to autocomplete the name. 

Do you think is it possible to obtain such a behaviour, maybe with some workaround or something similar?

Thanks in advance.

[v-xida-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @Mh2 ,

Could you please share a bit more about your scenario?

Do you want the company name value to be autocompleted when you type a company name which has been memorized into your CDS column within a Text Input box within your Edit form?

If you want he company name value to be autocompleted when you type a company name which has been memorized into your CDS column within a Text Input box within your Edit form, I afraid that there is no way to achieve your needs in PowerApps currently.

As an alternative solution, you could consider convert the Text Input box within your Edit form into a ComboBox control. Then populate all available Company Name values from your CDS Column into the ComboBox. After that, you could choose a avaialble company name within the ComboBox directly instead of typing a whole Company Name.

I have made a test on my side, please take a try with the following workaround:

On your side, you need to unlock the Company Name data card within your Edit form firstly. Then remove the original Text Input box from the Company Name data card, instead, add a ComboBox control (ComboBox1) within it.

Set the Items property of the ComboBox to following:

'Your Entity Name'.'Company Name'  /* <-- List all available company name values which has already been memorized into your 'Company Name' column  */

Or

[@YourEntityName].'Company Name'    /* <-- List all available company name values which has already been memorized into your 'Company Name' column  */

Set the Update property of the Company Name Data card to following:

If(
   IsBlank(ComboBox1.Selected.'Company Name'), 
   ComboBox1.SearchText,
   ComboBox1.Selected.'Company Name'
)

Note: Within the ComboBox, you could also consider type a new Company Name manually rather than choose one available value from the ComboBox. The 'Company Name' represents the column your specific Data card value related to.

More details about converting the Original Text Input box into a ComboBox within the Edit form, please check the following GIF screenshot:

Please take a try with above solution, then check if the issue is solved.

Best regards,

[Mh2]

Hi v-xida-msft,

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate that. The problem is that I cannot search in the Combobox, I cannot type, but when I click it it returns me the selectable list. Is there any other property to set in order to do what you did in your GIF? could you please share also your properties? Thanks

[v-xida-msft]

Hi @Mh2 ,

Based on the issue that you mentioned, I think you add a Dropdown control within your Edit form.

Actually, within the alternative solution I provided above, the Dropdown box I mentioned is the ComboBox control. On your side, please consider remove the Dropdown control from the corresponding Data card in your Edit form, then add a ComboBox control:

More details about the ComboBox control, please check the following article:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/controls/control-combo-box

Best regards,

[Mh2]

Hi v-xida-msft,

Yes you are right, now I added a Combobox. The problem is that I cannot search in the Combobox, I cannot type, but when I click it it returns me the selectable list. Is there any other property to set in order to do what you did in your GIF? could you please share also your properties? Thanks

[v-xida-msft]

Hi @Mh2 ,

Please consider set the IsSearchable property of the ComboBox control to following:

true

set the SelectMultiple property to following:

false

Please take a try with above soluton, check if the issue is solved.

Best regards,

[Mh2]

Thank you very much, the problem is solved!

Have a nice day! 🙂

[jlm_marcelo]

Gracias! funcionó perfectamente....

[Medoomi]

Just a quick note to say "Thank you" to @v-xida-msft for this solution, and to add for the benefit of others that when using the code:

If(
   IsBlank(ComboBox1.Selected.'Company Name'), 
   ComboBox1.SearchText,
   ComboBox1.Selected.'Company Name'
)

the code does not anticipate cancelling a selection. Here's the code I ended up using:

If(
    IsBlank(ComboBox1.Selected.Result),
    If(
        IsBlank(ComboBox1.SearchText),
        Blank(),
        ComboBox1.SearchText
    ),
    ComboBox1.Selected.Result
)

Also, make sure that the DefaultSelectedItems property of the combobox is

{Result: Parent.Default}

Nb. the above method will pull results subject to the delegation limit. To avoid this, you can use this method instead: Link

[Yuriy_Stoyanov]

Thanks everyone for solution!

The only thing which is not mentioned - make sure you have specified the combobox DefaultSelectedItems as something like the following:

{Value:Parent.Default}

Otherwise, you won't get proper behavior on editing screen - combobox won't be populated with the value and remain empty.