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Can a data card use predictive typing in dropdown lists?

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Posted on by lundcry

I am creating a canvas app for a user that is connected to a SharePoint list. The list has some columns that are populated from a standardized list for consistency. In the canvas app, they appear as drop down lists.

The user wants to be able to type the first letter of the list option and have the entry jump to that selection, rather than clicking on the dropdown arrow and scrolling through the alphabetical list. For instance, if it's a list of fruit, she wants to be able to type "M" and have Mango populate in the form, type "M" again to get "Melon," etc, rather than having to scroll through a long list to get to the M's.

She also wants to be able to use tab to move from from one data card to the next to fill out the form.

I cannot figure out how to make either of these things possible! Or find out if they even ARE possible. Can anyone advise?

Thanks!

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Building Power Apps

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eka24 20,923 on at

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I suggest you replace the dropdown with a combobox for the searching capability.

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lundcry on at

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In a SharePoint list, when the column is "Choice," the only way to allow multiple selections is to to use a dropdown. So when the form in PowerApps pulls the data from that SharePoint list, it is in dropdown format as well. How would I change it to combobox in PowerApps?

The SharePoint list was already in existence and has a couple hundred items in it that they don't want to have to recreate.

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v-siky-msft on at

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Hi @lundcry ,

You are confused with combo box control and drop-down control.
Drop down control doesn't support multiple selection, but combo box control does. Another important property of combo box is that it supports searching which makes sense for your case.
When 'Allowing searching' is enabled, you can enter the search text, the option list returns searched items.
Demo:
Sik

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lundcry on at

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Ok, so I have combo boxes, not drop downs, but that still doesn't help me address what the user is asking for. She wants to be able to use Tab to move from data card to data card, not have to manual click on it like you did. Then she doesn't want to have to click inside the combo box before being able to type "B." Basically she wants the whole process to be keyboard based if possible, not using the mouse, so data entry can be done faster. Here's the data entry process she wants:

1. Enter data in box 1
2. Tab (I can't get this to work for moving from one combo box to another, just from text boxes)
3. Type letter(s) to have option(s) appear (I can't get this to work unless they use the mouse to click in the box first)
4. Have the top option automatically highlighted as selected as it populates
5. Tab to select the option and move to the next data box

This is possible to do in other websites for entering data or filling out forms, which is why she wants it to work that way in the app. I'm just not sure if it's even possible to just use tab and typing to enter data. I don't know where to enter what commands to make these functions happen if it IS possible.

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v-siky-msft on at

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Hi @lundcry ,

OK. The Keyboard Support for combo box maybe not what you expect.
This is a demo on selecting option in Combobox totally by keyboard.
Press Tab change focus from Text box to Combo box
Press Down show searchbox and dropdown list
Enter search text, press Down to select option, then press Enter to choose
Press Esc, close dropdown list, press Tab, navigate to another control
What you expect that using Tab to switch option is not supported in PowerApps. If you want that feature, please submit an idea to PowerApps Ideas Forum.
Hope this helps.
Sik

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