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Combo Box Search Issues

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Posted on by Nick555

I have a problem I am hoping someone can help me figure out. I basically have 2 PowerApps. They are in 2 different environments but basically the same thing. Both are based on SharePoint lists. Each list is identical in the fields on them, but they are separate lists. Both use additional SharePoint lists as lookup lists to populate the field in question. The only difference is the SharePoint lists they use.

What I want is for the user to enter text into the search when looking for a job title/code. It should search for the entered value anywhere in the job title/code. It works in the Demo Ad Log app. (See First App screenshot below.) For some reason using the exact same code, with the SharePoint list changed, it will not work in the Ad Log app. (see Second App screenshot below.)

I’ve been comparing the properties of the combo box and comparing the properties of the SharePoint lists. They appear to be the same except for the name of the lists and the environments they are in.

Code used in Demo Ad Log that works:

Search(('Demo Ad Log'), (DataCardValue29.SearchText),'R-Job-Title'))

Code used in Ad Log DOES NOT work:

Search(('Ad Log'), (DataCardValue29.SearchText),'R-Job-Title'))

What am I doing wrong? Why does it work fine in the first app but not the second? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you

First App – DEMO Ad Log

Second App – Ad Log

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Building Power Apps

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WarrenBelz 156,714 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @Nick555 ,

When you say "does not work" are you getting an error or a Delegation warning ? A warning is expected as Search() is not Delegable and will only function on the first records up to your (500 - 2000) Data Row Limit. If this is a large list, I have a blog article on using StartsWith() on these.
Giraldoj 1,007 Super User 2026 Season 2 on at

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Hi @Nick555

he issue you're facing with the Combo Box search functionality in your PowerApps could be due to several factors. You will need to provide more information, as Warren suggested, such as whether you are getting any delegation warnings in the Search function.

Even though the code appears identical, here are some troubleshooting steps and considerations to help identify and resolve the problem:

Compare Combo Box Properties:
Double-check all properties of the Combo Box control in both apps. Specifically, ensure the following are identical:
Items property: This should point to the correct data source.
SearchFields property: Ensure it includes the correct field name ('R-Job-Title' in your case).
IsSearchable property: This should be set to true.

Test Search Functionality in SharePoint Directly:
Try performing a search directly within the SharePoint list to ensure that the search functionality works as expected there. This can help identify if the issue is within SharePoint or PowerApps.

Debugging Steps in PowerApps:
Use a Label control to display the value of DataCardValue29.SearchText to ensure it is capturing the input correctly.
Use the Monitor tool in PowerApps to trace the search operation and see if there are any errors or unexpected behavior.

Recreate the Combo Box:
Sometimes, there might be an issue with the control itself. Try deleting the Combo Box in the problematic app and recreating it from scratch, ensuring all properties are set correctly.

I hope one of these steps can help you identify where your issue is.
Nick555 20 on at

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Hi Warren. I get the yellow delegation warning on both my apps in their respective environments. Yet one will allow the search on any value in the field and the other won't. Based on that I don't think it's a delegation issue. The search in the entire filed of the value just won't work. Am I missing something?
WarrenBelz 156,714 Most Valuable Professional on at

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@Nick555 ,

Whether your Search works fully when non-Delegable depends on the size of the data source.

You did not answer my question as to what you mean by does not work.

Also what do you have in your Primary text and Searchfield
Nick555 20 on at

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Sorry.
I mean it will not allow me to search the entire field when I enter something in the search text. The app that doesn't work will only allow me to search by entering the first few letters. As if it was only a startswith field. I need it to search the entire field. So if I enter the number "7" it should pull up all values that contain a "7" or if I enter "n" it should find all values with an "n" in it. The whole list of values only has 700 values total. Here's an example of the one that works correctly. Hopefully it helps:
WarrenBelz 156,714 Most Valuable Professional on at

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@Nick555 ,

I see that now - your original screen shots resolution was too hard for me to read - maybe it is my device. What do you have in your Primary text and Searchfield ? Also what is your Data Row Limit ? BTW what you are seeing is not making a lot of sense to me presently.
Nick555 20 on at

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Hi Giraldoj.

OK so I have now thoroughly confused myself, an easy task to do most days. I ran though the checklist.
Compare Combo Box Properties - I put them side by side and compared each advanced property field. If they didn't match I changed them so they did yet the one version still won't work as expected.
Searchfields - Both are matching. It's odd that it references a completely different field though. They both reference the ad posting cost field. Yet it works in one environment and not the other.
Issearchable - Both are set to true. So both match.
Text Search Functionality directly in SharePoint - Did this and it worked in SharePoint no issues.
Debugging in PowerApps
Use a Label control to display the value of DataCardValue29.SearchText to ensure it is capturing the input correctly. - Did this. The text label displayed the exact search text that was being entered. So it appears that is working.
Use the Monitor tool in PowerApps to trace the search operation and see if there are any errors or unexpected behavior. - Did this. everything showed on the monitor as "Success". Though I will admit it was my first time using this tool so I may not have picked up on a specific nuance.
Recreate the Combo Box - I recreated the combo box but I am still having the same issue on the search where it will not search the entire field/value. Instead it only functions similar to the startswith function where the first letters are searched.
WarrenBelz 156,714 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @Nick555 .

What do you mean by Searchfields - Both are matching. It's odd that it references a completely different field though.

I assume this field is a Single Line of Text in both lists ?