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# Multi-Column Progressive Combo Box Filtering
- URL: https://nolongerset.com/multi-column-progressive-combo-box-filtering/
- Published: 2021-06-12T03:53:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-08T13:04:05.000Z
- Description: You, too, can learn to filter your combo boxes by every visible column.
- Author: Mike Wolfe
- Tags: Combo Boxes, Advanced, #Import 2026-05-20 02:59

In [yesterday's article](https://nolongerset.com/progressive-combo-box-filtering/), I provided a demonstration of "progressive combo box filtering." 

As a refresher, here's progressive filtering in a nutshell:

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/06/Progressive-Filtering-in-a-nutshell.gif)

As you enter text, the list of potential matches shrinks. That's progressive filtering in a nutshell.

### What about multiple columns?

One of the great benefits of combo box controls are their fantastic [signal-to-noise ratios](https://nolongerset.com/signal-vs-noise/). You can display an abbreviated code in the first visible column so that the combo box itself takes only a small amount of form real estate. But, when the combo box drops down, you can show several additional columns that provide context to the short code. This is a useful technique even for read-only combo boxes. Think of it as an [on-demand tooltip](https://nolongerset.com/combo-box-benefits/#its-like-having-an-on-demand-tooltip).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/06/image-9-1.png)

Can't remember which airport has the IAH code? A quick drop down gets you the info.

So, using the combo box's extra columns to serve as an on-demand tooltip is a nice feature. But that only helps you for fields that already have a value entered. What if your user wants to choose one of the airports in Chicago but they can't remember their associated codes? A basic progressive filter won't help because that only searches the first visible column.

But there's no technical reason why we can't allow the progressive filter to work for *all columns*. It just requires a bit more code.

### Demonstration

Here is an example of a multi-column progressive filtering implementation I wrote:

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/06/Multi-column-progressive-filtering.gif)

Can your combo boxes do this?

This takes yesterday's technique to the next level. There are quite a few more technical challenges, too. It's not complicated, necessarily. It's basically just a game of edge-case-whac-a-mole. Here's the development algorithm:

1. implement the basic functionality
2. test until you find unusual behavior
3. fix the unusual behavior
4. go to step 2

To see how I accomplish this effect and many other cool combo box tricks, [join me next Friday, June 18, 2021, at 9 AM EDT](https://accessusergroups.org/et/event/access-et-6/) for the [Eastern Time Access User Group](https://accessusergroups.org/et/) monthly webinar. You won't be disappointed.

*Photo by [Nathan Dumlao](https://unsplash.com/@nate%5Fdumlao?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/filter?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText)*