Trying to filter an entire database using a combo box or text box

Question

Hi,
I am looking to create a combo box with rows vice columns, then I would like to create a macro or some for form of filter that gives me the option to search within each or all of the selections.
I have created a search function (using a textbox and the button features) that allows me to search for anything in my database using applyfilter. The problem that I ran into with this was that when I hit the might work, but only the first line worked.
So I tried to use a combination box to create a filter of the fields that I want to view for the particular search I need, but I want to select row headers vice columns of information. For example if I have five fields of: Last Name, First Name, SSN, Document
number and Unique ID.
I want a combination box to show the following field header when I click the drop down option.
(Last Name
First Name
SSN
Documentation Number
Unique ID)
Then I would to apply a macro filter feature for files within theses individual fields. I am just getting started in VBA and using Macros, so any help would be awesome!!
If I am too far off target please direct me back, I tend to over think things.
Thanks in Advance

Answer 1

Dirk Goldgar, I tried to you use the suggested method you gave me. Part of the problem I was having was that I wanted to view the field list, which I now know is very possible thanks to you, but only wanted it to show as one single list of fields.
So took the information you gave me and went on to create a list box instead. I later found out why this was not working either.
In what way was it not working?  You can do the same thing with a list box as I described for a combo box.
I have relationships of tables attached.
I don't understand what you mean by that last statement, or how it's relevant to the discussion.  Do you mean you have multiple different tables that you might want to filter?  So you would need to either (a) first need to select a table from a
list of tables in your database, and only then select a field in that table, or else (b) have a table listing all the data elements you might want to search, with the table and field name of each, and base a list box on that -- then the code to search would
know what table to select from, as well as what field to filter on.
So this info that you provided was very helpful. I will continue to go through the link you provided.
So I can quickly sum up what I need:
1. A dropdown box that allows me to search any Field List
2. A textbox that allows me to type in the searchable information for that particular field.
3. Or some way to build a filter function for the whole list, with a textbox to search the key words.
This is all still a bit unclear to me, because I don't know whether you want to search a particular table, or any of many possible tables in the database.
Dirk Goldgar, MS Access MVP
Access tips: www.datagnostics.com/tips.html