Today I updated a form and added a new filter textbox to it to allow the customer to specify part of a part number and filter a list of CSV files that contain that part number. It’s actually already processed these files and the data for all part numbers is in a long text field with part numbers separated by semi-colons.

The search can take a few moments to 20 seconds or more depending on other things working with the table at the time, so the customer requested that instead of updating the file list every time one of the criteria is entered, that I create an Apply Filter button to execute all the changes at once. So here’s the first two strategies:

Number 1: Use the Change and/or After Update events in an unbound combo or text field to automatically trigger a reload of the form with the appropriate filters.

Advantages: The user only has to change the filter and starts seeing in real time (with the change event) or immediately after updating the field what the new list looks like.

Disadvantages, If the time to requery with the filter takes more than fractions of a second, this can cause the user to have to wait between filter field updates and is not helpful in that situation.

Number 2: Use the same events, but instead of immediately applying the filter, enable or unhide a button that will apply the changes. It will also help to highlight the fields that have been changed for visual confirmation that the filter needs to be reapplied.

Advantages: Removes any delay between filling out fields and allows the user to click the button when they are ready to apply the changes.

Disadvantages: The user has to perform more steps to reach their goal.