Provide autocomplete with free text option - Mendix Forum

Provide autocomplete with free text option

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Introduction

Often text fields are provided as input boxes for string values. In many use cases it is wished to provide an autocomplete feature based on existing values to the end user. 

 

Idea

Ideally this would be natively an option for text box fields in general for Mendix Entities with string type members just like it is already in place for general values like Language, Full Name, Username etc. but it could also be a deviation of the Combobox Widget that would solely allow free text to be applied.

 

Use Case Example

In Example an Entity "Change" and Member "Title". When creating a new Change in the UI the user shall be able to define the Title but with autocomplete assistance of already existing Titles. So he is able to select, accept the selected value or adjust to his needs and store it as the New Change Title.

 

Workaround with Combobox

We tried to use Combobox but it only works to select exact values and does not allow the end user to add values that match partially. So we tried further adding a text box into the footer. Unfortunately it will remain in the footer and it is quite confusing for the end user resulting in a bad UX.

 

Workaround with Text Box

As a solution we had to add it as a text box with a list view as a helper to select values like it would do it for with the autocomplete of the combobox. Unfortunately we still had some difficulties and even had to use some java script in the html snipped to achieve a dynamic overlapping and hide / show mechanic to the list view. Also instead of List View a Datagrid 2 could also be used where header is hidden. 

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