retired_Frappin'

Surely if you insert a "loop until no matches" equivalent then that works the same way as you consistently reloading it.

retired_gulkis

when the form first loads, load all the csv files into arrays.

put everything in these arrays into the list box in the format you see fit.

when a text box is changed:

1. clear the list box
2. cycle through the relevent array of strings
3. use the InStr function to see if the text in the text box is inside the current string in the array
4. if it is then add this item to the list box using the same formatting you used before

isn't that all you're trying to do?

2boxers

not really, seems to be quite common practice

retired_sue edwards

In the form declaration, make some globals:

Private mvar_zFore() As String
Private mvar_zSur() As String
Private mvar_zYear() As String

In the Form_Load sub, read the file, redim the globals, and store the values. Then for each Text box change (and at the end of the Form_Load) clear the list and compare the contents of each text box to the corresponding variable. If you get a matches in all three, add the item to the list.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">For i = 1 To ubound(mvar_zFore) If InStr(1, mvar_zFore(i), Text1.Text) &gt; 0 Then If InStr(1, mvar_zSur(i), Text2.Text) &gt; 0 Then If InStr(1, mvar_zYear(i), Text3.Text) &gt; 0 Then List1.AddItem mvar_zFore(i) & " " & mvar_zSur(i) & ", " & mvar_zYear(i) End If End If End IfNext i</pre>