Auto Search Textbox on VB.Net

In Google search engine, when you type a keyword to search, it automatically shows list of suggested or related searches like the image shown below. This auto-suggestion of Google, serves a very big help to every user browsers specially when we can't find the right keyword to search.

In this tutorial, I'm  going to do an auto-suggestion application program on VB.Net.

Please follow the step by step instructions provided to successfully implement the auto-search.

Step 1.

Create a database on Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or use any existing SQL database if you want.

In this example, I will use my own database. You may follow if you want.

Database name: SMIS

Table name	Fields	Data Type
db_info	user_id	Varchar(10)
	fname	Varchar(15)
	lname	Varchar(15)
	mname	Varchar(15)
	age	int
	gender	Varchar(8)

Step 2.

Create a Visual Basic – Windows project and name it auto_search. On the form, drag a text box and name it txt_search. Then drag a button, name it btn_search and place it beside the textbox. See sample image below.

Step 3.

In your project solution, right-click Form1 and choose ‘view code’. 

Then write or copy the code below.

Note: The sqldata is a string variable declared where data source string is stored. Change the data source value with the actual data source of your project.  The data source used in this example is: ‘Data Source=LOCALHOST\SQLEXPRESS;Initial Catalog=SMIS;Integrated Security=True

Imports System

Imports System.Data

Imports System.Data.SqlClient

Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic

Imports Microsoft.SqlServer.Server

Public Class Form1

Private sqldata as string =”data source here”

  Sub openConnection()

        cnn = New SqlConnection

        cnn.ConnectionString = sqldata

        cnn.Open()

End Sub

Public Sub SetAutoComplete()

        Try

            Dim AutoComp As New AutoCompleteStringCollection()

            Dim ConStr As String = sqldata

            Dim sqlCon As New SqlClient.SqlConnection(sqldata)

            sqlCon.Open()

            Dim dsSerch_id As New DataSet

 Dim dsSerch_Lname As New DataSet

            Dim dsSerch_Fname As New DataSet

            Dim dsSerch_Mname As New DataSet

            'Auto Searcn ID number

            Dim Str_sid As String = "select user_id from db_info"

            Dim SqlCom_sid As New SqlClient.SqlCommand(Str_sid, sqlCon)

            Dim sqlAdap_sid As New SqlClient.SqlDataAdapter(SqlCom_sid)

            sqlAdap_sid.Fill(dsSerch_id)

            For i As Integer = 0 To dsSerch_id.Tables(0).Rows.Count - 1

                AutoComp.Add(dsSerch_id.Tables(0).Rows(i)(0).ToString())

            Next

            'Auto Search Lname

            Dim Str As String = "select lname from db_info"

            Dim SqlCom As New SqlClient.SqlCommand(Str, sqlCon)

            Dim sqlAdap As New SqlClient.SqlDataAdapter(SqlCom)

            sqlAdap.Fill(dsSerch_Lname)

            For i As Integer = 0 To dsSerch_Lname.Tables(0).Rows.Count -             1

            AutoComp.Add(dsSerch_Lname.Tables(0).Rows(i)(0).ToString())

            Next

            'Auto Search Fname

            Dim Str_gen As String = "select fname from db_info"

            Dim SqlCom_gen As New SqlClient.SqlCommand(Str_gen, sqlCon)

            Dim sqlAdap_gen As New SqlClient.SqlDataAdapter(SqlCom_gen)

            sqlAdap_gen.Fill(dsSerch_Fname)

            For i As Integer = 0 To dsSerch_Fname.Tables(0).Rows.Count -             1

            AutoComp.Add(dsSerch_Fname.Tables(0).Rows(i)(0).ToString())

            Next

            'Auto Search Mname

            Dim Str_brgy As String = "select mname from db_info"

            Dim SqlCom_brgy As New SqlClient.SqlCommand(Str_brgy, sqlCon)

            Dim sqlAdap_brgy As New SqlClient.SqlDataAdapter(SqlCom_brgy)

            sqlAdap_brgy.Fill(dsSerch_Mname)

            For i As Integer = 0 To dsSerch_Mname.Tables(0).Rows.Count -             1

            AutoComp.Add(dsSerch_Mname.Tables(0).Rows(i)(0).ToString())

            Next

           

            'Set the some propersties of the text box to allow auto                   search

            'Or you may set this manaully on the textbox property window

            txt_search.AutoCompleteMode = AutoCompleteMode.Suggest

            txt_search.AutoCompleteSource =                                           AutoCompleteSource.CustomSource

            txt_search.AutoCompleteCustomSource = AutoComp

        Catch ex As Exception

MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, prog_message_caption, MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information)

        End Try

    End Sub

Private Sub main_form_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

'Call the auto search code on form load

SetAutoComplete()

End Sub

End Class

Here is a sample image of the running auto search program. The search box can search records using ID number, first name, last name and or middle name.