# Can anybody explain how to search items in a list (from airtable)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions about Thunkable X\ **Created:** [February 9, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649 "2020-02-09T18:20:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chris.bailey230698t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chris.bailey230698t](https://community.thunkable.com/u/chris.bailey230698t)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/1 "2020-02-09T18:20:13Z")
This seems to be a pretty simple one but I keep seeing different explanations everywhere, none of which I can get to work for me. This is my most recent attempt which does absolutely nothing: ![Annotation 2020-02-09 175930](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/b/6/b6a12f1d36a1940110413340df5ba7ed790d6c26.jpeg) Beforehand it was looking like this, which is basically the screen with the lists etc but no search function: ![Annotation 2020-02-09 180328](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/8/3/836f3ad6f440acd261e5e599e37a32fa370bbd8c.jpeg) Here is the format of my database, but on this screen the user will only be seeing the items below the restaurant names (Column names). ![Annotation 2020-02-09 180504](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/2/c/2c159e8cc26c789c9077960a4974f115d34df61b.jpeg) Here is an image of the screen, with the list items on the top and the selected list items on the bottom (bottom two items). ![Screenshot_2020-02-09-18-05-40-186_com.thunkable.live](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/5/e/5e1e9881ee1a3890b02fad8c2f97d71dffe71bdc.jpeg) If anybody can explain, that would be amazing! šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![jared](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/jared/32/138473_2.png) [@jared](https://community.thunkable.com/u/jared)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/2 "2020-02-09T18:59:47Z")
If you look for @actechā€™s demo app, he has an example of how search a list [https://x.thunkable.com/projects/5d70f93f8a62b4079eedaff2/project/properties/designer/](https://x.thunkable.com/projects/5d70f93f8a62b4079eedaff2/project/properties/designer/) ---
**Author:** ![chris.bailey230698t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chris.bailey230698t](https://community.thunkable.com/u/chris.bailey230698t)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/3 "2020-02-09T21:08:39Z")
Hi @jared, Iā€™m not sure which screen I should be looking at on this? ---
**Author:** ![jared](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/jared/32/138473_2.png) [@jared](https://community.thunkable.com/u/jared)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/4 "2020-02-09T21:20:50Z")
In the list the screen is called ā€œfinderā€ ---
**Author:** ![tatiang](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/tatiang/32/55482_2.png) [@tatiang](https://community.thunkable.com/u/tatiang)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/5 "2020-02-09T21:25:27Z")
In your first screenshot, youā€™re initializing _app tempObject_ to ā€œā€ (an empty string) but then checking _if does app tempObject contain_ [your text input]. Thatā€™s always going to be false because itā€™s an empty string that youā€™re checking. I think your mistake is that youā€™re setting _stored LOGIN\_INFO_ to the ith item of _app tempList_ (an empty list) but you should instead be setting _app tempObject_ to _in list app entireList get #i_. ---
**Author:** ![chris.bailey230698t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chris.bailey230698t](https://community.thunkable.com/u/chris.bailey230698t)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/6 "2020-02-09T21:47:05Z")
Hi @tatiang, thank you for pointing this out! I have now made the adjustment where I had accidently added the login variable but I am still seeing no results. Just to confirm, does this look like Iā€™m approaching the search the right way? Iā€™m hoping the search results will display within the **ā€˜item-listā€™** - or thinking about it, it is more ideal that everything other than the results disappear if that makes sense - since that list is already populated. ![Annotation 2020-02-09 213244](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/5/1/518f32662103bcf29dc881c976175372cb6d289b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![chris.bailey230698t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chris.bailey230698t](https://community.thunkable.com/u/chris.bailey230698t)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/7 "2020-02-09T22:07:28Z")
I hope I donā€™t come across as too silly but I really donā€™t understand what Iā€™m looking at in that screen, I canā€™t gauge the logical order of things! šŸ˜¬ Iā€™ll keep trying! ---
**Author:** ![jared](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/jared/32/138473_2.png) [@jared](https://community.thunkable.com/u/jared)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/8 "2020-02-09T22:18:20Z")
its probably complex. what about @tatiangā€™s advice. was that helpful at all for you? Heā€™s always a great resource for information! ---
**Author:** ![chris.bailey230698t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chris.bailey230698t](https://community.thunkable.com/u/chris.bailey230698t)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 10:21pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/9 "2020-02-09T22:21:13Z")
Iā€™ve actually given that one a go but it still doesnā€™t seem to work for me, I think I have done it properly! ---
**Author:** ![jared](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/jared/32/138473_2.png) [@jared](https://community.thunkable.com/u/jared)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/10 "2020-02-09T22:37:11Z")
Sorry I canā€™t help further today. I have sworn off the app builder (not the forum tho šŸ˜‰ ) this week in an effort to spend time working on my thesis. If you are still experiencing this during this coming weekend I will try to help. i doubt you will be though. Keep at it! ---
**Author:** ![chris.bailey230698t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chris.bailey230698t](https://community.thunkable.com/u/chris.bailey230698t)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/11 "2020-02-09T22:39:27Z")
Well thank you for your help anyway! šŸ˜ƒ Good luck on your thesis!! šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![tatiang](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/tatiang/32/55482_2.png) [@tatiang](https://community.thunkable.com/u/tatiang)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 11:15pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/12 "2020-02-09T23:15:16Z")
Oooh, whatā€™s your thesis on? ---
**Author:** ![jared](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/jared/32/138473_2.png) [@jared](https://community.thunkable.com/u/jared)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/13 "2020-02-09T23:33:58Z")
This might be off post topic butā€¦ my whole project relates to the fact that mobile technology is ubiquitous and paper and pencil anything is pretty much outdated and not always handy at this point for most of our culture/society. As a behavioral scientist and applied behavior analyst working with individuals with autism, data are important to me. They let me know whether or not my intervention is working. The more there are the better. The sooner i get them the better. The more reliable/accurate they are, the better. These let me know whether or not i need to change the program or keep it the same and i can make these decisions on a day to day basis when i have sufficient data. Many of the parents and educators I work with frequently complain that they have to record data with pencil and paper. they say it is not convenient and cumbersome. So, they just donā€™t do it. Instead of strong arming families into taking data or threatening to take away services if they donā€™t, Iā€™d rather use a different approach and build a system conducive to data collecting itself. I am studying the efficacy of a simple electronic data collection system with built in prompts (push messages) and social rewards (i text my clients after they submit data about the data with a personalized message) as compared to traditional data collection methods of leaving a data sheet with a parent and collecting it in 2 weeks to a month. I want to find out which one results in more data collecting behaviors. I will then present this at a conference later in the year hopefully. I have already piloted the app and my parents really like it compared with previous data sheets I have left them. Now, itā€™s time to go through the human subjects institutional review board and get actual study participants! Medicine is already using this mobile tech to help with medicine adherence and getting patients to appointments. I want to bring it to the world of mental health for this and at least 1 other study I plan to conduct this year **[ALSO] if anybody ever wants to talk autism treatment, behavior analysis, psychology, the value of data collection, or organizational business management. HIT ME UP!** ---
**Author:** ![tatiang](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/tatiang/32/55482_2.png) [@tatiang](https://community.thunkable.com/u/tatiang)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/14 "2020-02-10T00:33:36Z")
Sorry, my Adobe Illustrator just de-licensed itself so Iā€™m not as able to illustrate what I mean but in the newest screenshot, when you click the Item-Search-Button, it calls the function _updateTempList_ and then thereā€™s an error in this section: ![Screen Shot 2020-02-09 at 4.18.38 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/2/c/2c889844058a42241fafb73980426368dbd0cb92.png) You need to replace _app tempList_ with _app entireList_ Iā€™m not 100% sure that will fix everything but Iā€™d start there. If thatā€™s still not working, consider sharing a link to your project. Itā€™s a bit tricky to troubleshoot without seeing the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![kartik14](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/kartik14/32/44782_2.png) [@kartik14](https://community.thunkable.com/u/kartik14)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 4:43am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/15 "2020-02-10T04:43:16Z")
Hi, @chris.bailey230698t! šŸ‘‹ A short solution for you would be like this - ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/c/2/c26f75ff3114342906621c5a7626712d2cbba5ee.png) ### Notes - Variable `x` is my airtable list, and variable `y` is a temporary empty-list (which would be the search results list later). I have used a `listViewer` in my example, which is set to showcase the `x` list. So, when the user inputs his query, and hits the search button, - First, the listviewer goes blank, showing that itā€™s searching. - Next, the `y` list is re-set to an empty list, just to erase the previous search results. - Now a `for-loop` runs itself, and iterates item-by-item in the `x` list. - Inside nested is an `if-else` condition, which (for every item) checks weather the item contains the given input. - If yes, then in the `y` list, it inserts the item, which means the item is one of the search results. - Everytime the `y` list gets updated, the ListViewer refreshes too, showing the user the latest list. - If the item does NOT contain the input, it `continues with next iteration (item)` of the loop. - This process loops everytime, till the very-last item if the `x` list. Hope I helped you! šŸ™‚ Good Luck! šŸ‘ Thanks! šŸ˜Š **P.S.** My Solution is _somewhat_ like @tatiangā€™s, but itā€™s efficient and uses less blocks. Both would properly work for you šŸ‘ ---
**Author:** ![chris.bailey230698t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chris.bailey230698t](https://community.thunkable.com/u/chris.bailey230698t)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/16 "2020-02-10T19:59:12Z")
This sounds awesome, what an interesting topic! šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![chris.bailey230698t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chris.bailey230698t](https://community.thunkable.com/u/chris.bailey230698t)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/17 "2020-02-10T20:15:25Z")
Hey @kartik14, this seems to be making some progress - everything disappears as though it is waiting to present some items however nothing appearsā€¦ the one by @tatiang seems to not do anything and I imagine it is something else in my code causing the issue. Here is what happens so far: ![ezgif.com-video-to-gif (3)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/6/c/6c0db9d760b6687c4e9e40a827540ed369737fae.gif) ![Annotation 2020-02-10 200336](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/5/6/56bd257b8468e5abfc244412b397e7bd161ee97c.jpeg) Iā€™m happy to share my project if you canā€™t seem to see the issue here and want to take a closer look! Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![chris.bailey230698t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chris.bailey230698t](https://community.thunkable.com/u/chris.bailey230698t)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/18 "2020-02-10T20:18:19Z")
Hi @tatiang, thank you for this! Iā€™ve given that a go but it still seems as though it doesnā€™t want to budge. Nothing seems to happen when I actually click that search button. I have tried @kartik14 idea and it seems to be making everything disappear as though expecting results to occur however nothing seems to show. I assume itā€™s issues elsewhere in my code. ![Annotation 2020-02-10 200657](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/8/f/8fe0f45369849ba72cd03f85f6e265e853ee36c1.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![tatiang](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/tatiang/32/55482_2.png) [@tatiang](https://community.thunkable.com/u/tatiang)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/19 "2020-02-10T21:38:38Z")
Is _app entireList_ populated with data? What happens when you try to view it using a list viewer or with something like _from label set text to in list get #1_? Just to verify that itā€™s not empty. What happens when you set a labelā€™s text to _from Item-Search-Input get Text_ to verify that that is not empty? Can you PM me a link to your project or post it here? ---
**Author:** ![chris.bailey230698t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chris.bailey230698t](https://community.thunkable.com/u/chris.bailey230698t)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 10:04pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649/20 "2020-02-10T22:04:37Z")
Hi @tatiang Iā€™ve sent you a link to my project šŸ™‚ [Next page](https://community.thunkable.com/t/can-anybody-explain-how-to-search-items-in-a-list-from-airtable/454649.md?page=2)