Combobox problem

[newitsupport]

I have just taken over as the MS database administrator and I NEED HELP!

I have a form that retrieves a table (customers) to see if the customer already exists in our database. That procedure, click on a drop down arrow, is a combobox. It retrieves the entire customer database, 68,000 + records.

1. it is really slow
2. the entire list is populated, even if you know the name
3. the list stops at 'W' as the last name

I believe I read that a combobox can only list 65,000 records. If that is true, it is most likely my problem since I can open the database and see all 68,000 just not through the form. Can I create a query\search\lookup or something for the user to select the initial of the last name and it will give them everyone with that last name?

Like 'W' will retrieve ONLY the customers that begin with the last name 'W'. That way no matter how big the list gets, we are only getting back a specific group with that alphabet.

Am I on the right track? Is there anyway to continue working the way we are without changing form? I would need a sample code to test.

Thanks so much in advance for the lost souls ....
NEWITSUPPORT

[RuralGuy]

I believe this link was written for you.