---
title: "Handling Large Dropdown Lists"
slug: "using-typed-text-from-a-drop-down-component"
description: "Dynamically populate Decisions Form drop-downs with large data lists based on user-entered text, using a Flow as the data source."
updated: 2026-06-30T14:13:56Z
published: 2026-06-30T14:13:56Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/using-typed-text-from-a-drop-down-component"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Handling Large Dropdown Lists

## Overview

The Decisions Form designer offers a multitude of tools that can be used to collect information via user input from a Form. One such method is selecting data from a drop-down component; these data options can be static values or dynamically populated via a Flow. The following article will explain how a Flow can be used to dynamically populate a drop-down component with a large list utilizing user-typed Strings of text.

It is best practice to assume a large list contains more than 50 data options.

---

## Example

1. Create a Flow and add a Show Form step and create a new Form.
2. In the Form Designer, add a **Drop Down List** and a **Button** from the FAVORITES section.
3. Select the Drop Down List; in the **Input Data >** **Type**, select **All/Search** and search for **"Account".** PICK the first option.
4. Select **EmailAddress** from **Input Data > Display Field.**
5. Select **Flow** from **Input Data > List Input Source.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1780427523074.png)**
6. Next, after selecting the PICK FLOW ID box, click CREATE from the resulting CREATE **or** PICK FLOW dialog window**.**
7. Select Flow, name the Flow and click CREATE.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1780427585105.png)
8. Add Input Data, configure one **String [Text]** type with the **Name** "TypedText".**![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1782828829737.png)**
9. Add a Length Greater Than step from the Toolbox panel, and connect it to the **Start** step.
10. Select the Length Greater Than step and use a **Constant** mapping of "3" under **Inputs > Length.**
11. Using the **Select From Flow** mapping on **Inputs > Length**, choose the **String [Text]** from the **Start** step.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1780427654938.png)
12. From **Toolbox >** **FAVORITE STEPS**, pull and attach a **Fetch Entities** step to the '**True**' path from the previous step.
13. In the **Properties** panel, under **ENTITY FETCH DEFINITION** **> Type Name,** select **Account** from the **All/Search** result.
14. Under **ENTITY FETCH DEFINITION > Fetch Criteria** select **ADD NEW**.
15. Under **Add Fetch Criteria > Field Name,** select **emailAddress**.
16. Under **Add Fetch Criteria > Query Match Type,** select **Contains**. Then click OK.
17. Using a **Flow Data** mapping under **Inputs > Email Address,** select **String [Text]**.**![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1780427816799.png)**
18. Connect the **Results**, **No Results**, and **False** lines to the **End s**tep.
19. With the **End** step selected, navigate to the **Properties** panel **> Pick From Current Data** section and enable the **EntityResults** checkbox.
20. **Save** and **Close** Flow Designer and the Form Designer to return to the main Flow.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1780427855496.png)

---

## Debug

1. Select Debug in the top action panel. In the Debugger, click START DEBUGGING.
2. Begin typing letters corresponding to an option in the list; these options will populate under the drop-down component based on the number of letters entered.
3. Select Done to close the Form.