Creating a multiple field search function in excel VBA - vba

Question

I need to build a linked search function in VBA that also auto-updates after you enter data into the given search fields. I have been able to do this successfully with the following sections of code:
Autofilter search - in a standard module
Code:
Sub FilterTo1Criteria()
With Sheet3
If Range("A3") <> vbNullString Then
.AutoFilterMode = False
.Range("A6:J1015").AutoFilter
.Range("A6:J1015").AutoFilter Field:=1, Criteria1:=Range("A3")
Else
Selection.AutoFilter
End If
End With
End Sub
Sheet change/auto-update - This is in a worksheet module
Code:
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
If Target.Address = "$A$3" Then
Application.EnableEvents = False
FilterTo1Criteria
Application.EnableEvents = True
End If
End Sub
However, within the sheet change page, I need cells A3:J3 to be the criteria, but I also need the auto search function to work if only A3 and D3 are filled in, or if just A3 is filled in (D3 is blank), or if just D3 is filled in (A3 is blank), but I'm having issues trying to compound the code to get this effect. How much more complicated will I have to make it? Are there some examples that someone is aware of that I can look at to glean some information from? It's hard to find any...
A slicer with a pivot table is a potential way to go, but I think some people downstream are using Excel 2003 and I don't think the slicer works back that far.
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

For the function to work if either A3 or D3 are not empty, then you can concatenate the two cells and compare that to vbNullString.
For the multiple filters, you can use a loop to set them all.
eg:
Sub FilterTo1Criteria()
Dim i As Long
With Sheet3
If Range("A3") & Range("D3") <> vbNullString Then
.AutoFilterMode = False
.Range("A6:J1015").AutoFilter
For i = 1 To 10
.Range("A6:J1015").AutoFilter Field:=i, Criteria1:=Cells(3, i)
Next i
Else
Selection.AutoFilter
End If
End With
End Sub
Edit:
It looks like you wanted to set the filters as the criteria cells were filled, rather than all at once. Try this instead:
Sub FilterTo1Criteria()
Dim i As Long
With Sheet3
.AutoFilterMode = False
.Range("A6:J1015").AutoFilter
For i = 1 To 10
If .Cells(3, i) <> vbNullString Then
.Range("A6:J1015").AutoFilter Field:=i, Criteria1:=.Cells(3, i)
End If
Next i
End With
End Sub
and for the new worksheet change sub:
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
If Not Intersect(Target, Range("$A$3:$J$3")) Is Nothing Then
Application.EnableEvents = False
FilterTo1Criteria
Application.EnableEvents = True
End If
End Sub
This will add or remove filters as you add or remove criteria (row 3).