Pretty sure the answer is no.

When doing the auto-complete speed would be very important and a name contains search can't really use indexes for speed whereas a begins with search can.  The search would essentially become a linear search and with 17,000 items it would probably be painfully slow (it would have to search again after each character typed).

So if you need a names contains search you will have to rely on good ol'  F2.

Some one correct me if you have better information,  because I would love to have it be able to use a name contains too.

Pretty sure the answer is no.

When doing the auto-complete speed would be very important and a name contains search can't really use indexes for speed whereas a begins with search can.  The search would essentially become a linear search and with 17,000 items it would probably be painfully slow (it would have to search again after each character typed).

So if you need a names contains search you will have to rely on good ol'  F2.

Some one correct me if you have better information,  because I would love to have it be able to use a name contains too.

Makes sense...I put it up for a vote anyway :-)  

www5.v1ideas.com/.../25671

I type quickly, so the answer for me is F2 F4 <ALT>Tab C.  Never use the mouse when I can avoid it.

I meant *** Tab, not Alt Bat, sorry, corrosion in the brain.

Personally, I prefer the lookup over auto complete. F2 is faster than the mouse, in my never-to-be-humble opinion.

As such, use a custom Lookup. In case you need it:

On the list, click the Custom button

Create a new view and click the Default View checkbox

Change the columns display (or not, if you don't need to)

Filter if desired

Click the Initial Display checkbox

*Default search column to whatever you like (I like to search on the Name or Description)

*Default search option to Contains

Works for me, anyway.

Lou