What's the purpose of having them as pickers?

Interesting problem. I would create an aggregate query for last names so you only see a unique list of those. Then, once you pick "Smith" then all of the individual Smiths would appear in the first name combo box. That would be the bound box. At least, that's how I'd do it. This would actually make a cool video. I'll add it to my list.

I have thousands of names in my database. When I am on a form and want to change individuals I want to type in the lastname and have the firstnames show to pick from and the form will be open to the individual picked. Perhaps there would be a better way to accomplish this other than cascading combo boxes?
Kim

I think the two cascading combo boxes you originally thought of would be the easiest.

Like Richard said, the first would be based on an aggregate query from your table that just shows last names; it could be a 1-column combo. It will be an interesting video.

The 2nd combo would be two columns but 3 fields, column 1, the record ID and the column 2, first name. The third field in the query would be last name not shown but it would have the criteria set to match the value of the last name combo. You may want it to be hidden or disabled until the last name is selected.

In the after update event of the lastname combo, you would just requery the firstname combo and enable it and/or make it visible.

Either with a button, with a double click event or in the after update event of the first name field, would be the openform code.

The first combo would be last name based on an aggregate query of all the last names. The second combo would be a list of first names, and this one I wouldn't aggregate; I would just show them all. Then, in the second column of the 2nd combo box, have some other field that would allow you to distinguish them (maybe their street address or their phone number). Whatever you can use to pick, so if you got five Joe Smith's, you pick Smith first, then you'd see all five Joe's, but with Joe, you'd see all of the different addresses for the Joes so you can pick the correct one.