diff --git a/app/components/bike_logs.rb b/app/components/bike_logs.rb
index e1aff13..1ebf97e 100644
--- a/app/components/bike_logs.rb
+++ b/app/components/bike_logs.rb
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class BikeLogs < Netzke::Basepack::Grid
       { :name => :start_date},
       { :name => :description},
       #had to hack acts_as_loggable/log.rb to get this to work
-      { :name => :bike_action__action, :field_label => 'Action'}
+      { :name => :bike_action__action, :field_label => 'Action', :min_chars => 1 }
     ]
   end
 
diff --git a/app/components/bikes.rb b/app/components/bikes.rb
index 918fc0f..4199b5b 100644
--- a/app/components/bikes.rb
+++ b/app/components/bikes.rb
@@ -41,18 +41,18 @@ class Bikes < Netzke::Basepack::Grid
   def default_fields_for_forms
     # :field_label MUST be defined in order for search to work
     [
-      { :name => :bike_brand__brand, :field_label => 'Brand' },
+      { :name => :bike_brand__brand, :field_label => 'Brand', :min_chars => 1 },
       { :name => :model, :field_label => 'Model'},
       { :name => :shop_id, :field_label => 'Shop ID'},
       { :name => :serial_number, :field_label => 'Serial Number'},
       { :name => "color", :xtype => "xcolorcombo"},
-      { :name => :bike_style__style, :field_label => 'Style' },
+      { :name => :bike_style__style, :field_label => 'Style', :min_chars => 1},
       { :name => :seat_tube_height, :field_label => 'Seat Tube (in)'},
       { :name => :top_tube_length, :field_label => 'Top Tube (in)'},
       { :name => :wheel_size, :field_label => 'Wheel Size (in)'},
       { :name => :value, :field_label => 'Value'},
-      { :name => :bike_condition__condition, :field_label => 'Condition'},
-      { :name => :bike_purpose__purpose, :field_label => 'Purpose'}
+      { :name => :bike_condition__condition, :field_label => 'Condition', :min_chars => 1},
+      { :name => :bike_purpose__purpose, :field_label => 'Purpose', :min_chars => 1}
     ]
   end
   #override with nil to remove actions
diff --git a/app/components/transaction_logs.rb b/app/components/transaction_logs.rb
index b0e07d3..076004d 100644
--- a/app/components/transaction_logs.rb
+++ b/app/components/transaction_logs.rb
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class TransactionLogs < Netzke::Basepack::Grid
       { :no_binding => true, :xtype => 'displayfield', :fieldLabel => "Payment for:", :value => "#{item.to_s}"},
       { :name => :description, :xtype => 'numberfield', :field_label => 'Amount'},
       #had to hack acts_as_loggable/log.rb to get this to work
-      { :name => :transaction_action__action, :field_label => 'Payment Method'}
+      { :name => :transaction_action__action, :field_label => 'Payment Method', :min_chars => 1}
     ]
   end
 
diff --git a/app/components/user_logs.rb b/app/components/user_logs.rb
index 78a882a..7bfe16e 100644
--- a/app/components/user_logs.rb
+++ b/app/components/user_logs.rb
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class UserLogs < Netzke::Basepack::Grid
       { :name => :end_date},
       { :name => :description},
       #had to hack acts_as_loggable/log.rb to get this to work
-      { :name => :user_action__action, :field_label => 'Action'},
+      { :name => :user_action__action, :field_label => 'Action', :min_chars => 1},
       { :name => :for_bike, :checkboxName => :copy_log, :inputValue => true, :title => "Copy description to a Bike's History?", :xtype => 'fieldset', :checkboxToggle => true, :collapsed => true, :items => [
           {:xtype => 'combo', :no_binding => true, :name => :copy_id, :title => 'Bike', :fieldLabel => 'Bike', :store => bike_store, :value => bike_id}
         ]