Apply a global filter to a view

You can create a global filter, or select an existing filter, and apply it to a view to restrict which records are displayed, or processed by Analytics operations.

You can also specify that a global filter is the default filter for a table so that it is automatically applied every time you open the table.

Simple filters can be manually entered in the Filter text box, or created using quick filtering. More complex filters, using multiple criteria, are easier to create in the Expression Builder.

Create a new filter

To create a new global filter, use one of the following:

  • Filter text box Enter a filter expression in the Filter text box (for example, Invoice_Amount > 1000.00) and click Set Filter .

    The filter is ad hoc and retained only while it appears in the filter history associated with the table.

  • Quick filter Create a quick filter. For more information, see Quick filtering data in a view.

    The filter is ad hoc and retained only while it appears in the filter history associated with the table.

    Tip

    You can use quick filtering to automatically create valid filter syntax, and then manually edit the filter values to create the filter you want.

  • Expression Builder Click Edit View Filter  to open the Expression Builder, create the filter expression, optionally enter a name for the filter in the Save As text box, and click OK.

    If you enter a name for the filter, it is permanently saved with the table. If you do not enter a name, the filter is ad hoc and retained only while it appears in the filter history associated with the table.

    Filter names are limited to 256 alphanumeric characters and cannot begin with a number.

    For information about using the Expression Builder, see Creating expressions using the Expression Builder.

Count the number of filtered records

After applying a global filter, use the following method to count the number of records included by the filter.

  1. From the Analytics main menu, click Count .
  2. Click OK.

    The number of records included by the filter, and the total number of records in the table, appear in the status bar at the bottom of the Analytics interface. For example: Records: 108/772

Specify a global filter as the default table filter

  1. Click Edit View Filter to open the Expression Builder, create the filter expression, enter a name for the filter in the Save As text box, and click OK.

    Filter names are limited to 256 alphanumeric characters and cannot begin with a number.

  2. Select Edit > Table Layout.
  3. In the Edit Fields/Expressions tab, double-click the name of the filter.
  4. Select Default Filter.
  5. Click Accept Entry  and click Close to exit the Table Layout dialog box.

    The filter is permanently saved with the table, and is automatically applied every time you open the table. Only one default filter can be specified at a time for a table.

    To remove a default filter, select Edit > Table Layout, double-click the name of the filter, and deselect Default Filter. The filter is still applied to the table, but it is no longer the default.

Select an existing filter

If you want to select an existing filter, use one of the following:

  • Filter drop-down list Select the filter from the Filter drop-down list.

    The 10 filters most recently applied to the table appear in the list.

  • Expression Builder Click Edit View Filter to open the Expression Builder, double-click a named filter in the Filters list, and click OK.

    Only named filters permanently saved with the table appear in the Filters list. Ad hoc filters do not appear in the Filters list.

Convert an ad hoc filter to a named filter

  1. Apply the ad hoc filter to the table.
  2. Click Edit View Filter to open the Expression Builder, enter a name for the filter in the Save As text box, and click OK.

    The filter is permanently saved with the table.

Remove a currently applied filter

Click Remove Filter .

Removing a filter does not delete it. Ad hoc filters are retained while they appear in the filter history associated with the table. Named filters are permanently saved with the table.

Maintain a named filter

You can use the Filters dialog box to perform the following actions with the named filters associated with a table:

  • Add
  • Modify
  • Duplicate
  • Rename
  • Delete

You can also view the syntax for a named filter without making any modifications.

Note

You cannot rename or delete a filter if it is currently applied to a table.

  1. Open the table with the named filter that you want to maintain.
  2. Select Edit > Filters.

    Analytics displays the list of named filters associated with the table.

  3. If you want to add a new filter, click New and use the Expression Builder to create the filter.

    Note

    Only logical expressions can be used to define filters.

    For information about using the Expression Builder, see Creating expressions using the Expression Builder.

  4. If you want to work with an existing filter, select it in the list and do one of the following:
    • Click OK to view or modify the selected filter in the Expression Builder. After viewing or modifying the existing filter syntax click OK.

      If you modified the filter it is updated when you click OK to close the Expression Builder.

    • Click Duplicate to duplicate the selected filter, and click Done to create an exact copy of the filter, or click OK to modify the expression used by the duplicated filter.

      Tip

      Duplicating a complex filter and modifying it can be easier than creating a filter from scratch.

    • Click Rename, enter a new name in the text box, and click OK.

      Filter names are limited to 256 alphanumeric characters and cannot begin with a number. Click Done to use the existing value of the filter, or click OK to modify the expression used by the filter.

    • Click Delete to delete the filter, click Delete again in the confirmation dialog box, and click Done to close the dialog box.