Quick filters allow you to quickly and easily filter data by using the mouse to select values in a view. You can select a single value, or multiple adjacent values. You can use quick filters with any data type.
Quick filters auto-generate the syntax of the filter expression, which you can then modify as an easy way to create different or more complex filters.
Quick filters are easier to create than filters you create with the Expression Builder, or enter manually, but they are also more limited. Like other types of filters, you can name and save quick filters for subsequent reuse.
Quick filters are global filters
The quick filter you create is a global filter. Global filters restrict which records in a view are displayed, or processed by Analytics operations. For more information, see Global filters (view filters).
Quick filtering using non-adjacent values
You cannot use non-adjacent values in the initial application of a quick filter. Depending on the complexity of the filter, you may be able to rearrange fields in the view to make values adjacent.
You can use non-adjacent values subsequently if you apply a second quick filter to the subset of data created by the first quick filter.
If you need to use non-adjacent values in a single filter that operates on an unfiltered data set, and the values cannot be made adjacent by rearranging fields, you must enter the filter expression manually, or create it using the Expression Builder.
Quick filtering by blank or non-blank values
Two of the options for quick filtering character fields are Blank and Not Blank. To use either of these criteria, you must first select a value in the field, but the actual selected value is ignored. This behavior allows you to filter a very long column of data for blanks without having to first locate a blank value.
For information about filtering numeric or datetime fields by blank or non-blank values, see Searching data.
Quick filtering by date, datetime, or time
Quick filtering by date, datetime, or time values can produce invalid results if you have specified a date or time display format that does not display all the available source data – for example, if you specify the format hh:mm for times that have hour, minute, and seconds data.
For more information about date and time display formats, see Date and Time options.
Quick filter options
The options available in the Quick Filter menu vary depending on the data type of the field you are filtering, and whether you select a single value, or multiple adjacent values.
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Data selected |
Quick Filter menu options |
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a single character value |
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a single numeric value |
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a single date value |
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a single datetime or time value |
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a single logical value |
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multiple adjacent values in the same record |
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multiple adjacent character values in the same column |
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multiple adjacent numeric values in the same column |
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multiple adjacent date values in the same column |
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multiple adjacent datetime or time values in the same column |
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a block of values spanning two or more records and two or more columns |
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Steps
Apply the initial quick filter
- Select a single value, or two or more adjacent
values, as the basis for the quick filter.
Click and drag to select multiple adjacent values.
If you want to quick filter a character field by blank or non-blank values, select any value in the field.
- Right-click in the data area of the view, select Quick
Filter, and select an appropriate submenu option.
The records in the table are filtered based on your selection. The auto-generated syntax of the filter expression appears in the Filter text box at the top of the View tab.
If you selected a block of values spanning two or more records and two or more columns, no submenu options are available and the quick filter automatically filters the view to include only those records that match the selected values.
Count the number of filtered records
After applying a quick filter, use the following method to count the number of records included by the filter. Use the same method after modifying or extending a quick filter.
- From the Analytics main menu, click Count
. - 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
Modify the quick filter
If you want to modify the quick filter, manually edit
the filter expression in the Filter text box and click Set
Filter 
.
Extend the quick filter
If you want to extend the quick filter by applying one or more additional quick filters, do the following:
- Select a single value or two or more adjacent values.
- Right-click in the data area of the view, select Quick Filter > AND or OR,
and select an appropriate submenu option.
Example
To further limit the filter Customer = '795401' to records in which the transaction type is "IN", you can select the IN value and then right-click and select Quick Filter > AND > Equal. The filter expression is modified as follows:
(Customer = '795401') AND (Type = 'IN')
AND further limits the initial filtered set of data. Depending on the specific details of the extended filter expression, OR typically expands the initial filtered set of data.
Replace the current quick filter
If you want to replace the current quick filter or filters with a new quick filter, do the following:
- Select a single value or two or more adjacent values.
- Right-click in the data area of the view, select Quick Filter > Replace, and select an appropriate submenu option.
Remove the quick filter
If you want to remove the quick filter or filters, click Remove
Filter 
in
the filter toolbar.
Save the quick filter as a named filter
If you want to save the quick filter as a named filter
associated with the table, click Edit View Filter 
in the filter toolbar, enter a name
for the filter in the Save As text box, and
click OK.
