Sorting, filtering, and searching

Sorting, filtering, and searching are three of the most basic operations that you can perform with data in Analytics. You might need to perform one or more of these operations as preparation for your main analytical tests, or they could represent useful analysis in their own right.

With sorting and filtering, you also have the option of performing these operations as an integral part of the execution of other Analytics commands. For example, to summarize only third quarter transactions in an annual table, you could incorporate a date filter in the summarize command.

Different approaches you can take

The table below outlines the different approaches you can take with sorting, filtering, and searching.

Operation	Approaches
Sorting	Quick sort sort the values in a column to temporarily reorder the records in a view Sort command sort records and output them to a new, physically reordered Analytics table Index command index records to temporarily sort them in the current table Presort sort records as an integral part of the execution of an Analytics command
Filtering	Quick filter filter data by using the mouse in a view Global filter restrict which records in a view are displayed, or processed by Analytics operations Local filter restrict which records are processed during a single execution of a single Analytics operation
Searching	Quick search find a word, a phrase, a number, or a date in a table Isolate all matching records perform simple or advanced searches to include only records that match the search criteria Select the first matching record select the first record in a table that matches the search criteria