You use Field Filter and Table Filter to ensure that a window displays only the accounts, customers, entries or other records that meet certain conditions. For example, you can specify that the collection of customer cards that will be displayed will include only those with Peter Schmidt in the Salesperson Code field. When you browse back and forth in the cards, you will see that the other cards are not shown.
You can use these functions either by clicking View, Field Filter (or View, Table Filter) from the menu bar or by clicking the corresponding buttons on the toolbar.
You can set and remove this type of filter on any field in a record. And you can do it as often as you like. The filters are valid until you cancel their selection or set new filters.
Field and table filters are window-dependent, so if you look at the same table in another window, the filter will not be set there. For an individual window, the filter is valid until you remove it.
When you want to see all the cards again, you can turn the filter off. You do this either where you created it (under Field Filter or Table Filter) or by clicking View, Show All.
A restriction on one field is called a field filter. To filter more than one field at a time, use the table filter function.
A field filter performs exactly the same function as a table filter. But the field filter places a filter only on the field that contains the cursor when you choose the function. If you are in the habit of using only field filters, it can be good to use the table filter feature occasionally to get an overview of all the filters that have been placed on a window.
When you enter a filter in a field, you can use all of the numbers and letters that you can ordinarily use in the field. In addition, you can use some special symbols or mathematical expressions.
It is important to enter only meaningful filters. For example, it is possible to specify an interval that does not exist, and the program cannot check this for you. In order to enter meaningful filters, you must know the sorting rules that the program follows.
Here are the different formats that you can usually use:
|
Meaning |
Sample Expression |
Records Displayed |
|
Equal to |
377 |
Number 377 |
|
Interval |
1100..2100 ..2500 P8.. |
1100 through 2100 Up to and including 2500 Information for accounting period 8 and thereafter |
|
Either/or |
1200|1300 |
Those with number 1200 or 1300. If there is a record with each number, both will be shown |
|
And |
<2000&>1000 |
Numbers that are less than 2000 and greater than 1000. The & sign cannot be used by itself with numbers because no record can have two numbers. |
|
Different from |
<>0 |
All numbers except 0 |
|
Greater than |
>1200 |
Numbers greater than 1200 |
|
Greater than or equal to |
>=1200 |
Numbers greater than or equal to 1200 |
|
Less than |
<1200 |
Numbers less than 1200 |
|
Less than or equal to |
<=1200 |
Numbers less than or equal to 1200 |
|
An indefinite number of unknown characters (may be none) |
*Co* *Co Co* |
Texts that contain "Co" Texts that end with "Co" Texts that begin with "Co" |
|
One unknown character |
Hans?n |
Texts such as Hansen or Hanson |
|
Calculate before rest |
30|(>=10&<=20) |
Those with the number 30 or with a number from 10 through 20 (the result of the calculation within the parentheses). |
|
Ignore case (either uppercase or lowercase allowed) |
@location |
Texts such as LOCATION, location or Location. |
You can also combine the various format expressions:
|
5999|8100..8490 |
Include any records with the number 5999 or a number from the interval 8100 through 8490. |
|
..1299|1400.. |
Include records with a number less than or equal to 1299 or a number equal to 1400 or greater - that is, all numbers except 1300 through 1399. |
|
>50&<100 |
Include records with numbers that are greater than 50 and less than 100 - that is, numbers 51 through &. |
|
*C*&*D* |
Texts containing both C and D. |
|
@*co?* |
Texts containing co, CO, Co, cO such as cot, cope and incorporated. CO, cO, Co or co must be present, followed by at least one character, but there can be an indefinite number of characters before and after these, and case is unimportant. |
You can also filter a report before you print it. You do this in the request window that is displayed before the report is printed or written to a file.