Understanding Filters

Before you can work with a record or a collection, you must retrieve it from the database and display it in a form. Specifications that determine which records are retrieved are referred to as filter criteria.

The system provides several different ways for you to use filter criteria to help locate only those records and collections you actually need.

• When you open a form and records display automatically, you see the results of a filter that has been permanently attached to the form so that it selects certain records whenever the form is opened.
• When you use Filter-in-Place to search for records, you create a temporary filter by entering search criteria in selected fields. You cannot save the filter criteria used in Filter-in-Place mode.
• When you use a query form to search for records, you create a filter by entering criteria in the query form to identify the records you want to retrieve.
• If this is a search you perform often using the same search criteria, you can save the criteria entered on a query form and create your own saved filter. You can later use this saved filter without having to re-enter all the search criteria each time.
• From a query form, you can also copy or delete filters that you have saved. Copying a filter allows you to modify and resave it without having to start from scratch.
• From the Row Authorizations form, you can set filters on IDOs so that users can only view certain data, based on the user ID under which they log in. For example, you can create a filter so that salesperson users can only view their opportunities and not those of other salespeople. Or you can create a filter so that your customers who log into this application through a portal can see only information about their orders.

To find out which filter is currently used in a form, display the form and select Help > About This Form.