Building a filter

Filters are a way to view only records that interest you in a list or report.

When you build a filter, you provide selection criteria for records to be included in a list or report. Records that do not meet the criteria are not included.

The filter exists as a personalization for the list or report and its selection criteria remains in place until you change or delete it.

There are two methods for creating filters:

If you are familiar with LPL, you can type the criteria into a text box.
You can also use the Condition Builder tool to walk through the steps for creating a filter.

Both methods are described in this section.

Note: There are several ways to navigate to the tools for building and updating a filter. This topic shows one way.

From the list or report for which you want to create a filter, select the overflow menu (…) from the toolbar and click Options > Personalize > Create.
On the next screen, move to the Filter tab.
If you are familiar with LPL, you can:
1. Type the criteria directly in the Filter Criteria text box, for example, AccountingUnitOrder.
2. When you finish typing the filter string, select:
  - Ok: To save the filter.
  - Cancel: To cancel the changes you made.
  - Reset: To return the list or report to its original state (no filtering).
3. To make updates to a filter, select it and make changes on the Filter Criteria text box. When you finish, select:
  - Update: Saves your changes.
  - Cancel: Does not save the current changes.
  - Reset: Returns the list or report to its original state (no filtering).
Instead of using LPL, you can create a filter using Condition Builder. The Condition Builder walks you through the steps of creating a filter.
1. Click the Builder button.
2. On the Condition Builder Helper screen, make selections for these fields.
  - Match All or Match Any: Match All means only records that meet all conditions are selected. Match Any means records that meet one condition are selected.
  - Field: Select the field for the filter. To locate the field you can start typing in the field name box and select the field when it displays. You can also click the search icon and perform a search.
  - Condition: Select an option from the list. The available options depend on the field you selected. This list shows all possible options.
  - - Equal to: Must be equal to the Field or Value you specify.
    - Not Equal to: Cannot be equal to the Field or Value you specify.
    - Like: Available for text fields only. Selects records containing text similar to what you enter.
    - Greater than: For number and date fields only.
    - Greater than or Equal to: For number and date fields only.
    - Entered: Selects records that have a value.
    - Not Entered: Selects records that do not have a value.
    - Within: Selects values within a range. Typically used for date fields. You are prompted to select an option:
      
      This month
      
      Last month
      
      Next month
      
      This year
      
      Last year
      
      Next year
      
      Year-to-date
      
      Month-to-date
    - Equals: Typically used for date fields. You are prompted to select an option:
      
      Today
      
      Yesterday
      
      Tomorrow
    - Exist: For relations only. The relation has records.
    - Does Not Exist: For relations only. The relation has no records.
    - True or False: For yes or no fields only. Used with conditions and states.
    - Enter Field: Compare against another field value. Select the field in the Field box.
    - Enter Value: Compare an actual value. Type the value in the Value box.
3. Click Ok to save this condition.
4. To add an OR condition, click Build Another and select options on the Condition Builder Helper form. (You cannot add an AND condition.)
  
  Note: To remove a condition from the Condition Builder, click the delete icon next to the condition.
5. When you are done building conditions, click one of these options.
  - Append: Adds the new conditions to the end of existing conditions for the filter.
  - Overwrite: Deletes the existing conditions for the filter and replaces them with the new conditions.
  - Cancel: Does not create the new conditions; retains any existing conditions.