To perform an advanced search from an object list form

Purpose

You can use the filter configuration form to perform an advanced search on a list. Figure 1-6, Filter configuration form shows the filter configuration form. Advanced search filters are more detailed than simple search filters.

Multiple filter properties in an advanced search filter are combined using Boolean operators. You can apply brackets to properties or groups of properties, and apply Boolean operators to the groups. Table 1-5, Boolean search operators describes Boolean search operators.

Table 1-5: Boolean search operators

Boolean operator

Description

AND

When you combine properties using the AND operator, the search returns objects that meet both or all of the specified criteria.

OR

When you combine properties using the OR operator, the search returns objects that meet at least one of the specified criteria.

NOT

When a filter property is preceded by the NOT operator, items that meet the criteria in that filter property are excluded from the results.

You can save search filters for reuse or modification; see To save search filters .

Steps
 
1 

Open a list form and choose an object type.

You can reduce the number of items in the object menu; see To filter object types and To customize list forms .

2 

Click the Filter icon. The filter configuration form opens.

3 

Configure a filter property.

You can load a previously saved filter and modify it; see To use a saved search filter .

  1. Click on the Attribute field and choose an attribute.

  2. Click on the Function field and choose a function. See Table 1-2, Search functions for a description of search functions.

  3. Click on the Value field and choose a value, or enter a value manually.

    Alternatively, you can use the NFM-P clipboard to enter a value. Copy the property form identifier for a form that contains the same attribute and value that you are searching, then click on the Paste Attribute from Clipboard icon. The value field is populated with the required value. This method is useful when the value you are entering is a long text string, or when your search uses a value (such as a customer name) that you know is on a particular form. See To use the NFM-P clipboard for more information about using the clipboard.

    The Paste Attribute from Clipboard icon is available when a search attribute is selected in 1 . A value is pasted only when the clipboard contains an attribute of the same name and type as the search attribute. If the clipboard contains multiple objects, the value for the first object is pasted.

  4. Click Add. The filter property appears in the Filter display field and the Operators drop-down is available.

4 

If required, change the Boolean operator. Click on the Operators drop-down and select an operator. See Table 1-5, Boolean search operators for information about Boolean operators.

The Boolean operator shown in the Operators field is inserted between the filter properties when the next filter property is added.

The Operators drop-down is available only when a filter property is displayed in the Filter display field.

5 

Repeat Step 3 and Step 4 to configure additional filter properties.

6 

Choose a Span setting; see To filter using span of control and  Span of control in this chapter.

7 

To modify filter properties, perform any of the following:

  1. Add or remove brackets.

    1. Click and drag to select a filter property or properties in the Filter display field.

    2. Click Brackets. The selected properties are wrapped in brackets. When properties are already wrapped in brackets, the Brackets button unwraps the selected properties.

      You can wrap or unwrap multiple properties only when all Boolean operators within the brackets are the same.

  2. Replace a filter property.

    1. Click and drag to select a filter property in the Filter display field.

    2. Configure an attribute, function, and value; see Step 3.

    3. Click Replace. The configured filter property replaces the selected filter property.

  3. Exclude filter properties.

    1. Click and drag to select a filter property in the Filter display field.

    2. Click NOT. The property is wrapped in brackets and preceded by the NOT operator. Objects that match the selected property are excluded from the results.

      You can exclude multiple properties at one time.

      You can select excluded properties and click NOT to include the properties again.

  4. Replace a Boolean operator.

    1. Click to select a Boolean operator in the Filter display field.

    2. Choose a Boolean operator from the Operators menu. The new selection replaces the previous operator.

      When you replace a Boolean operator, the properties associated with that operator are wrapped in brackets.

      You can replace all of the Boolean operators in a bracketed group by selecting the group and choosing a Boolean operator from the Operators menu.

  5. Delete filter properties.

    1. Click and drag to select one or more filter properties in the Filter display field.

    2. Click Delete. The selected properties are deleted from the filter.

      To delete all properties from the Filter display field, click Clear.

8 

Click Apply to perform the search. The filtered results are displayed.

9 

To save the configured filter, see To save search filters. Otherwise, close the filter configuration form.

10 

Select the required object in the list.

End of steps