Filters
Filters are another way to further define the contents of the page. Filters allow you to specify a certain criteria. When the filter is applied, the page displays only those objects that match the filter criteria.
Filters are available as system filters, group filters, and personal filters.
• Your administrator can create filters that are available throughout the system.
• Your administrator can create group filters, which are available for all users assigned to a particular group.
• PTC FlexPLM also allows you to define and use custom personal filters throughout the system.
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If the create new filter icon  and the update filter icon  do not appear in your user interface, then you do not have permission to create or update personal filters. Contact your administrator. Certain rules govern the naming of system, group, and personal filters. For more information, see Naming Views and Filters. |
Creating Filters
To create filters, follow these steps.
1. Click the create new filter icon
.
2. On the Create Search Filter page, do the following:
a. In the Name field, enter a name for your filter.
b. Optionally, select the Default Filter checkbox to use the current filter as the default filter for that object.
c. Optionally, select the Template Filter checkbox if you want other users to be able to select this filter as a template for creating other filters.
| Filter template designations cannot be changed after the filter is created. You must designate a filter as a template from the Create Search Filter page. For more information, see section Creating a Filter Template above. |
d. Click Create.
3. On the Update Search Preference page, do the following:
a. In the Filter Options section, select the attribute that you want to use as your filter. Depending upon the attribute you have chosen, enter the filter criteria by entering text, selecting dates, or selecting items from a list.
b. Click Add. The filter criteria appears in the Current Filters section.
| You can create “or” criteria for an attribute by selecting the same attribute from the Filter Options menu a second time, and entering or selecting different criteria. You can create “and” criteria for an attribute by selecting a different option from the Filter Options menu and entering or selecting criteria. |
c. Use the up
and down
arrows in the
Attributes section to change the order in which the attributes are filtered.
| Press CTRL to select multiple attributes, and press SHIFT to select a range of attributes. You can drag your cursor to select a range of attributes as well. |
4. When you are finished selecting and ordering the attributes, click Update to save your changes.
5. Click Return to return to the search page.
Creating a Filter Template
When creating a filter, you can designate the filter as a template by selecting the Filter Template checkbox when creating the filter.
| This designation cannot be changed, and you cannot designate a non-template filter as a template filter later. The designation must be made when the filter is created. |
Filter templates are created and updated in the same manner as non-template filters; however, there are some key differences between a template filter and a non-template filter.
• Users selecting a filter template can change the criteria values. The filter template specifies which attributes to filter on, and automatically enters or selects the value that was selected when the filter was defined; however, filter templates allow you to specify a different criteria value than the default value displayed.
• Non-template filters require you to specify a criteria value for each attribute selected; however, you are not required to enter or select a value for a given attribute in filter templates. If no value is specified when creating the filter template, the system does not display a default value for the attribute when the filter is selected
• You cannot create “or” criteria for all attributes. You can only create “or” criteria for list attributes (composite, single list, or multi-list types).
• You can select the same attribute multiple times; however, each time the attribute is selected, its value replaces the previous values. This eliminates the possibility of “or” criteria, except where noted previously.
Updating Filters
To update a filter, follow these steps.
1. Select the filter and click the update filter icon
.
2. On the Update Search Preference page, add, remove, or reorder the attributes that are already included in the filter.
3. When you are finished selecting and ordering the attributes, click Update to save your changes.
4. Click Return to return to the search page.
Sharing Filters
The Share Filter function allows you to email the current filter to an individual user, a selected list of PTC FlexPLM users, or a predefined group within your organization.
1. Select the filter and click the update table layout icon
.
2. On the Update Search Preference page, click Share Filter.
3. On the
Email Client page, complete the information to send the filter. For more information, see
Emailing Content.
