Submitted by WayneK on 2019/01/09 19:48
Multi-select list filtering
 
1) I want to use a multi-select list to assign categories to a list of items, then use the same multi-select list to filter the list by checking off categories.
 
2) It doesn't seem possible to filter using the multi-select list.  You can only filter using the column header filter list, which is not the same thing and doesn't work the way it should (in my opinion).
 
Example: I have a list of 4 items that can be assigned to 4 categories.  The assignments are:
 
Item 1 = Cat-1
Item 2 = Cat-2
Item 3 = Cat-1, Cat-4
Item 4 = Cat-2, Cat-3, Cat-4
 
Problem 1:  The column header filter displays a separate entry for each unique entry.  So instead of showing a list of 4 categories to pick from, it displays each category AND each combination of categories as a separate item.  This clutters the list with extraneous entries, and will make it almost unusable if you have a long list of categories with dozens of combinations.
 
Problem 2: the filter does not work correctly (in my mind).  If I filter on "Cat-2", it shows only Item 2; it does NOT show item 4, which is also assigned to Cat-2.   You have to separately select each and every combination of categories that includes "Cat-2".  That's unworkable in a long list of categories with many combinations.
 
I run into the same problems trying to use the Tags field to filter in place.  Really hoping I'm missing something major because I've been unable to make this work for me despite many tries.
 
Wayne

Comments

Hi wayne
on my phone now, but iirc wildcards are supported. So you would search for:
*Cat-2*
to find all variations including cat-2
Tom

WayneK

2019/01/10 11:41

Permalink

Tom.
 
Thanks.  Yes, you can filter by typing in the category name but that requires you to remember the category names or remind yourself of them by scanning entries in your list.  That's certainly doable but sacrifices the convenience of a multi-select list,
 
The multi-select list allows you to manage a large number of categories without having to remember exactly what the names are.  You just scan the list and check off the categories that apply. 
 
The present set-up does that very well for assigning categories but doesn't follow through with applying the same system to filtering.  To me, that makes the mult-select list less useful than it could be.
 
I know Pierre has a lot going on but I hope he can address this at some point because I think info management, including filtering, is a core function of InfoQube.  A straightforward solution would be to append the multi-select list to the bottom of the column filter dialogue box.
 
As always, I welcome any corrections on what I've said or suggestions about how to accomplish the same thing in another way.
 
Wayne