Enable expressions in search property

Dear AppSheet team,

Today, I'd like to ask if it's possible to enable the option to create an expression that limits the filtering of a specific column. Imagine you have a table called "Storage" with records representing stored items, categorized by various levels. These categories belong to a parent table.

Using the LINKTOFILTEREDVIEW() function and an action from the parent table, you can navigate to child records where the parent matches the row you clicked on.

However, there could be a chain of dropdowns, such as Category, Family, Type, and Instance. This way, when you click on a Category, it takes you to the Families within that Category. Then, by clicking on a Family, you’re taken to the Types within that Family, and finally, clicking on a Type takes you to the Instances of that Type (simply different ways to organize many records).

The challenge arises when filtering Instances: I want to filter by Type, but instead of seeing only the Types associated with the Families, I see all the Types. This happens because I can "search," but there’s no option to create a search expression that limits the results.

That’s all. It would be a wonderful feature to have.

Status Open
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4 Comments
MultiTech
Gold 4
Gold 4

Can you do this with the filtering thing inside the search?

  • Or do you need the values to be persistent, so you can use elsewhere?

I'm not sure I exactly follow what you're proposing; can you elaborate?


@Gustavo_Eduardo wrote:

limits the filtering of a specific column


Hi, my friend! Of course, I’ll explain it better right now.

Here are the categories.Here are the categories.Here are the families within that category.Here are the families within that category.Here are the types within that family.Here are the types within that family.Here are the instances within that typesHere are the instances within that typesThe search and filter field brings up all types, not just those related to the selected type in the previous row. This makes me think it’s filtering with all values. Perhaps the filtered field could have a place to include an expression that references the parent field. In this field, it should show {bondiola, cantimpalo bastón, and jamón serrano}.The search and filter field brings up all types, not just those related to the selected type in the previous row. This makes me think it’s filtering with all values. Perhaps the filtered field could have a place to include an expression that references the parent field. In this field, it should show {bondiola, cantimpalo bastón, and jamón serrano}.

MultiTech
Gold 4
Gold 4

Makes much more sense now, and I've faced this very problem with users as well; they opened the filter and was like, "Um... can this be reduced?"  😂 

  • Thankfully when I had to tell them NO, they were understanding (as they are down with the AppSheet stuff).

It would be nice if the filtering values for the search would be a bit more dynamic.

  • The issue with this is that it will add processing steps into "opening the search filter", which if your app is built poorly might take long (or cause the app to crash even).

But it would definitely be nice if these filter lists would be dynamic in some way.  💪

Exactly, my friend! And thank you for your comment. A hug from Argentina!