What are filters?

One of the stated goals of PLM is to allow users to quickly search for (library file) records that meet specific criteria. This is mainly achieved through pre-extracted keywords and filter rules. A filter is a user-definable set of condition rules. PLM uses real-time calculations to filter the current list of records that meet these conditions, presenting the final list of records.

Differences between filters and keywords

1. Keywords determine whether a record meets the criteria through simple keyword string (contains) matching. Filters, in addition to simple keyword matching, can also choose regular expressions or complex multi-condition definitions for matching.
2. Filters can define advanced features: define the maximum number of output records, define pre- and post-sorting, and run scripts on the results for further filtering.
3. Filters can be saved and loaded later.
4. Keywords are logically simple and faster.

Filter definition

1. In the traditional interface, in the tree directory on the left, click the "Filter" node, and then click the "New" button at the top of the directory, or right-click on the node and select the "New" submenu.
2. Enter the "New Filter" interface, which contains two pages: "Basic" and "Advanced".
3. For simple keyword filtering, only the "Basic" page is needed. Enter a unique filter name and remarks (show as the second column in the tree), select "By keywords" or "By RegEx", and enter the "Value" of the keywords or regular expression. Dup check button is from duplicate filter name checking.
4. For complex filtering rules, click the "Advanced" page. Using advanced filtering conditions requires users to have considerable data processing logic.
• Select and click "By Conditions".
• Click the "Add cond" button to enter the condition interface.
1. Select the type of condition on the left (Field/Function), then click the "Select" button on the left to select a field or function name, or directly enter the value into the left input box.
2. Similarly, select the condition on the right (Value/Field/Function), then select or enter the corresponding right value.
3. The leftmost "Not" switch negates (not) the entire condition.
4. The top "And"/"Or" is the logical relationship between this condition and the previous condition.
5. There are parentheses switches on both the left and right, which are tools for defining the order of operations when using multiple conditions.
6. Click "OK" to complete adding a condition.
• Repeat the above "Add cond" action until all condition settings are completed.
• Press "Edit cond" to adjust the attributes of a certain condition.
• Press "Delete cond" to delete a certain condition.
• Press the "Move Up"/"Move Down" buttons to adjust the order of conditions.
• Press the "Check" button to check the logical rationality of all conditions, such as parenthesis matching.
5. Click the "Advanced" page to further restrict the results of the filter, such as the maximum number of records returned/sorting method, etc.
6. Press "OK" to complete the filter definition.

Filter management

In the traditional interface, in the tree directory on the left, click the "Filter" node to add/modify/delete existing filters. Simply select a filter node, then right-click the mouse and select the "Add new"/"Edit"/"Delete" submenus.

Built-in filters

PLM has built-in multiple filters such as "Recently Added"/"My Favorite"/"Recently played"/"Most played"/"Random"/"Has memo", and users can also modify these built-in filters.

Using filters within grids

In the file record list on the right side of the traditional interface, right-click the mouse. The pop-up menu has a "Filter" submenu, where you can add one or more filters to filter the current list. After filtering, the number of records in the lower right corner is a special color (default red).