Combining two or more filters into a single filter

You can combine two or more filters into one single filter. For example, if you have one filter that returns tasks that have been assigned a particular code, and a second filter that returns tasks that have been completed, you can now combine these two filters into a single filter that returns tasks that have been assigned a particular code and that have been completed.

When you combine multiple filters, their properties are copied into the new combined filter and the original filters are left unaltered.

You can combine filters when working in the bar chart and when working in Library Explorer.

Combining multiple filters when working in the bar chart

When working in the bar chart, if one filter is applied to the current view, you can combine another filter with this filter to create a new filter that combines the properties of both individual filters.

To combine another filter with the filter that is currently applied to the current view:

Ensure that a filter is applied to the current view.
On the View tab, in the View Data group, click the Filter command and select Combine with, then select the filter that you want to combine with the current filter from the menu that appears. The Filter Properties dialog appears. The criteria of both filters displayed in the Filter criteria grid - unless the criteria of one or both of the filters has been defined using a TQL statement, in which case the Use an SQL statement check box is selected.
Enter a name for the new combined filter in the Name field, and edit the properties of the new filter as required. You can edit the criteria of both of the filters that have been combined into this new filter without this affecting the original individual filters. If the Use an SQL statement check box is selected, you edit the criteria by clicking the SQL button and editing the TQL statement that appears.
If you want the new filter to appear on the Filter menu, select the Display on menu check box.
Click OK.

The new filter is created and is applied to the current view automatically.

If you want to combine a further filter with the new combined filter, follow the steps above to combine another filter with it.

Combining multiple filters when working in Library Explorer

When working in Library Explorer, you can combine any number of filters together to create a new filter that combines the properties of all the individual filters.

To combine multiple filters when working in Library Explorer:

Within Library Explorer, display the Filter library.
Holding down CTRL, click the filters that you want to combine into a single new filter.
Right-click one of the selected filters and select Combine Filters from the menu that appears. The Filter Properties dialog appears. The criteria of both filters displayed in the Filter criteria grid - unless the criteria of one or both of the filters has been defined using a TQL statement, in which case the Use an SQL statement check box is selected.
Enter a name for the new combined filter in the Name field, and edit the properties of the new filter as required. You can edit the criteria of each of the filters that have been combined into this new filter without this affecting the original individual filters. If the Use an SQL statement check box is selected, you edit the criteria by clicking the SQL button and editing the TQL statement that appears.
If you want the new filter to appear on the Filter menu, select the Display on menu check box.
Click OK.

Notes on combining multiple filters with each other

Bar and task filters cannot be combined with RBS/CBS filters.
If all of the filters you are combining have criteria specified in the Filter criteria grid on the Filter Properties dialog, and none of them include a TQL statement, the criteria from all the selected filters are copied into the new combined filter, and appear in the new filter's Filter criteria grid. If any criteria are duplicated, only one copy of the criteria is copied into the new combined filter.
If all of the filters you are combining define their criteria using a TQL statement, the TQL statements from all the selected filters are added together using 'AND'. If any of the selected filters also have criteria specified in the Filter criteria grid on the Filter Properties dialog, these criteria are not copied into the new filter's Filter criteria grid.
Filters with criteria that are defined using a TQL statement can expand or flatten summaries. If there is a mismatch between the selected filters, the new combined filter will be configured to flatten summaries.
If some of the filters you are combining have criteria specified in the Filter criteria grid on the Filter Properties dialog, and some of them define their criteria using a TQL statement, the criteria in the Filter criteria grid are converted into TQL and the TQL statements from all the selected filters are then combined together using 'AND'. As they have been converted into TQL, any criteria that are specified in the Filter criteria grid do not therefore appear in the new filter's Filter criteria grid.
Filters with criteria that are defined using a TQL statement in which 'TASKBASE' is selected in the Select from field, on the SQL Statement dialog, cannot be combined with TQL-based filters in which 'BAR' is selected in the Select from field.
Be careful when combining filters to ensure that the criteria of the individual filters do not cancel each other out. For example, if you combine one filter that returns tasks that have been completed and another filter that returns tasks that have not been completed, the filter would return all tasks - which would be of no use.