Filter your data
In Practice CS, you can create filters for much of the data you set up throughout the application (such as client, staff, office, and activities lists). By reducing the size of data lists, filters can save time by making it easier to find the data you are looking for.
Creating a filter
To create a filter, follow these steps.
note
You can also apply a temporary filter for the screen you are viewing. Instead of following these steps to add a new, permanent filter, select an item from the
Filter
field and complete the filter by selecting a method and the desired filter, range, or individual items. These temporary filters can't be saved, so we recommend creating permanent filters for most situations.- Open the screen where you would like to create a filter. Many setup and entry screens include filtering capability.
- If applicable, select the
button to reveal the Filterfield. - Right-click theFilterfield and selectAdd Filter. The filter window opens. Note that the left pane of the window contains the names of any existing filters of the same type.noteThe name of this option varies depending on the screen you are in. For example, in theStaffsetup screen, the option isAdd Staff Filter.
- In theFilter Namefield, enter a name for the new filter. This is a required field.
- In theCriteria Informationsection, you can select up to 6 criteria for your filter from the dropdown lists. In theFilter byfield, select the criteria to use for the filter from the dropdown list.
- From theMethoddropdown list, select a method for your filter. Note that the available selections vary according to the type of criterion you selected in theFilter byfield. Methods:
- Selectisto match a specific item.
- Selectis notto match all items except a specific item.
- Selectis greater thanto match items greater than the selected value.
- Selectis greater than or equal toto match items equal to or greater than the selected value.noteFor items in alphabetical lists, a "greater than" selection matches items that appear after the selected item alphabetically.
- Selectis less thanto match items less than the selected value.
- Selectis less than or equal toto match items equal to or less than the selected value.noteFor items in alphabetical lists, a "less than" selection matches items that appear before the selected item alphabetically.
- Selectis blankto match items with no entry or data.
- Selectis not blankto match only items with an entry or data.
- Selectis in the listto match multiple items. To select the items, use theMore
button and select the items from the Filter Selectionwindow. - Selectis in the rangeto filter for items that fall between the beginning and ending items you select from the dropdown lists.For date-based filters, there are numerous range options available.Some items in this list are available only if your firm is licensed for the Staff Management module.
- Week
- Period— The current period begin date through the period end date, as defined on theChange Periodswindow
- Month
- Firm Quarter— The begin date through the end date for the quarter (defined as 3 months) of the firm year that contains the current period end date
- Benefit Quarter— The begin date through the end date for the quarter (defined as 3 months) of the benefit year that contains the current period end date
- Calendar Quarter
- Firm Year— The firm year beginning date through the firm year ending date, as defined on theChange Periodswindow
- Benefit Year— The benefit year begin date through the benefit year end date, as defined on theBenefitstab of theFirmsetup screen
- Calendar Year
- Week-to-date
- Period-to-date— The period begin date (as defined on theChange Periodswindow) through today; if today’s date is outside of the current period, the end date is the current period end date
- Month-to-date
- Firm Quarter-to-date— The firm quarter begin date through today; if today’s date is outside the current period, the end date is the period end date
- Benefit Quarter-to-date— The benefit quarter begin date through today; if today’s date is outside of the current period, the end date is the period end date
- Calendar Quarter-to-date
- Firm Year-to-date— The firm year beginning date (as defined on theChange periodswindow) through today; if today’s date is outside of the current period, the end date is the current period end date
- Benefit Year-to-date— The benefit year begin date through today’s date; if today’s date is outside the current period, the end date is the current period end date
- Calendar Year-to-date
- Next Week
- Next Month
- Next Calendar Quarter
- Next Calendar Year
- Previous Week
- Previous Month
- Previous Calendar Quarter
- Previous Calendar Year
- Custom Date Range
- Selectis in the filterto select an existing filter.
- Selectis selectedto match checkboxes that are marked.
- Selectis not selectedto match checkboxes that are not marked.
- Selected: In theSelectedfield, select individual items or ranges or items to include in the filter.
- Add additional criteria in the available rows as necessary.
- In theLogicsection, select theMust match all criteriaoption if items in the filter need to meet all criteria, orMust match one or more criteriaif the items can meet any criteria.
- SelectEnterto save the filter.
- SelectDoneto close theFilterswindow. Notice that the filter has been applied to the setup screen, and that the list now shows only those items matching your filter’s criteria.
note
- After you create a filter, it will be available throughout the application. For example, if you create a filter for clients, that filter will be available wherever you can filter clients. For instance, you can filter theBillingscreen with your new client filter:
- In theFilterfield, selectClients.
- In theMethodfield, selectis in the filter.
- In the 3rd field, select the name of your new client filter.
- If you select the
button to collapse the search and filter area while a filter is active, Practice CS will display the filter criteria next to the Searchfield.
Undoing a filter
To undo a filter that you have applied to a list, select the 
button in the
button in the Filter
field.