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How do I let the user create a dynamic filter for my form?

User Interface Techniques

How do I let the user create a dynamic filter for my form?

by  jflachman  Posted    (Edited  )
Let's say you want to make form called FilterForm to filter data on a form called DataForm.
You want to be able to filter DataForm for the following fields:
[Start Date] between two specified dates
[Finish Date] after a specified date
[User ID] equal to a specified user ID

You would make your FilterForm have four fields:
[StartRange1]
[StartRange2]
[FinishAfter]
[User ID Number]
All of these fields would be unbound
Also on your FilterForm you would have a button called Apply Filter

The following code would be attached to that button:

Code: 
dim strFilter as String 'Used to build a filter

strFilter = "" 'Start with a blank filter
'Verify the both ends of the start date range are valid
If (IsDate(Me![StartRage1]) && IsDate(Me![StartRange2])) then 
   'Build the filter
   strFilter = "([Start Date] between #" _ 
      & Me![StartRange1] &  "# AND #" _
      & Me![StartRange2] & "#)"

'Verify the finish after date is valid
If (IsDate(Me![FinishAfter]) Then
   'If the filter is not blank, then AND this criteria  
   If (Len(strFilter) > 0)
      strFilter = strFilter + " AND "
   End If
   'Add this criteria
   strFilter = strFilter & ([Finish Date] > #" _
      & Me![FinishAfter] & "#)"
End If

'Verify the user id number is not blank (do more validation if required)   
If (Not IsNull(Me![User ID Number])) Then
   'If the filter is not blank, then AND this criteria  
   If (Len(strFilter) > 0)
      strFilter = strFilter + " AND "
   End If
   'Add this criteria
   strFilter = strFilter & ([User ID] = " _
      & Str(me![User ID Number]) & ")"
End If   

If Len(strFilter) Then
   [Forms]![DataForm].Filter = strFilter
   [Forms]![DataForm].FilterOn = True
End If


Obviously these fields and button could be on the original form. When I've used this in the past, I use a checkbox on the original form called Display Filter When the checkbox is checked, the FilterForm is opened, when unchecked it is closed. This way the filter fields are not cluttering up the form when not in use. There are lots of variations on this type of theme.
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