What Filter Types Are Available in Report Writer?

Report Writer displays filter options based on the type of field selected. Text fields provide matching, list, subquery, and blank-value filters. Date fields provide relative-period, date-boundary, custom-period, latest-date, and blank-value filters.

Before You Begin

Before applying a filter:

• Confirm that the selected report field is the field you want to evaluate.

• Identify whether the field contains text or a date.

• Decide whether the report should include matching records or exclude matching records.

• Consider whether blank values should be included or excluded.

Note: The available filter menu changes based on the selected field type within report.

Text Filters

Use text filters for names, codes, descriptions, categories, and other character-based fields.

• Starts With: Returns values beginning with the entered text.

• Contains: Returns values containing the entered text anywhere in the field.

• Is Equal To: Returns values that exactly match the entered value.

• Is In List: Returns values matching any value included in a specified list.

• Does Not Start With: Excludes values beginning with the entered text.

• Does Not Contain: Excludes values containing the entered text anywhere in the field.

• Is Not Equal To: Excludes the exact entered value.

• Is Not In List: Excludes values matching any value included in a specified list.

• In Sub Query: Returns values that meet the criteria provided by a subquery.

• Not In Sub Query: Excludes values that meet the criteria provided by a subquery.

• Is Null: Returns records where the text field has no value.

• Is Not Null: Returns records where the text field contains a value.

Choosing a Text Filter

• Use Starts With or Contains when only part of the value is known.

• Use Is Equal To when the complete stored value is known.

• Use Is In List when multiple specific values should be included.

• Use the corresponding Does Not or Is Not options when matching values should be excluded.

• Use In Sub Query or Not In Sub Query when another query determines the qualifying values.

• Use Is Null or Is Not Null to evaluate missing or populated values.

Note: Is Equal To is more precise than Contains. Contains may return additional records when the entered text appears within a longer value.

Date Filters

Use date filters for pay dates, hire dates, effective dates, review dates, and other date-based fields.

• Today: Returns records dated today.

• This Week: Returns records within the current week.

• This Month: Returns records within the current month.

• Previous Month: Returns records within the preceding calendar month.

• This Year: Returns records within the current year.

• Before: Returns records earlier than a selected date.

• After: Returns records later than a selected date.

• Custom Period: Returns records within a user-defined period.

• Is Maximum Of: Returns the record or value associated with the maximum date.

• Is Null: Returns records where the date field has no value.

• Is Not Null: Returns records where the date field contains a value.

Choosing a Date Filter

• Use Today, This Week, This Month, Previous Month, or This Year for a standard reporting period.

• Use Before or After when records should fall on one side of a selected date.

• Use Custom Period when a specific reporting window is required.

• Use Is Maximum Of when the latest available dated record or value is needed.

• Use Is Null or Is Not Null to evaluate missing or populated dates.

Note: Today, This Week, This Month, and This Year are relative date filters. The qualifying records change based on the date the report is run.

Validate the Report

After applying filters:

• Review a sample of the returned records.

• Confirm that inclusion and exclusion filters were applied as intended.

• Check whether null values affected the results.

• Validate relative date filters each time the report is run.

• Confirm combined filters before exporting or distributing the report.

Need Additional Help?

If you need assistance selecting or validating Report Writer filters, please contact the ResNav Support Team at support@resnav.com. Our team will be happy to assist.