Filter for custom added site columns using rest

Question

Hi everybody,
I'm trying to filter a REST Response by a custom added site column.
when i'm using the endpoint lists() with /Items the filter works great:
site/_api/Web/Lists(guid'805e17b0-2728-4b30-a889-a7e8f025696b')/items?$filter=astringcolumn%20eq%20%27dfg%20-----------------------------%27
but when I'm trying to filter using
site/_api/Web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('/sites/DennisDevSite/alib')/Files?$filter=astringcolumn%20eq%20%27dfg%20-----------------------------%27
I get a response that states Field or property "astringcolumn" does not exist.
event if I add &$select=astringcolumn&$expand=astringcolumn to the url the same error is returned
Why does the first work and the second does not?
Thx in advance
Dennis
P.S.: sorry: I also posted this question in the sharepoint 2013 apps forums. but I think it's better to post it here

Answer 1

Hi Dennis,
Steve as mentioned the reason this happens. You may try any of the following workarounds:
Get the files using Files Rest endpoint and then perform the filteration in the success handler based on the custom column. The Rest query needs to include ListItemAllFields. Example: site/_api/Web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('/sites/DennisDevSite/alib')Files?$expand=ListItemAllFields
Note that you cannot use filter in the Url.  
The other option is to use CAML Query Payload, but that can only be used with getitems REST endpoint. However, this will return the ListItem corresponding to the file. It wont be a file object. Example:
function getListItems(viewXml)
var url = "http://aissp2013/_api/web/lists/getbytitle('Management Documents')/getitems";
var queryPayload = {
'query' : {
'__metadata': { 'type': 'SP.CamlQuery' },
'ViewXml' : viewXml,
'FolderServerRelativeUrl': '/ManagementDocuments/F1'
return $.ajax({
url: url,
method: "POST",
data: JSON.stringify(queryPayload),
headers: {
"X-RequestDigest": $("#__REQUESTDIGEST").val(),
"Accept": "application/json; odata=verbose",
"content-type": "application/json; odata=verbose"
var query = "<View><Query><Where><Eq><FieldRef Name='Location' /><Value Type='Text'>Srinagar</Value></Eq></Where></Query></View>";
getListItems(query)
.done(function(data)
console.log(data);
.fail(
function(error){
console.log('Error');
Still, the other option is to use old fashioned ListData.svc. It will allow filter in the url and will also return some file properties like Name, approval status, version etc along with all custom properties. Example:
http://aissp2013/_vti_bin/ListData.svc/ManagementDocuments/?$filter=Path eq '/ManagementDocuments/F1' and Location eq 'Srinagar'
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