Setting Filter on an Alert

Question

Hi,
I am trying to create an alert programatically. When I set a CAML query as the filter condition, it always gives an error
The error message says -
The filter cannot be parsed. Check the filter syntax, and try again.
If I try to add an alert programattically without any filter conditions, I'm able to do so.
The strange part is that I have used the same CAML query to create a view programatically.
I am not able understand as to how a CAML query works with a view but not with an alert.
The CAML query is run on a list which has multiple choice columns.
The query contains multiple OR conditions to check against the values for those choice columns.
I have put in a query as -
<Where><Or><Eq><FieldRef Name='ItemType'/><Value Type='Choice'><Health></Value></Eq></Where>
Even this does not work....
I wanted to ask few questions -
Is there any specific rules we need to follow to set up the filters. What are the things that can go wrong when we set filters.
If the value of a choice field has special characters like () " , ! and so on, the query does not work when we try to fetch list items. What can be done to overcome this....
I have tried to enclose the values within the CDATA tag... It seems to work, but i am not very sure about it.
Please let me know if there is any other solution.
Thanks

Answer 1

Same problem and similar observations with no resolution. I believe this is a bug and we are working with Microsoft support to dig deeper into the issue.
To replicate (complete code provided below):
- Create a document library
- Create a choice column on the document library called "Category". This column has the values 1, 2, 3, 4. These choices are displayed as check boxes. 
- Programmatically create an alert on the document library (code below)
- Construct a CAML statement to assign to the alert object. This statement instructs the alert to send when a document is assigned a Category of 1 or 2. The CAML statement is below:
<Query><Or><Eq><FieldRef Name="Category" /><Value Type="Choice">1</Value></Eq><Eq><FieldRef Name="Category" /><Value Type="Choice">2</Value></Eq></Or></Query>
- Save the Alert
SharePoint is unable to parse the CAML and throws the following error:
System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x8102008F): The filter cannot be parsed. Check the filter syntax, and try again. at Microsoft.SharePoint.Library.SPRequestInternalClass.AddSubscription(String bstrUrl, String bstrListName, String bstrListID, Boolean bListItem, UInt32 ulItemId, String bstrItemDocUrl, Int32 lEventType, Int32 lNotifyFreq, DateTime notifyTime, Int32 lStatus, Boolean bSiteAdmin, String bstrAlertTitle, Int32 lAlertType, String strAlertTemplateName, String bstrFilter, String bstrProperties, Boolean bSendMail, Int32 lUserID) at Microsoft.SharePoint.Library.SPRequest.AddSubscription(String bstrUrl, String bstrListName, String bstrListID, Boolean bListItem, UInt32 ulItemId, String bstrItemDocUrl, Int32 lEventType, Int32 lNotifyFreq, DateTime notifyTime, Int32 lStatus, Boolean bSiteAdmin, String bstrAlertTitle, Int32 lAlertType, String strAlertTemplateName, String bstrFilter, String bstrProperties, Boolean bSendMail, Int32 lUserID)
If I change the value type from "Choice" to "Text" SharePoint will accept the CAML and execution completes correctly, however the CAML is not honoured.For example, alerts are sent not only for documents assigned a Category 1 or 2 but also documents that only have category 3 or 4 assigned (???).
Full code to replicate:
WindowsImpersonationContext wic = WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent().Impersonate();
        try
            using (SPSite GMS = new SPSite("http://sharepointdev:31626"))
                using (SPWeb GMSWeb = GMS.OpenWeb(SPContext.Current.Web.ID))
                    string doclibname = "StrippedDown";
                    SPList list = GMSWeb.Lists[doclibname];
                    SPAlert alert = GMSWeb.Alerts.Add();
                    alert.EventType = SPEventType.Modify;
                    alert.User = GMSWeb.CurrentUser;
                    alert.AlertType = SPAlertType.List;
                    alert.List = GMSWeb.Lists[doclibname];
                    alert.Title = doclibname + "_" + GMSWeb.CurrentUser.Name;
                    alert.AlertFrequency = SPAlertFrequency.Immediate;
                    alert.Filter = "<Query><Or><Eq><FieldRef Name=\"Category\" /><Value Type=\"Choice\">1</Value></Eq><Eq><FieldRef Name=\"Category\" /><Value Type=\"Choice\">2</Value></Eq></Or></Query>";
                    alert.Update();
                    alert = null;
            lblMsgs.Text = "Your subscription was successfully updated.";
        catch (Exception ex)
            lblMsgs.Text = "An error occured during creating your subscription. Please try again .The error text is <br><br>" + ex.InnerException.ToString();
        finally
            lblMsgs.Visible = true;
            wic.Undo();
            wic = null;