Using Keywords for filters

Question

Hello Experts,
I am using BO XI r2.  I am trying to create a filter using only keywords, not an actual string.
For example I have these values(strings) being displayed in my list
main 6"
main 5.3"
submain 4"
Submain 9"
Feeder in
Feeder out
Lateral 2"
lateral 7"
What I want is to be able to filter out all values like main, submain,etc... without having to specify the size(i.e. 6" or 4")
I hope I am being clear, let me know if I need to provide more info.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks in advance,
Niraj

Answer 1

There are a couple of ways you can create a filter. The "fast" way is to click on a column, click the filter button (looks like a yellow funnel), and pick from a list of values. Clearly that doesn't work for what you're trying to do here. The other option is to display the filter pane on your report. There is a button on the toolbar (far left) that looks like a box with a smaller yellow funnel on it. This will allow you to create more complex filters, using logic much like you can use on the query panel.
Drag your object over to the filter pane and enter your filter expression. Click OK and you're done.
Except that the filter expression window does not allow you to use wildcards.
So the next step is to separate the filter logic from the filter expression builder. You can build a variable that looks like this:
=If(Match([String];"Main*");1;0)
The Match() function allows you to use wildcards, so the above should match everything that starts with Main. Then your filter is based on this variable instead of the original string value. The expression becomes "Filter Variable Equal to 1" and you're nearly there. That last part is educating the user as to how to edit the filter. You could get creative with a prompt to fill in the string part, but I have no idea based on your post if that's even needed.