Filtering Displayed Values in eCADSTAR Tables
This topic describes how to filter the displayed values for appropriate fields in eCADSTAR tables. It describes the wildcard values, and indicates where they can be used together when required. Enter filter queries in the <Filter> cells below the table header, as shown below.
If nothing is entered in a <Filter> cell, then the displayed rows are numbered, starting at "1". This is shown below.
If rows are hidden within a run of displayed rows, then a black line indicates where rows are not displayed. This is shown below.
Filtering Methods
As well as typing a value in the <Filter> cell, the following filtering methods are also available in eCADSTAR, depending on the input style of the cell.
| Input style | Description |
|---|---|
| Pre-defined values | If you can select pre-defined values in a cell, then these are also available in the <Filter> cell. Any other values that you type into this box are added to the list of pre-defined values. |
| Dialog | If a dialog is displayed when you point the cursor in a cell and then click the displayed  button, then you can also do this in the <Filter> cell. For example, you can filter on a particular color by selecting it in the displayed Select color dialog. You can edit the specified value by typing in the <Filter> cell. You can also select multiple cells, and then specify a value for them in the displayed dialog. |
| Tri-state check box | To filter on the state of a tri-state check box, select the required state in the <Filter> cell by clicking in it. The different states are displayed each time you click. A tri-state check box has the following states.
|
- The filter value that you enter in the <Filter> cell is applied as you type.
- If you press Esc while you are overwriting an existing value in the <Filter> cell, then the previous value is restored.
- If you press Return or move the cursor away from the <Filter> cell, then its contents is overwritten with the value that you specify.
- Values that you enter in the <Filter> cell are saved until you close eCADSTAR.
- If you select a pre-defined value in the <Filter> cell, then you can edit the selected value by typing in this box. The entered value is immediately applied as you type.
Filtering Values Without Using Wildcards
If you enter an alphanumeric value without any wildcard characters, then items are displayed that contain the entered value in any position. The entered value is not case-sensitive.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| i | FID1, FID2, FID3, IC1, IC2, IC3 |
If the entered value exactly matches a single item, then it is displayed.
To more precisely filter the displayed items, use the wildcard characters described below.
Filtering Values in Numeric Columns
For numeric columns, if no wildcard characters (*, ?) are used in the filter string, then rows are shown that start only with the specified value.
For example, if you enter "3" in the <Filter> cell of a column that contains the values "3.10000", "3.20000", and "5.30000", then only "3.10000" and "3.20000" are displayed. To find real numbers such as "0.01", "0.011" or "0.012", you must enter "0.01" in the <Filter> cell . These values are not found if you enter "1".
For alphanumeric columns, rows are shown that contain the specified value in any position.
Using Equality and Inequality Symbols
The following symbols can be used to filter numeric values.
| Expression | Definition | Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|---|---|
| <value value> |
Less than the entered value. |
<3 3> |
0,1,2 |
| <=value value>= |
Less than or equal to the entered value. |
<=3 3>= |
0,1,2,3 |
| >value value< |
More than the entered value. |
>3 3< |
4,5,6 |
|
>=value value<= |
More than or equal to the entered value. |
>=3 3<= |
3,4,5,6 |
|
=value value= |
Equal to the entered value. |
=3 3= |
3 |
|
!=value value!= |
Not equal to the entered value. |
!=3 3!= |
4,5,6 |
Copying and Pasting Filtered Cells
You can copy and paste multiple filtered cells in tables. Only the displayed cells are copied. If you paste values into a range of cells, then cells that are not displayed are excluded from the paste target. Select the filtered cells by dragging the cursor, or by using the Ctrl or Shift keys. If you click a column header, then all of the cells in the column are selected except the <Filter> cell.
Deleting Filter Values
Delete a value in the <Filter> cell by clicking it, and then pressing Delete on the keyboard. Alternatively, right-click the <Filter> cell and select Delete on the assist menu. Select multiple <Filter> cells by dragging the cursor, or by using the Ctrl or Shift keys. To remove all filter values, right-click anywhere in a table and select Clear Filters on the assist menu.
Using "||" as the OR function
If you specify "A || B, then the search criteria is "A or B". These characters are known as pipes or vertical bars on the keyboard. Entered values are not case-sensitive.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| GND||VCC||FORCE | FORCE_AP,GND0V,VCC |
Using "&&" as the AND function
If you specify "A && B", then the search criteria is "A and B". Add a space between these characters and the specified values. These values are not case-sensitive.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| HOST && MOSI | HOST_SPI_MOSI |
If the filter string contains "&&" or "||", then " " (space) is treated as "OR".
- If you specify "A || B C", then the search criteria will be "A or B or C".
- If you specify "A B", with no space, then the search criteria will be "A B", not "A or B".
The order of precedence for these functions is as follows:
- &&
- ||, " " (space)
If you specify "A || B && C", then the search criteria will be "A or (B and C)".
Using the "*" (asterisk) Character
The "*" character matches any string of 0 or more characters. If added after a value, then all items are listed that contain the value.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| C* | C1, C10, C100, C2, C20, C200 |
| C1* | C1, C10, C100 |
| C2* | C2, C20, C200 |
| C10* | C10, C100 |
| C20* | C20, C200 |
If the "*" character is added before a value, then all items are listed for which this value is the last character.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| *2 | C2, C12, FID2, R12 |
If the "*" character is added before and after a value, then all items are listed which contain the relevant character in any position.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| *2* | FID2, L2, R20, R21 |
Using the "?" Character
The "?" character displays only items that have the same number of characters as the number of "?" characters that you specify. For example, if you specify "?", then items are displayed that have only a single character. If you specify "??", then attribute values are displayed that have two characters. This character can be used with square brackets.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| ?? | C1, C2, C3, C4 |
| ??? | C10, C11, C12, C13 |
| ???? | FID1, FID2, FID3 FID4 |
Using "[ ]" (Square brackets)
Values are displayed whose first character matches any character within the square brackets. You must include "*" or "?" in the filter string. You can also match a range of items by using the “-“ (hyphen) character.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| [abc]* | a100, b100, c100 |
Items within square brackets are not case-sensitive.
Using Square Brackets to Display Exact Values
Exact values can be displayed by using the following string:
[x*]y*, where "x" is the first search character and "y"
is the remainder of the search string. For example:
[2*] * lists only values of "2".
[2*]2* lists only values of "22".
[D*]IODE* lists only values with the exact description of DIODE.
*[D*]IODE* lists any value with the description that contains the word DIODE.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| [2*]* | 2 |
| [2*]2* | 22 |
| [D*]IODE* | DIODE |
| *[D*]IODE* | DIODE_X Y_DIODE ZDIODE |
Using “?” with Square Brackets
"??[ ]*" lists items that comprise any two characters, followed by a character that is specified within the square brackets.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| ??[3]* | C13, C23, CN3, IC3, R13, TP3 |
[ ]?? lists items that comprise a character that is specified within square brackets, followed by any two characters. This is illustrated below.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| [r]?? | R10, R11, R12, R13, R14 |
| [r]??? | R100, R110, R120, R130, R140 |
?[ ]?* lists items that comprise any character, followed by a character that is specified within square brackets, followed by any character.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| ?[1]?* | C10, C11, C13, R10, R11, R12 R13, R14 |
| ?[2]?* | C20, C21, C22, R20, R21 |
| ?[3]?* | C30 |
| ?[12]?* | C10, C11, C13, C20, C21, C22, R10, R11, R12, R20, R21 |
| ?[123]?* | C10, C11, C13, C30, C20, C21, C22, R10, R11, R12, R20, R21 |
Matching a Range of Values
The “-“ (hyphen) character allows you to list items that contain values within a specified range. Items are listed that are within the range.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| C[1-4]* | C1, C2, C3, C4 |
Using Multiple Square Brackets
Because each character inside the brackets is matched to a single value or range of values for an item, multiple pairs of square brackets are sometimes required. The following example specifies the first character as “F”, the second character as I or Y, and the third character as D or G. The fourth character can be any value.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| F[IY][DG]? | FID1, FID2, FID3 |
If the "?" character is not used, then the "*" character must be added to the end of the query.
Reversing Specified Conditions
The "^" (caret) character can be used within square brackets to reverse the specified filter conditions. For example, if this character is not used, then items are listed that contain the value "1" or "3" in the specified position, as shown below.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| C[13]? | C10, C11, C30 |
If you add the "^" character within the square brackets, then items are listed that do not contain the values "1" or "3" in the specified position, as shown below.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| C[^13]? | C22, CN1, CN3 |
- The "^" character must be at the start of the content within square brackets.
- If the "?" character is not used, then the "*" character must be added to the end of the query.
Using the “*” (asterisk) character with Square Brackets
The "*" character is used with square brackets to include any other characters, as well as the values in the square brackets. For example, if you specify [CD]*, then any item is displayed which starts with “C” or “D”.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| [CD]* | C26, C27, C28, D1 |
If you specify the "*" character before the square brackets, then any item is displayed which ends with a value specified in the square brackets. This is illustrated below.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| *[12] | C1, CN2, TP1, TP2 |
If you specify a value before the square brackets, then items are displayed which start with this value, followed by a value in the square brackets.
| Value entered | Displayed items |
|---|---|
| C[DN]* | CN1, CN2, CN3 |
