Build queries

Sometimes you need to find data that's simple and straightforward. For instance, you want to find all high-priority tasks that are not started. But at other times, you may want to create more complex filters to zero in on very specific information. You might want to find any of the following:

• All high-priority projects that were scheduled to either start or finish within the current month

• All issues that were either resolved after the due date or that are currently overdue

The filtering interface described in this topic is available when you customize a report or create a new report.

Understand the filtering interface

Use the report builder filters to build the filters with a field, operator, and matching value. Add individual filters or sets of filters, which Quickbase evaluates as a group.

1. Add a filter
2. Remove filter
3. Create a new set of filters

Initial filters are not dynamic filters

The filters described in this topic are the initial set of filters used to build the report. Don't confuse them with the dynamic filters that can be defined so that users can filter and search through the records in the report.

What is a set of filters?

You can create sets of filters, which are basically groups of rules that should be evaluated together. Within each set, you can tell Quickbase to find records that match either:

• all conditions within the set

• any condition within the set

To create a new set of filters, enter the first line in your new set, then click the new set () icon, which appears when you hover your mouse over the line. After you click the icon, Quickbase creates a new set, using the line you entered as the first line of set, as shown below. You can nest up to three levels of filter sets.

Within any set, you can specify whether any or all conditions must be true for Quickbase to find a match.

Build a simple query

Use the sample data in a project management app and follow the steps in this section to find: All high priority tasks that are a high priority AND that will be either started OR due within the current week.

1. Click a table name, then click Reports & Charts on the Page bar to open the reports panel.

2. Click + New on the reports panel.

3. Choose Table as the report type and click Create.

4. In the Filters section, click Filter tasks.

5. Create this filter: Priority > is equal to > the value > High.

6. Click the plus sign to add a new line.

7. Create this filter: Start > is during > the current > week, and click the new set icon . Quickbase indents this line and creates a new set of criteria.
   Note that the operator for the new set defaults to OR. You could change this, if you like. However, OR is the correct operator for this example.

1. For the second line in the set, create this filter: Due date > is during > the current > week.

2. Either save the report or choose Display. Quickbase displays a report with the specified data.

Build a complex query

Here's an example of a more complex query using an application that tracks real estate listings. This query finds records that match the following criteria:

• All Single Family listings in Metro West location with 3 or more bedrooms (part 1)

• Only those listings that have either a basement or a garage (part 2)

• Listing with or without southern exposure; however, if a listing has southern exposure, we want to see only those listings that ALSO have central air (part 3)

View each part of the query

Here's what the query for part 1 looks like:

To add the part 2, you need to add a new set of filters; one that will evaluate whether listings have either a basement or a garage. To do so, you could click the plus sign to add a new filter and add the new line, then, click the new set icon to create a new set:

When you click the new set icon, Quickbase creates a new filter set. You can complete the set as follows:

To add part 3, you need to add a set within a set. Click the icon to add a new line at the top level:

Then click the icon in the new line that appears...and within the new set, click the icon on the first line of the set. 

The final query looks like this:

Build queries in Kanban reports

In Kanban reports, you can use the new report builder panel to add filters to your report data. To open the report builder panel, click Customize this report near the top of the Kanban report. For more specific instructions on using the report builder panel, read our article on customizing your Kanban report with the report builder panel.
 
The report builder panel duplicates the behavior of the report builder page and allows you to make edits while looking at your report, which is especially helpful when filtering and querying your data. Kanban reports are the first type of report to have access to the report builder panel.

Related topics:

• Understanding Relative Date Ranges

• Sorting/Grouping

• Columns to Display

• About Row Colorization

• Creating a filter