Sorting and Filtering

The Variable Explorer is divided into two areas:

No.	Description
	Filters Entries from several categories (e.g. Source, Device, etc.) can be selected. They define the variables shown in the variables list of the Variable Explorer. Open or close the area for the filters by clicking on the splitter. Enlarge or reduce the width of the area by dragging the splitter.
	Variables list List of all variables matching the search and filter criteria. From here variables can be selected to be used for various operations, like display in an instrument, export into a measure file, or usage as input for a calculated signal.

To find the desired signals, the Variable Explorer offers different functionalities:

	Collapse All Categories Closes all categories simultaneously.
	Accordion Allows to see only one category at a time. If you activate the accordion mode, the chosen category expands, while any other one is collapsed.
	Enable / Disable Filters Applies the selected filters. When you disable the filters, the original selection is maintained, even if you clear all filters using the funnel icon above in the variables list.
	Clear Filters Deletes all selected entries in one category or all filters in the Variable Explorer.
	Search Items Searches items per category or in the variables list.
	Freeze Columns For more information, see To freeze columns.
	Show / Hide Columns For more information, see To show or hide columns.
	Used / Unused Signals For more information, see To filter used/unused signals.
	Change Display Name For more information, see Defining Display Name in the Application.

You can perform the following actions:

• To search for signals
• To filter signals
• To reset filters
• To sort signals per column in the Variable Explorer

To search for signals

If you perform a search in the Variable Explorer, only the Display Name column is used for the search. The search is executed for all signals that are currently listed in the Variable Explorer.

If you perform a search in a category, only entries matching the search criteria are shown in the category list.

If you perform a search in the Configuration Manager, the search is executed for signals already being in use and assigned to an instrument. For more information, see Searching and filtering within the Configuration.

Do the following:

• Bring the focus to the search box window.
• Enter your search string.

For search queries, take the following rules into account:

• The search is not case-sensitive; it finds data, even if the capitalization in the text is different from the capitalization in the search term.
• You can use the ? and * characters as wildcards in your search string.
• By default, the search string is appended to the "*" wildcard in the search box. If you want to search for data starting with a specific string, position the cursor in front of this wildcard.
• If you have additionally used filters, a logical AND is applied between the search and the filters of the other columns.

The matching search string is highlighted in the Display Name column. If this column is currently not displayed, unhide the column. For more information, see To show or hide columns.

To filter signals

In the Variable Explorer, there are temporarily different locations to define filters. Depending on the availability of metadata in a measure file, you have more or less options to filter the variables list.

To see how you can select the relevant signals and assign them to the desired instrument, watch our video Selecting Signals.

You can perform the following actions:

• Filtering in columns

1. In the header of the column that you want to filter, click .

   A list with the possible filter criteria for this column is displayed.

   In the Raster column, the filter for variables that have been recorded in several rasters works as follows:

   1. If variables were recorded in INCA in several rasters and are stored into one single file, the variables can be filtered by the combined raster only (combined per + symbol) and not by the different individual rasters.

   2. If variables were recorded in several files and exported into one common file, the variables are shown as list separated by a semicolon and can be filtered per raster. The filter option allows you only to select a single value (e.g. "0.1"). The variable is shown if one of its rasters is used for filtering.

2. Clear the checkboxes of those entries that you do not want to be displayed in the list. When checking several filters within the list, a logical OR is applied.

3. Click Apply.

   The Variable Explorer table displays the rows which match the defined filter criteria.

4. You can repeat the steps 1-3 for other columns.

   A logical AND is applied between the filters of the different columns.

   All column filters possibilities will be integrated in the filters per categories.

• Filtering per categories

  To see the desired signals in the variables list, check within one category the corresponding entries.

  You can disable all filters in a category. The original selection is maintained, but has no effect on the variables list, even if you clear filters using the icon.

  Filters possibilities in categories, columns and search box can be applied in combination (using a logical AND). In the header of the Display Name column, the number of matching signals out of the total number of signals is shown.

To filter used/unused signals

In the Variable Explorer toolbar, click .

There are three different states of this button:

	Shows all used signals, i.e. signals assigned to an instrument or used for a calculated signal
	Shows all unused signals, i.e. signals not assigned to an instrument or not used for a calculated signal
	Shows all used and unused signals

To reset filters

You can perform the following actions:

1. Clear all filters

   To clear all filters in categories, columns, and search box , click in the area of the variables list.

   Disabled filters in categories remain unchanged.

2. Filters in columns

   • To reset filters of a specific column, click .

   • In the drop-down list, select the Select all checkbox.

3. Filters in a category

   • To clear the filters in one category, click .

   • To deactivate the selected filters, click .

     The original selection is maintained, even if you clear the filters using the icon.

To sort signals per column in the Variable Explorer

In the Variable Explorer, the Display Name column is sorted by default. If you want to sort another column, click the header of the respective column. The currently sorted column is indicated by a blue color label and underline. The sorting is not case-sensitive. If the entries start with a number, they are ordered alphanumerically.