Filters 

With filters you restrict the display of data records in the ALV output. To do this, you specify conditions that a record in a specific field has to fulfill in order to be displayed or filtered out.

You are able to make the following settings for filter objects:

·        Create, get, or delete filter conditions for a field

·        Make settings for a filter condition

·        Forbid filters for a column

·        Filter according to the values of another field

·        Hide or show tab for filtering or pushbutton Filter in the toolbar (see Providing Standard ALV Functions)

Creating, Getting, or Deleting Filter Conditions for a Field

Unlike a sort condition, you can create as many filter conditions for each field as you want. 

You are only able to create a filter condition for fields for which you have not expressly forbid this (see below

Filtering is a property of a field in the ALV output (see Field). To create, get, or delete the filter condition of a field, use the methods of the interface class IF_SALV_WD_FILTER (implementing class CL_SALV_WD_FIELD).

Methods for Creating, Getting, and Deleting Filter Conditions

Function	Method
Get a specific filter condition	GET_FILTER_RULE
Get all filter conditions of a field	GET_FILTER_RULES
Create filter condition	CREATE_FILTER_RULE
Delete a specific filter condition	DELETE_FILTER_RULE

The filter condition of a field is represented by an object of the class CL_SALV_WD_FILTER_RULE.

If you assign a new data table with a new structure to your ALV output, all filter conditions for all fields are deleted automatically.

 Making Settings for a Filter Condition

A filter condition consists of the following specifications:

·        Comparison value with which the rows are tested

This can be an individual value or a range for the given value. You always enter the lower value (LOW_VALUE) and for a range, you enter an upper value too (HIGH_VALUE).

·        Operator for comparing the field value and the comparison value

This specification (OPERATOR) defines the relationship between the cell value and the comparison value (for example, greater than, less than or equal to)

·        Inclusion or exclusion

This specification defines whether rows that match the condition are displayed or not displayed.

To change settings for a filter condition, use the methods of the class CL_SALV_WD_FILTER_RULE.

Methods for Settings for a Filter Condition

Function	Method
Define comparison value (lower value)	SET_LOW_VALUE
Get comparison value (lower value)	GET_LOW_VALUE
Define upper value of comparison range	SET_HIGH_VALUE
Get upper value of comparison range	GET_HIGH_VALUE
Define operator	SET_OPERATOR
Get operator	GET_OPERATOR
Define inclusion or exclusion	SET_INCLUDED
Get inclusion or exclusion	GET_INCLUDED

Forbidding Filters for a Column

You can explicitly forbid filters for a field. This has the following effects:

·        When an ALV output is filtered, a filter row showing the current filter for each column is displayed. The user can use this filter row to quickly enter a filter.

If you forbid filtering for a field, the corresponding cell in the filter row is empty and cannot be filled.

·        The field in question is no longer available on the Filters tab of the Settings dialog box.

·        If you defined a filter condition for this field in your application, the filter in the ALV output has no effect.

To forbid filtering for a field, use the methods of the interface class IF_SALV_WD_FILTER (implementing class CL_SALV_WD_FIELD).

Methods for Forbidding Filtering

Function	Method
Forbid filtering for a field	SET_FILTER_ALLOWED
Check whether filtering is allowed	IS_FILTER_ALLOWED

Filtering According to the Values of Another Field

You can specify a field according to which the current field is to be filtered if the field itself fails to deliver the required result or requires overly complicated input. You use the methods of the interface class IF_SALV_WD_COLUMN_SERVICE_REF for this (implementing class CL_SALV_WD_COLUMN).

Methods for Sorting According to the Values of Another Field

Function	Method
Define field name of other field	SET_FILTER_FIELDNAME
Get field name of other field	GET_FILTER_FIELDNAME