Filter topics

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Filtering is a convenient way to view only a subset of the topics on your map. This eliminates the need to delete topics that are not currently of interest, but remain valid map content.

Filtering effects how the map is displayed in Map view, Outline view, Linked Maps view and Walk Through view. By default, the filter is also applied to the Gantt Chart view.

There are four ways to filter your map:

  1. Show branch alone: select a topic and then use this command to show the branch only, (the selected topic and its subtopics) without the central topic, parents or siblings.
  2. Direct filtering:  select a set of topics and then use the Show,  Hide, or Fade commands to show, hide, or fade those topics.
  3. Use instant Task Filters: these are shown in the Show or Hide pull-down menus, and allow you to filter the map's topics based on specific task conditions.
  4. Use Power Filters: available from the Show or Hide pull-down menu, this command lets you specify the filter criteria (including a variety of properties and text) to use.

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Filtering is cumulative. Topics that are already hidden remain hidden when you apply a new filter. You must remove any filter you've previously applied to apply a new filter to all the map topics. The filter indicator is displayed at lower-left, and the  Remove Filter command (on the View tab, and in the Filter group) is active when a filter is active.

When the map is saved, it is saved in a filtered state. All topics are still in the map, but hidden topics are not visible until you remove the filter. You can save a copy of the filtered map - topics hidden by the filter are not included in the new copy of the map.

You can also choose to ignore the filter on selected topics.  These "ignored" topics will be identified in Elements list in the Map Index.

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Show a branch alone

You can show a branch by itself  to focus attention on a specific topic. This is especially useful for presenting larger maps in meetings, to enable the viewer to see the topic's details without being distracted by the rest of the map.

The Show Branch Alone command shows only the selected topic and its descendants.

  1. Select a topic.
  2. On the View tab, in the Filter group, click the Branch pull down and select Show Branch Alone.

The filter indicator displays at lower left

Show topics one level higher

  1. On the View tab, in the Filter group, click the Branch pull down.
  2. Click Show One Level Up.

You can continue to reveal levels in this way until you reach the map's central topic.

Show all topics

To see the hidden parent topics again, do one of the following:

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Filter topics directly

You can filter topics directly by selecting topics to show or hide, or by selecting a single topic to display, along with all its descendants. To filter topics based on their properties use the Power Filter option.

Show or hide a set of topics

  1. Select the set of topics or elements on the map.
  1. On the View tab, in the Filter group, click Show or Hide.

Show shows only those topics that are selected (hides all those that are not selected)

Hide shows only those topics not selected (hides all those that are selected)

Filtering is cumulative. If you add more topics to the map, or you want to further refine your view of the map, you can filter the remaining visible topics.

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Fade topics

The Fade command fades topics that meet the filter criteria, while the rest appear unchanged. This allows you to see filtered topics in context of the entire map.

Fade a set of topics

  1. Select the set of topics or elements on the map.
  1. On the View tab, in the Filter group, click Fade.
  2. Choose the criteria type and specify your match criteria.

Filtering is cumulative. If you add more topics to the map, or you want to further refine your view of the map, you can filter the remaining visible topics.

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Use instant Task Filters

Task Filters provide a convenient way to see tasks that meet specific criteria. You do not need to select a topic to use these filters - they filter all the topics on the map.

  1. On the View tab, in the Filter group, click the Show or Hide pull-down.
  2. Click the Task Filter you want to use.

Topics that match the filter criteria will be shown or hidden.

Filtering is cumulative. If you add more topics to the map, or you want to further refine your view of the map, you can filter the remaining visible topics.

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Filter topics by properties and text

The Power Filter command lets you filter a set of topics based on a query to match the properties you specify by selecting match criteria. You can choose to:

Show only those topics that match the criteria (hides non-matching topics)

Hide topics that match the criteria (shows only non-matching topics).

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Use the Power Filter command

  1. On the View tab, in the Filter group, click the Hide or Show arrow. (The command works the same way from either menu.)
  1. Click Power Filter.
  2. Do one of the following:
    Choose the criteria type and specify your match criteria. Note that you can select a combination of properties from different categories. Or Click Saved Queries to use match criteria stored as a Saved Query, or to save your current selections as a Saved Query that you can use again.
  1. Check Expand branches to show all matches if you want branches that contain matches to expand automatically.
  2. Check Remove filter first if you want to remove a filter you have already applied. (You'll see the filter indicator at lower-left if you have a filter applied.)
  3. Click Filter, and then click Hide Matching Topics or click Show Matching Topics.
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Remove a filter (show the whole map)

When a filter is active the filter indicator is displayed at lower left.

Do one of the following:

Right-click the indicator, and then click Remove Filter . Or On the View tab, in the Filter group, click Remove Filter. Or Right-click the map's workbook tab and click Remove Filter.

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Ignore filtering for selected topics

You can disable filtering on a specified topic (or topics) so that they will not be including in the filtering.:

  1. Select the topic or topics, then do one of the following.

    Right-click a selected topic and in the context menu, select Options, then select Ignore Filters. Or Right-click a selected topic and on the mini-toolbar, click the  Options icon and select Ignore Filters.

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View topics ignored by filters

Once "Ignore Filter" has been applied to a topic, it is displayed in the Map Index pane Elements list in the Ignored by Filters group . Need to locate an ignored topic quickly?  Clicking a topic in the Ignored by Filters group will navigate to that topic in the map.

 

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