Export / Import Filter

The Export and Import buttons in the Filter Data dialog allow you to save a Filter in a text file, and load it back at a later time. Filter files in Dips have a . fil filename extension.

• You may find Export / Import options useful for saving complex filters for future re-use on another file, for example.
• It can also be useful for saving a complex filter which needs to be re-used with modifications to one or two expressions, as described below.

Example of Using Export / Import Filter

1. Create a complex filter consisting of several expressions (e.g., Traverse == 1 && expression && expression && expression)
2. Before selecting OK to implement the filter, select the Export button. You will be prompted to save the filter in a .fil file.
3. Select OK to exit the dialog and save the filter.
4. Select Filter Data again, and select the Import button, and load the filter you just exported into the Filter list area.
5. Click on the Expression you wish to replace (e.g., Traverse == 1) in the query list text box, and select the Delete button.
6. Create a new Expression (e.g., Traverse == 2).
7. Click the Add button or select the Expression button, and you now have a new filter, identical to the first, except for the modified expression.
8. Repeat steps 4 to 7 as many times as necessary.

The same procedure could be used, for example, to substitute different numeric Expressions (e.g., SPACING > 1, SPACING > 2, SPACING > 3) in a complex filter.

For simple queries consisting of only one or two expressions, there is no advantage to using the Export / Import options, as it will be faster to simply re-create filters from scratch.