The filter dialog is used for two things: creating or editing globally available selectors and building filters that use them.
When evaluating a log message for selection, only those selector elements with non-default values are used as part of the match criteria. This is done for reasons of performance as well as for the purposes of defining the selection behavior for non-specified entry fields. For instance, as a matter of performance optimization, if all message types are included then there is no reason to test the message type field as it just takes extra time. The same is true with the day of the week criteria. Similarly, if the selector’s component entry field is specified but the context field is left blank then the selector will only evaluate the component field and ignore the log message’s context.
Filter type
Toggles the filter type between inclusion and exclusion. When the filter dialog is invoked from the File menu then this is disabled since the dialog is not being used to operate on a filter but simply to create or edit selectors.
Selectors in workspace
Shows the entire list of globally available selectors. Each selector has a tri-state checkbox which indicates its status as follows:
| Checked | Selector is a member of the primary array. |
| Unchecked | Selector is a member of the exception array. |
| Grayed | Selector is not included in this filter. |
Tip: A selector must be validated before it can be stored. Selectors are validated when the selection in the Selectors in workspace list box changes. In order to force validation of a selector, click on the currently selected entry in the list. Also, changing the name of a selector will not automatically force a sort, but clicking on the list box header will.
General Allows specification of selector name as well as matching criteria for the message type, process id, and thread id fields of the log message.
Text Fields Allows specification of matching criteria for all text fields of the log message.
Date/Time Allows specification of date and time matching criteria for the log message.