Create Custom Filter Command

The Create Custom Filter command allows the user to create custom filters using the Outlook custom filter dialog and then have these filters immediately added to the Categorize Plus Toolbar. This option creates Custom Filter Combo Boxes that are similar to those created using Ourlook Filter Menu Items, except these custom filters are NOT added to the Categorize Plus Menu Hierarchy. Instead, custom filters created using the Create Custom Filter command are intended for one time use and therefore they are not saved in the Menu Builder menu file. For more information regarding Custom Filter Menu Items that are created using the Menu Builder, then please refer to the Menu Items help topic. For more information regarding building menus that save Custom Filters in a reusable Menu Hierarchy, then please refer to the Building Menus help topic.

The first illustration below explains how to select the Create Custom Filter command from the Filter Menu. The second illustration shows the Custom Filter dialog that is used to enter the filter criteria. This is the same dialog that is used to enter Custom Filter Criteria for Outlook Filter Menu Items. The third illustration provides an example of the drop down list options that are available for the Custom Filter Combo Box that this command adds to the toolbar. Custom Filter Combo Boxes created using this command have an additional drop down list option named Change Filter that allows changing the filter criteria. This list option is unique to Custom Filter combo boxes created using this command and does not apply to Custom Filter Menu Items that are created using the Menu Builder. Selecting the Change Filter list option will re-open the Custom Filter dialog to allow changing the filter criteria. The other options in the drop down list are the same as those explained in the Custom Filter Combo Boxes help topic.

Note: The available Custom Filter dialog options will change depending on the current folder's default item type. For example, Mail and Post items present different Custom Filter dialog criteria options than those presented for Appointment items. Therefore, be sure to select a folder that has the desired default item type before attempting to create a Custom Filter criteria using the method below.

Example of Selecting the Create Custom Filter Command from the Filter Menu:

Example of the Custom Filter Dialog:

Example of the Available Drop Down List Options: