TheFilter

[HowToSearchDatabases] efficiently requires an understanding of [TheFilter], one of [ScidConcepts].

A filter represents the set of games from a database that matches a search criteria. Only the filtered games are displayed in [TheGameListWindow]. Each opened database gets its own filter; changing the active database changes the active filter; see [TheActivityConcept] for more information.

When a database is opened, its filter includes all the games. Searching games according to a non-trivial criteria will exclude all the games not matching it. The list in [TheGameListWindow] will reflect that filtering.

If the search criteria excludes all the games from a database, no game will be displayed. To reset a database's filter, click on Search/Reset Filter in [TheSearchMenu]. An empty database won't show any game in [TheGameListWindow].

We can say that the filter provides a view on the database: games excluded from a filter are still present in the database. On the other hand, the filter could be used to create or modify a database. For instance, it is possible to delete all games in the filter, or to copy filtered games to another database using [TheDatabaseSwitcher].

What about Best Tree Games?

An [OpenAsTree] database has two filters: [TheGameListWindow] and [TheBestTreeGames]. Both filters are independent.