Applying a Session Filter to a Data Retrieval Session

After specifying one or more data sources in a Data Retrieval Session, you can apply a Session Filter expression to those data sources to filter the loaded message data to specific criteria. The same data selection capability is provided for Live Trace Sessions, where you can also apply a Session Filter expression to select specific data that is returned in your trace results. A Session Filter is shown in the topic Using a Session Filter.

To apply a Session Filter, you can either choose a built-in Filter Expression or you can create your own. When you create your own Filter Expression or modify a built-in filter, you should be careful to create a valid Filter Expression, or you may not return any data. For further information about creating valid Filter Expressions, see the topic Writing Filter Expressions to learn about the Filtering Language that is used by Message Analyzer.

To specify one of the built-in Filter expressions as a Session Filter in a Data Retrieval Session (or a Live Trace Session), you can select the filter you want to use from the centralized Message Analyzer Filters asset collection Library that is accessible on the toolbar above the Session Filter text box in the New Session dialog. To review further information on selecting a Session Filter in various categories that Message Analyzer provides, see the topic Selecting Built-In Session Filters. Note that the centralized Filter Expression Library is also accessible from the Edit Session dialog; and also from the Filtering toolbar just above the Analysis Grid viewer in any Analysis Session, where you can apply the same Filter Expressions to your trace results for data analysis purposes.

Note

If you have created and saved a Filter Expression that uses an Alias (uses a friendly name that replaces some cryptic field value) or a Union (correlates two data fields with similar values but different names in a single new field), that Filter Expression will appear in the centralized Library drop-down list wherever this Library is exposed in the Message Analyzer user interface (UI). You can use such a Filter Expression that contains an Alias or a Union, just as you would any other filter.

By using a Session Filter to select specific data from a Data Retrieval Session, you can work with specific data that you want to focus on, so you can get to the heart of the issue at hand without being overloaded with superfluous information.

Note

When you apply a Session Filter to a Data Retrieval Session, a funnel icon displays to the right of the corresponding top-level session node in the Session Explorer Tool Window, to indicate that the session has had a Session Filter applied to it. This icon provides a quick reminder of the analysis status of the session.


More Information
To learn more about Session Filters, see relevant information in the topic Working with Session Filters in a Live Trace Session.
To learn more about creating Filter Expressions and using the Message Analyzer Filtering Language, see Writing Filter Expressions.
To learn more about Aliases, see Using and Managing Message Analyzer Aliases.
To learn more about Unions, see Configuring and Managing Message Analyzer Unions.