Disjunction on static filters for a Widget

ZoraidaHS — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:11:24 GMT

I would like to be able to express something like: WHERE columnA = "valueA" OR columnB = "valueB" but on the Widget. I only see the possibility that chaining filters that are processed as AND operator. Am I missing something?

Re: Disjunction on static filters for a Widget

mark_ott — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 12:58:18 GMT

Most widget filter interfaces only support multiple filters using an AND operator, meaning each condition must be true for a row to be included. If you want to use an OR operator, such as filtering where columnA = "valueA" OR columnB = "valueB", most widget dashboards don't provide a native option for combining clauses with OR directly within the filter configuration panel.

Current Widget Limitations

Most systems allow you to add multiple field filters, but these are chained together with AND logic, not OR.
Some platforms, like ServiceNow or Sisense, explicitly state that "front end filters" only support AND conditions, and broader OR logic requires backend configuration or custom queries.
Workarounds may involve combining fields, creating composite columns, or filtering at different layers (dashboard vs widget) for partial OR-like behavior.

Possible Solutions

If your widget/dashboard platform allows users to create custom filter expressions (such as an advanced or SQL mode), you may be able to represent OR conditions there.
In systems like ArcGIS Experience Builder, you can sometimes build filter clauses that group criteria and choose whether "any" or "all" must match, which enables OR logic between multiple clauses within a set.
For platforms lacking native support, some users add a calculated/composite field to their dataset that represents the result of the desired OR condition, then filter on that field.

Recommendations

Check if your widget's filter tool allows for Expression Builder, Grouped Clauses, or Advanced Mode: these often enable OR filtering.
If only AND is supported, consider leveraging dashboard-level filtering or combining fields externally before feeding data into the widget.
Review help or community forums for your specific platform—users sometimes share creative workarounds or plugin suggestions for this exact issue.

In summary, most widget filter tools process chained filters as AND only, and built-in support for OR logic between different fields is limited or unavailable unless the platform has an advanced expression builder or SQL mode.

topic Re: Disjunction on static filters for a Widget in Warehousing & Analytics

Disjunction on static filters for a Widget

Re: Disjunction on static filters for a Widget

Current Widget Limitations

Possible Solutions

Recommendations