Any filters applied to CorasWorks SharePoint Data Providers are automatically converted to Collaborative Application Markup Language (CAML). The Filter Builder only builds CAML filters.
This is the case for all filters built using the Filter Builder, and it is the default treatment for filters that are defined manually. There is a checkbox below the Basic Filter field that allows you to turn this option off, but the default is for this option to be selected (enabled). If you do not see the checkbox, click the "Click to manually build a filter" link at the bottom of the tab.
Filters built using the Filter Builder are converted to CAML when they are saved. Filters that are built manually are converted to CAML at run-time, with these exceptions:
•When the basic filter includes an apostrophe (‘)
•When both a basic filter and a CAML filter have been specified
•When a basic filter is entered and the Convert basic filter to advanced filter at run-time checkbox has been cleared
•When a CAML filter was manually entered that is too complex for the Filter Builder to display it
The benefit of CAML is that it applies the filter to list items before they are collected and stored by the web part and brings back only the items that match both the schema and the filter, thereby improving the web part’s performance. Basic filters, on the other hand, bring back all of the items that match the schema and then applies the filter at the SharePoint Data Provider level. CAML is particularly beneficial when SharePoint Data Providers search through a large number of lists to locate data, yet the amount of data returned could be small. It is also useful for more complex filtering.
You do not need to know how to write CAML code; the conversion will be done automatically. However, if you prefer to manually define a CAML filter or if the filter you want to create is too complex for the builder GUI, you can access the Filtering tab on the administration interface and select the "Click to manually build a filter" link. A CAML field will be provided for your entry. Do NOT enter any CAML code in the Filter Builder.