Created attachment 195126 [details] Autofilter column filter dialog Suppose I have a table with AutoFilter enabled, and I right-click a column; or, alternatively, I have a PivotTable with at least one field used as a filter, which I right-click. That gives me a dialog with a list of the different values. In that list, I can toggle individual items; I can toggle all items; but - I cannot select or deselect multiple items with Shift+Click, Shift+Arrow Keys, Ctrl+Click and Ctrl+Arrow keys. Why? It's useful to want to select multiple items, e.g. when you notice several items with some common prefix, or dates in a range etc.
Please carefully read this _whole_ comment before replying. The AutoFilter list contains items, each with its own checkbox. Each time you click on each item, the checkbox status changes ON/OFF. For this action, there is no need to use [SHIFT] nor [CTRL]. As for using arrows, once you are focused on one item of the AutoFilter list, you can use arrow keys (and other keys) to move within the list. As usual, pressing the space bar on your keyboard will change the status of the relevant item. IIUC, what you are asking (as an alternative) is to be able to first select multiple items, and only then change their respective status (with one action for the change to all the selected items). If this is implemented (at least, IIUC), please note that a _change_ of status (ON/OFF, selected/unselected) is not the same as setting all previously-selected items to ON or to OFF. We also have to consider potential (alternative) effects/behavior with the recent addition of the "Lock" checkbox in the AutoFilter feature. IIUC, this is an enhancement request (unless this was/is somehow expected documented behavior that is not working?).
(In reply to ady from comment #1) This request is motivated to a great extent by the case of a large set of distinct values in the column - the case of many hundreds or thousands, or more. In those cases, individually setting items to ON or OFF is possible, but impractical (and the more items you have, less possible it becomes). The UI should better support these cases, and ranged selection is one of them. For smaller sets, this would be convenience feature - but also an application of principles of UI consistency. So, I feel this is more of a bug than an enhancement, but I'll concede it's at least not clear-cut.
(In reply to Eyal Rozenberg from comment #2) > the case of many hundreds or thousands, While I understand the point, please be aware that AutoFilter is not supposed to be a full-feature filter. We have Standard Filter in Calc. IIRC, the AutoFilter list only includes some maximum number of entries (1000?), so for a "huge" number of different entries, other methods are better suited. When multiple items with some common strings are to be filtered, there is also the "Search items..." box in AutoFilter. I am not saying that the request is not worth consideration. I am just mentioning relevant points of the AutoFilter feature, to put in context the use-cases.
(In reply to ady from comment #3) > While I understand the point, please be aware that AutoFilter is not > supposed to be a full-feature filter. We have Standard Filter in Calc. But we don't have them for PivotTables. There's also the question of ordering and how it's reflected in the standard filters, but never mind that for now. > When multiple items with some common strings are to be filtered, there is > also the "Search items..." box in AutoFilter. Well, if you have the items right there in front of you, why should you need to go elsewhere? > I am not saying that the request is not worth consideration. I am just > mentioning relevant points of the AutoFilter feature, to put in context the > use-cases. Fair enough.
(In reply to Eyal Rozenberg from comment #4) > > When multiple items with some common strings are to be filtered, there is > > also the "Search items..." box in AutoFilter. > > Well, if you have the items right there in front of you, why should you need > to go elsewhere? Go where? You mentioned that one scenario was to be able to select _multiple_ items in the AutoFiler that have something in common (e.g. a common prefix). The "Search items..." box I mentioned is right there withing the AutoFilter, before (just on top of) the "All" check box.