# Filters: Complete Guide to Filtering Tenders, Agencies, and Vendors

## Introduction

The filtering system in Tenders Alerts is a powerful tool that helps you filter thousands of tenders, agencies, and vendors to access the required information accurately. Instead of browsing all data manually, you can use multiple filters to narrow your search and focus on what truly matters.

## What are Filters?

Filters are advanced filtering tools that provide:

- **Multi-criteria Filtering**: Use multiple filters simultaneously
- **Diverse Filter Types**: Dropdowns, toggles, ranges, dates
- **Instant Application**: Results update immediately when filters change
- **Save Searches**: Ability to save used filter combinations
- **Quick Clear**: Remove all filters with one click

## Where are Filters Used?

The filtering system is available in four main sections:

- **Tender Filtering**: On the main tenders page to find suitable tenders
- **Government Agencies Filtering**: On the agencies page to explore government agencies
- **Vendor Filtering**: On the vendors page to search for active vendors
- **Global Analysis**: On the global analysis page to analyze data and statistics

**Available Filters**:

- Tender type
- Activity and sub-activity
- Region and city
- Agency sector and government agency
- Active tenders only
- Has proposals
- No initial/final guarantee
- Has specifications
- Price range (maximum and minimum)
- Contract duration
- Proposals count
- Publication and closing dates

## Filter Types

### Dropdown Filters (Autocomplete)

The most common filters, allowing you to select a value from a list:

**Available Filters**:

- **Tender Type**: Public, limited, two-stage public tender, etc.
- **Activity**: Contracting, supply, services, etc.
- **Sub-activity**: Changes based on main activity
- **Region**: Riyadh, Makkah, Eastern, etc.
- **City**: Changes based on selected region
- **Agency Sector**: Health, education, transportation, etc.
- **Government Agency**: Changes based on selected sector

**How to Use**:

- Click on the dropdown
- Search for the required value (you can type to search)
- Select the value from the list
- Results will update immediately

**Interactive Example - Activities Filter**:

**Important Notes**:

- Dropdowns support search - start typing to filter options
- Some filters load data dynamically from the server
- You can clear selection by clicking the X button next to the dropdown
- Related filters (like activity and sub-activity) update automatically when the main filter changes

### Toggle Switches

Simple filters to enable or disable a specific option:

**Available Options**:

- **Active Tenders Only**: Show only open tenders
- **Has Proposals**: Tenders with submitted proposals
- **No Initial Guarantee**: Tenders not requiring initial guarantee
- **No Final Guarantee**: Tenders not requiring final guarantee
- **Has Specifications**: Tenders containing specifications document
- **CRM**: Tenders linked to CRM system

**How to Use**:

- Click the switch to enable it (turns blue)
- Click again to disable it (returns to gray)
- Results update immediately

### Range Filters

Allow you to specify a numeric range:

**Available Ranges**:

- **Maximum Price**: Set maximum tender price
- **Minimum Price**: Set minimum tender price
- **Contract Duration**: Set maximum contract duration in days
- **Proposals Count**: Set maximum number of submitted proposals

**How to Use**:

- Drag the slider on the bar to set the required value
- Or click the pencil icon to enter the value directly
- Special values: "Free" (0) and "Unlimited" (maximum)
- Results update automatically

### Date Filters (Date Range)

Allow you to specify a time period:

**Available Periods**:

- **Publication Date**: Set tender publication period
- **Closing Date**: Set tender closing period

**How to Use**:

- Click on the date field
- Select start date
- Select end date
- Results update automatically

## Managing Active Filters

### Viewing Filter Count

When filters are applied, their count appears in the "Clear Filters" button:

**What is Displayed**:

- Red "Clear Filters" button
- Number of applied filters in parentheses
- X icon indicating filter removal

### Clearing Filters

**Clear All Filters**:

- Click the red "Clear Filters" button at the top of the filters list
- All filters will be removed and return to default view

**Clear Single Filter**:

- Click the X button next to each dropdown filter to remove it
- Or change the filter value to update results

## Integration with Advanced Search

You can combine filters with advanced search to get very precise results:

**How to Combine**:

- Enable advanced search from search settings
- Add required keywords
- Apply appropriate filters (region, activity, etc.)
- You'll get tenders matching keywords **and** filters together

**Example**:

- Keywords: "maintenance" + "operation"
- Region filter: Riyadh
- Activity filter: Contracting
- Result: Maintenance and operation tenders in Riyadh within contracting activity

**To learn more about advanced search**: [Advanced Search Guide](/knowledge/advanced-search)

## Saving Searches

After applying appropriate filters, you can save the filter combination for future use:

### How to Save a Search

**Steps**:

- Apply required filters
- Click "Save Search" button
- Enter a name for the search (e.g., "Riyadh Tenders - Contracting")
- Save the search

### Managing Saved Searches

**What You Can Do**:

- **Load saved search**: Click on search name to apply saved filters
- **Update search**: Click refresh icon to save current filters to existing search
- **Delete search**: Click trash icon to delete a saved search
- **View filters**: Badges show saved filters in each search

**Benefits**:

- **Quick Access**: Apply complex filter combination with one click
- **Save Time**: No need to reapply filters each time
- **Organization**: Name searches with clear names
- **Sharing**: Share searches with team

## Practical Examples

### Example 1: Search for Contracting Tenders in Riyadh

**Goal**: Find active contracting tenders in Riyadh region

**Steps**:

- Open tenders page
- From "Activity" filter, select "General Contracting"
- From "Region" filter, select "Riyadh"
- Enable "Active Tenders Only" switch

::ActiveFiltersMockup{:active-filters='"Riyadh", "General Contracting", "Active"}
::

**Result**: Only active contracting tenders in Riyadh will appear.

### Example 2: Tenders with Specific Price

**Goal**: Find tenders with price less than 10 million SAR

**Steps**:

- Open tenders page
- Go to "Maximum Price" filter
- Drag slider or enter "10000000"
- Apply additional filters as needed (activity, region)

**Result**: Only tenders not exceeding 10 million SAR will appear.

### Example 3: Government Agencies in Health Sector

**Goal**: Find all government agencies in health sector

**Steps**:

- Open government agencies page
- From "Agency Sector" filter, select "Health"
- (Optional) Select specific region

**Result**: All health government agencies will appear.

### Example 4: Active Vendors in Specific Activity

**Goal**: Find active vendors in medical supply activity

**Steps**:

- Open vendors page
- From "Activity" filter, select "Medical Supply"
- Sort by "Proposals Count" to see most active

**Result**: List of active vendors in medical field will appear.

### Example 5: Analyze Tenders for Specific Period

**Goal**: Analyze Q1 2025 tenders

**Steps**:

- Open global analysis page
- From "Publication Date" filter, select from 2025-01-01 to 2025-03-31
- Apply additional filters (activity, region) as needed

**Result**: Statistics and analysis for tenders published in Q1 will appear.

## Tips for Effective Filter Use

### 1. Start with Basic Filters

- Start with one or two basic filters (like region and activity)
- Then add additional filters to narrow scope
- Don't use too many filters at once

### 2. Use Related Filters

- Some filters are related (like region and city)
- Select region first, then available cities will appear
- Same for activity and sub-activity

### 3. Save Recurring Searches

- If you use the same filter combination regularly, save it
- Will save you time in the future
- You can create multiple saved searches

### 4. Clear Filters When Starting Fresh

- Before a new search, clear old filters
- Use "Clear Filters" button to start with clean slate
- Avoid mixing old and new filters

### 5. Monitor Results Count

- Pay attention to results count after each filter
- If results are too few, reduce filters
- If too many, add more filters

### 6. Use Filters with Sorting

- Filters narrow scope, sorting organizes results
- Example: Filter by region, then sort by date
- Get best results by combining both

## Integration with Other Features

### Filters and Favorites

- You can apply filters to favorites
- Enable "Favorites Only" then apply filters
- Easy to find specific saved tender

### Filters and Export

- Filters affect exported data
- When exporting data, only filtered results are exported
- Use filters to export specific data

### Filters and Notifications

- You can save filtered search and enable notifications
- You'll receive notifications for new tenders matching filters
- Excellent way to follow specific field

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Are filters available to everyone?

Yes, basic filters are available to all users. Some advanced filters may require an active subscription.

### How many filters can I use?

There's no maximum limit. You can use all available filters simultaneously.

### Are filters saved when closing the page?

Applied filters are saved temporarily during the session. For permanent saving, use "Save Search" feature.

### Why don't some filters appear?

Some filters appear only on specific pages. For example, "Tender Type" filter appears only on tenders page.

### Can I share filters with team?

Yes, by saving the search and sharing the saved search link with the team.

### What happens when applying conflicting filters?

The system applies all filters together (AND logic). If no results match all filters, an empty page will appear.

### Do filters affect search speed?

No, filters are optimized for performance. More filters mean fewer results, which may speed up display.

## Conclusion

The filtering system in Tenders Alerts is a powerful tool that provides:

- **Precise Filtering**: Quick access to required information
- **Multiple Types**: Lists, switches, ranges, dates
- **Multiple Uses**: Tenders, agencies, vendors, analytics
- **Save and Share**: Save searches and share them
- **Complete Integration**: Works with advanced search, favorites, and notifications

Start using filters today to improve your search efficiency and save time finding required information!