Abstract: A dialog window for use in a filtering process provides filtering criteria based upon a limited number of object properties. Each property has an associated criterion input comprising an operator input and a value input which together with the associated property specify a filtering criterion. The dialog window preferably includes a limited number of properties, such as two or three properties, for simplicity and ease of use. Each property further has a selector in the form of a check box by which the user selects the operant filter criteria. The dialog window additionally includes a count button by which the user may update a count display which indicates the number of objects which will be returned using the presently entered filtering criteria.

Abstract: A dialog window (50) for use in a filtering process provides filtering criteria based upon a limited number of object properties (52, 54). Each property has an associated criterion input comprising an operator input (60, 62) and a value input (68, 70) which together with the associated property (52, 54) specify a filtering criterion. The dialog window (50) preferably includes a limited number of properties, such as two or three properties, for simplicity and ease of use. Each property further has a selector in the form of a check box (72, 74) by which the user selects the operant filter criteria. The dialog window (50) additionally includes a count button (84) by which the user may update a count display (86) which indicates the number of objects which will be returned using the presently entered filtering criteria.