The add-on allows to filter and search threads based on Custom thread fields. The idea is to allow admins to utilize the power of custom thread fields to turn their forums into Directory, Classifieds, Shop or other types of content, for which filtering the data based on custom fields is vital.

Here is the filter with AJAX reloading of the list in action:





The controls to filter the threads are added in Filters popup in the thread list:





You can activate an off-canvas menu in mobile view which will reply the default filter forms for mobile browsers only:





Search Threads page is also enhanced to show filter controls when the forum being searched currently has custom fields associated with it:



Each field can be configured separately to be shown in the filter list and/or in the search form:



Choice fields can be configured to be shown in the forms using Check boxes and Multiple-choice drop down (allow searching/filtering by multiple values) or Drop down selection/Radio buttons (allow searching/filtering only by single value).



Date fields and numeric fields are shown as interval inputs (from... to...) where both fields are optional, so it is possible to search any values higher/lower than the defined values or in some particular interval.

Color fields are also supported and color similarity algorithm is implemented. All items with visually similar colors are found and listed. An example search listing threads filtered by color similarity can be seen here The index of color similarity is configurable and can be set from product's options page:

Text fields are searched and indexed just like thread text itself. Full-text search is executed with fuzzy matching, meaning the phrase searched does not have to be in exactly the same order as in the query.

Thread list shows all active filters. Clicking each filter will remove the field and re-run the search with the remaining filters:



The product allows moving the filters from the default location in a popup to the sidebar on forum pages. The setting can be configured globally or for each forum.


Xenforo Enhanced Search and Elastic Search support

The add-on has special support for Enhanced Search add-on with Elasticsearch back-end. Custom field information is indexed as separate content type in Elasticsearch. A high-performance algorithm is implemented to filter millions of records and show only threads matching filter criteria. Custom fields are searched only once, and the result is cached for subsequent pages. Even though the product performs completely fine without Enhanced Search add-on, it is highly recommended to use this add-on and Elasticsearch on large databases (the performance of MySQL-based engine can be tested on our demo board at Filter in sidebar with more than 150k threads having in total more than 1 million custom field values).

Planned Features

In the upcoming version, we will implement a new per-forum option to show thread filters as a separate block on top of thread list or as a form in the sidebar, instead of having them in Filters popup (implemented). We are also planning to add an option for each custom field to allow to show its value right in thread list and search results (for example, having t-shirts of different colors admins can decide to show the color of the t-shirt right in the list of threads) (implemented). Filtering threads in thread list based on thread tags will also be considered. Another planned feature is the implementation of dependent custom fields. Feel free to suggest features you would like to see in the product and we will consider them as well.

Sortable custom field options
Our add-on at Sort Field Options for XenForo 2.x allows admins to sort custom field options when they create/edit the field in Admin Panel. The order in admin panel affects the order in which the options are shown to the users on add/edit thread form as well as in the filters. The add-on costs $20.00 USD but it is a free module we provide with every license of Thread Fitler. Feel free to contact us if you need a license and we will assign it to your account immediately.