Combined fields filter

What?

A combined fields filter is a filter added to views so that the users keyword will be search against multiple fields of the node

How ?

We can add and configure the filter as shown in the following images

1. Add filter Criteria
2. Search to filter the combined filter
3. Select the filter by checking the box
4. Apply the filter

1. Click on the filter to Configure the filter
2. Expose it (optional)
3. Select the operator
4. Choose the filter you would like to combine and search for
5. Apply

Problem Areas

Combined filters do not work properly with entity references

Scenario

For example say the you have a website selling mobile phones and the Manufacturer field is a entity reference like Sony, Motorola, Nokia.... If you add this filed to the view filed lis and select it as a combined field it wont search properly. Here is a screen shot of what not to do

Solution

Step 1 : Add and configure the relationship

1. Click the Add relationship link
2. Search to filter the relationships
3. Select the relationship to the referenced entity
4. Apply

1. Click on the relation ship
2. Apply

Step 2 : Add a field with the relationship created

1. Click add field select Content : Title and apply
2. On the settings window for the field Select the relationship (Addded on the previous step)
3. Exclude it from the display (optional)
4. Apply

Step3: Combine the filed on the Combined filed filter

1. Click on the Combined filed filter to combine the new field
2. Select the new field
3. Apply

Now the user should be able to search on the entity reference field also.