# Using tree filters in AWS Schema Conversion Tool
<a name="CHAP_UserInterface.TreeFilters"></a>

To migrate data from a source to a target, AWS SCT loads all metadata from source and target databases into a tree structure. This structure appears in AWS SCT as the tree view in the main project window. 

Some databases can have a large number of objects in the tree structure. You can use *tree filters* in AWS SCT to search for objects in the source and target tree structures. When you use a tree filter, you don't change the objects that are converted when you convert your database. The filter changes only what you see in the tree.

Tree filters work with objects that AWS SCT has preloaded. In other words, AWS SCT doesn't load objects from the database during searches. This approach means that the tree structure generally contains fewer objects than are present in the database.

For tree filters, keep the following in mind:
+ The filter default is ANY, which means that the filter uses a name search to find objects.
+ When you select one or more object types, you see only those types of objects in the tree.
+ You can use the filter mask to show different types of symbols, including Unicode, spaces, and special characters. The “%” character is the wildcard for any symbol.
+ After you apply a filter, the count shows only the number of filtered objects.

**To create a tree filter**

1. Open an existing AWS SCT project.

1. Connect to the database that you want to apply the tree filter to.

1. Choose the filter icon.  
![\[The filter icon for the schema tree\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/SchemaConversionTool/latest/userguide/images/filter-source-tree.png)

   The undo filter icon is grayed out because no filter is currently applied.

1. Enter the following information in the **Filter** dialog box. Options in the dialog box are different for each database engine.    
[\[See the AWS documentation website for more details\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/SchemaConversionTool/latest/userguide/CHAP_UserInterface.TreeFilters.html)  
![\[The filter icon for the schema tree\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/SchemaConversionTool/latest/userguide/images/filter-tree-db.png)

1. Choose **Add new clause** to add an additional filter clause. AWS SCT can apply multiple filter clauses using `AND` or `OR` logical operators. 

1. Choose **Apply**. After you choose **Apply**, the undo filter icon (next to the filter icon) is enabled. Use this icon if you want to remove the filters you applied.

1. Choose **Close** to close the dialog box.

When you filter the schema that appears in the tree, you don't change the objects that are converted when you convert your schema. The filter only changes what you see in the tree. 

## Importing a file list for the tree filter
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You can import a comma-separated value (CSV) file with semicolon separators or a JSON file that contains names or values that you want the tree filter to use. Open an existing AWS SCT project, connect to the database to apply the tree filter to, and then choose the filter icon.

 To download an example of the file, choose **Download template**. Enter the file name and choose **Save**. 

 To download your existing filter settings, choose **Export**. Enter the file name and choose **Save**. 

To import a file list for the tree filter, choose **Import**. Choose a file to import, and then choose **Open**. Choose **Apply**, and then choose **Close**.

CSV files use semicolon as the separator and have the following format:
+ `object_type` is the type of object that you want to find.
+ `database_name` is the name of database where this object exists.
+ `schema_name` is the name of schema where this object exists.
+ `object_name` is the object name. 
+ `import_type` specifies to `include` or `exclude` this item from the filter.

Use JSON files to describe complex filtering cases, such as nested rules. JSON files have the following format:
+ `filterGroupType` is the type of filter rule (`AND` or `OR` logical operators) that applies to multiple filter clauses.
+ `filterCategory` is the level of the filter (**Categories** or **Statuses**).
+ `names` is the list of object names that applies for the **Categories** filter.
+ `filterCondition` is the filtering condition (`LIKE` or `NOT LIKE`) that applies for the **Categories** filter.
+ `transformName` is the status name that applies for the **Status** filter.
+ `value` is the value to filter the tree by.
+ `transformValue` is the value of the filter (`TRUE` or `FALSE`) that applies for the **Status** filter.