Widget Filters are mechanisms for customizing the display of Widgets, Search Links and more.
When search criteria is specified in the filter, the filter is always dynamic and will find the current properties matching any specified criteria.
Filters are used in many ways including:
- To display current properties matching criteria specified in the filter, using "Display Widgets"
- To create a Custom Search Link
- Control display and layout options for widgets
In all these cases, the easiest method is to use the Wizard in your Buying Buddy account to create the widgets, links or filters that you need.
Lets look at the two main uses for filters:
1. Display Properties with Widgets
A Display Widget (List, Gallery, Map) that's embedded on a web page, will show the exact properties you need by adding a filter to the widget.
The filter can include any MLS criteria available (including a map shape).
A Display Widget can be deployed multiple times on a page and on different pages with a different Filters in each case.
Use the Wizard to create your widget and then copy and paste the widget code.
The filter is just text, so you can copy to multiple pages and update the filter manually if you wish. However, if in doubt then use the Wizard to generate the correct filter.
This approach makes it fast and easy to set up many different presentations of real estate listings such as multiple Neighborhood or City pages.
2. Custom Search Link
A Custom Search Link is a "canned", or pre-defined search.
The link code will include a filter and the link opens your "search results" page (URL) where properties are shown based on the Filter that can use any MLS criteria available (including a map shape).
Custom Search Links (or "canned searches") are specially formed links that show a "search result" using the Search Results Widget on your designated "Results" Foundation Page that has the Search Results Widget on it.
Any number of Custom Search Links can be created and used anywhere on the web where links can be shown - in an email, in a menu, on your Facebook page, as a button or just as a text link on a page.
Use the Wizard
The easiest way to create and use Filters with Widgets or Custom Search Links, is to use the Wizard in your Buying Buddy account.
See Display Properties with Widgets for more details.
Follow the instructions with the Wizard to create a Widget or a Custom Search Link.
Examples of Using Filters
Custom Search Link
Here are examples of how you might use a Filter to create a Custom Search Link to show search results:
NOTE !! the actual 'search-results' page needs to be YOUR page where you display the search results widget !!
http://www.MY-SITE.com/results.html?filter=city:Littleton+price_min:300000+price_max:750000
Display Properties
Use the Grid layout to display the 4 most recent properties in Denver over $1m:
<div id='MBBv3_FeaturedGallery' filter='city:denver+price_min:1000000+order:create_dt desc'></div>
[mbb_widget id='MBBv3_FeaturedGallery' filter='city:denver+price_min:1000000+order:create_dt desc']
Show a List display of the 15 most recent properties in Denver under $500,000:
<div id='MBBv3_FeaturedList' filter='city:denver+price_max:500000+order:create_dt desc+limit:15'></div>
[mbb_widget id='MBBv3_FeaturedList' filter='city:denver+price_max:500000+order:create_dt desc+limit:15']
'Default' Search Filter and Default Listings for Display Widgets
If there is no Search Filter applied within the Display Widget then 'default' search criteria will be applied to show 'default' listings.
The goal of default listings is to primarily present your listings. The default search criteria come from values that are set in your User Profile and Account Settings.
See "What are Featured Listings" for the definition of featured listings by account type
A default filter applies to all the following Buying Buddy Widgets:
- Gallery Display widget
- List Display widget
- Map Display widget
- Listings on your Profile shown in the Broker or OfficeRoster widgets
For more details on all the search criteria available and how to use optional parameters and values, see Filter Parameters and Options.