Related To Filtering

Overview

Related-To filtering in SharpCloud enables you to filter items based on how they are connected to other items, rather than relying on attribute values alone. This is particularly valuable for understanding dependencies, influence paths, and networks within a story, especially when relationships are more meaningful than standalone data points.

This capability is available across the Base Filter, Enterprise Filter, and Interactive Filter, with each offering different levels of control and scope.

Using Related-To Filtering in the Base Filter

The Base Filter is the most powerful and flexible way to configure Related-To filtering.

1. Adds items to the view that meet the filter criteria(s).
2. Adds all items that are directly connected to specified item(s).
3. From the result of filters, A & B, the relationships between those items will be included.
4. Only allow items through the filter that meet the filter criteria(s).
5. Only allow relationships through where both ends of the relationships have passed through filter D and that meet this filter criteria(s).
6. Based on the items and relationships that made it through, further reduce to items connected to these items.
   • These items do not need to have existed in D.
7. Further reduce the items to this filter.
8. Further reduce the relationships.

To set it up:

1. Open the Define Filter dialog

2. Navigate to the Related Items tab

   1. 

3. Select one or more items from the list

4. Choose a relationship setting

5. Click OK or OK and Save

The filter will return items related to your selection, based on the chosen relationship logic.

The example above shows Related Items to the items named “Brexit” and “Resource Scarcity” with a relationship setting of Up/Down only.

The Related Items tab lists all items in the story.

• Selecting items here defines the starting point for the relationship-based filtering.

Relationship Settings

These settings control how far and in what direction relationships are explored:

Directly Related Only (default)
Displays only items that have a direct relationship with the selected item(s).

• This is the most focused and commonly used option.

One Level Removed
Includes items directly related to the selected item(s), plus items related to those first-level results.

• This expands the network slightly.

Two Levels Removed
Extends the relationship chain further, returning items multiple steps away.

• This is useful for identifying broader networks but may increase the number of results significantly.

Up/Down Only
Filters items based on category hierarchy rather than proximity alone.

•  It returns items in categories above or below the selected item’s category and continues this pattern through connected items. Items within the same category are excluded.

The above example shows Related Items to the items named “Brexit” and “Resource Scarcity” with a relationship setting of Up/Down only.

Filter Processing Logic

The Base Filter applies Related-To filtering through a structured sequence of steps that control both items and relationships:

• Items matching initial filter criteria are added

• Items directly related to selected items are included

• Relationships between those items are added

• Additional filters restrict which items remain

• Relationship filters further refine connections

• Additional related items may be included based on prior results

• Final filters reduce both items and relationships to produce the displayed result

This layered logic allows very precise control over what appears in a view.

Related-To in the Enterprise Filter

The Enterprise Filter expands Related-To filtering beyond a single story.

• Allows selection of items from any accessible story in the Enterprise Solution

• Returns items that are directly related only

• Can bring external items into the current view

• Includes a configurable maximum item limit (default 500)

This is useful when analyzing relationships across multiple datasets or departments.

Related-To in the Interactive Filter

The Interactive Filter allows users to apply Related-To filtering dynamically while viewing a story.

Interactive labels can be configured to include Related Items categories, which generate selectable labels for each item in a category. Selecting a label will display that item and its related items.

Important: The relationship behavior (e.g., Direct, One Level Removed) is controlled by the Base Filter, so any changes must be made there.

This method is ideal for user-driven exploration without opening filter dialogs.

Right-Click Actions

Related-To filtering can also be applied directly within a view:

Highlight
Shows only related items while fading others, preserving the full context and layout of the view

Filter
Removes all unrelated items, leaving only those that meet the relationship criteria

These quick actions are useful for fast, visual exploration and are also available in views such as the Radial View.

Clearing Related-To Filters

To remove Related-To filtering:

• Open the Base Filter dialog

• Use Clear Related Items Filter to remove selected related items

• Use Clear All to remove all filters within that filter group

Note: Clearing Base Filters does not remove Interactive Filters, so both may need to be checked if results persist.

Best Practices

• Use Directly Related Only when you need precise, focused insights.
• Use One or Two Levels Removed when exploring broader networks, but be mindful of performance and visual clutter.
• Combine Related-To filtering with attribute-based filters for more refined analysis.
• Use Highlight for exploratory analysis and Filter when you want a clean, focused view.
• Regularly review and clear filters to avoid confusion when multiple filtering methods are applied.