Updated February 21, 2026 · By TypeFlow

Softr: Filter & Sort Linked Records

Control which linked records appear in your documents and in what order. Unlike Airtable views, Softr stores these settings directly on the field.

Overview

When generating documents with line items from Softr, you may want to:

  • Filter: Only include certain records (e.g., only "Signed" documents)
  • Sort: Order records in a specific way (e.g., by date descending)

TypeFlow automatically reads these settings from your Softr field configuration and applies them during PDF generation.

Airtable vs Softr

FeatureAirtableSoftr
Filter/Sort locationViews (table-level)Field options (field-level)
TypeFlow configurationSelect view in dropdownAutomatic from field settings
Multiple configurationsMultiple views per tableOne config per field

Airtable users: See Sorting & Grouping for how to use Airtable views.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open Your Table in Softr

  1. Go to Softr Studio
  2. Navigate to Databases
  3. Open the table containing your Related Record field

Step 2: Access Field Settings

Click on the Related Record field header (column name), then select "Edit field".

How to access field settings in Softr Tables

Step 3: Configure Filter (Optional)

  1. Click the "Filter" button in the field settings
  2. Add your filter conditions:
    • Select the field to filter by
    • Choose the operator (IS, IS NOT, CONTAINS, etc.)
    • Enter the value to match
  3. Click Save

Example filters:

  • Status IS "Signed"
  • Amount GREATER THAN 100
  • Date IS NOT EMPTY

Step 4: Configure Sort (Optional)

  1. Click the "Sort" button in the field settings
  2. Configure the sorting:
    • Select the field to sort by
    • Choose Ascending (A→Z) or Descending (Z→A)
  3. Click Save

Step 5: Update TypeFlow Mapping

Important: After changing filter/sort settings in Softr, you must re-select the Related Record field in TypeFlow to pick up the new settings.

  1. Open your flow in TypeFlow
  2. Go to the Line Items mapping section
  3. Click the Related Record dropdown and re-select the field
  4. This refreshes the field options including filter/sort settings

Supported Operators

Filter Operators

OperatorDescriptionExample
ISExact matchStatus IS "Signed"
IS NOTNot equalStatus IS NOT "Pending"
CONTAINSPartial matchName CONTAINS "Contract"
DOES NOT CONTAINExcludes textName DOES NOT CONTAIN "Draft"
IS EMPTYField has no valueNotes IS EMPTY
IS NOT EMPTYField has a valueEmail IS NOT EMPTY
GREATER THANNumeric comparisonAmount > 1000
LESS THANNumeric comparisonQuantity < 10
IS ANY OFMultiple values (OR)Status IS ANY OF ["Signed", "Approved"]
IS NONE OFExclude multipleType IS NONE OF ["Draft", "Cancelled"]

Sort Options

Sort TypeDescription
Ascending (A→Z)Alphabetical, oldest first, smallest first
Descending (Z→A)Reverse alphabetical, newest first, largest first

Multi-field sorting: Add multiple sort rules. The first rule takes priority.

Example Use Case

Scenario: Generate a client report showing only signed documents, sorted by name.

Softr Setup

  1. Open the "Clients" table
  2. Click the "Documents" Related Record field → Edit field
  3. Add filter: "Signature Status" IS "Signed"
  4. Add sort: "Document Name" Descending
  5. Save

TypeFlow Setup

  1. Open your flow
  2. In Line Items, re-select the "Documents" field
  3. Generate a test document

Result

Your PDF shows only signed documents, sorted Z→A by name.

Troubleshooting

IssueSolution
Filter/sort not appliedRe-select the field in TypeFlow after changing Softr settings
No records appearFilter may be too restrictive - check conditions match actual data
Wrong orderVerify sort field and direction in Softr, check for null values

FAQ

Do I need to reconfigure TypeFlow after changing filter/sort in Softr?

Yes. After changing filter or sort settings in Softr, you must re-select the Related Record field in TypeFlow to pick up the new settings.

Why is there no "Filter by view" dropdown for Softr?

Softr doesn't use views like Airtable. Instead, filter and sort settings are stored directly on the Related Record field itself in Softr Tables.

Can I have different filter/sort for different documents?

Not directly. Softr stores one filter/sort config per Related Record field. For different configurations, you would need separate Related Record fields.

What if I don't configure any filter or sort?

TypeFlow will return all linked records in their default order (typically the order they were linked).

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