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Basic ADVFN Video Help
ADVFN HomeHelpFinancialsFilterX (UK)Navigating FilterXEditing Constraints
Navigating FilterX
  Introduction
  Structure
  Loading Preset Filters
  Starting a New Filter
  Adding Criteria
  Editing Constraints
  Saving into My Filters
  Exporting Results

Editing Constraints

After you have added your preferred criteria, the next step is to decide on a value for the constraint of each variable.
Constraints will serve as a threshold to eliminate companies and limit your search.
Stocks with a value falling outside that threshold will be screened out of your table.

To set a constraint for a chosen variable, simply click once on any value in that variable's column and you will be forwarded to the page of constraints. To illustrate the process more explicitly, we shall assume that you have selected the variable of PE Ratio to be added to the table and now you wish to only include companies with a value of PE Ratio between 5 and 15. To do so, click on any value in the column of the PE Ratio.

You now enter a new page, the page of constraints, which consists of two main parts.

On the right, you see a graphical representation of how the variable (in this case PE Ratio) is distributed among the companies under research. Above each quartile a % figure is marked, telling you what proportion of the stock universe has a price of PE Ratio within the respective range.

Also, on the graph you can see two important figures about PE Ratio: the median and the average.
The median is the PE Ratio value that divides the population of stocks in two equal halves. Assuming you deal with 100 companies, the median would be the price of PE Ratio for the 51st company.
The average is the arithmetic average value of the PE Ratio for the population of companies. Those two figures, which are automatically calculated, can prove quite useful when analyzing stocks and trying to identify the threshold value for the PE Ratio.

On the left, in the constraints page, you can see 3 statements, each bearing a tick-box to its left.
These allow you to set the level of constraint for the variable of PE Ratio. For example, you decide to exclude all the stocks with a PE Ratio of 15 or more, and also to exclude all stock with a PE Ratio of 5 or less. Type 15 as the constraint on the first statement, and type 5 as the constraint in the second statement. Tick their respective boxes so that the constraints are activated, and click on 'Submit'.

Instantly you return to the table of results, which now contains only those companies with a PE Ratio ranging from 5 to 15.

Another important thing you should notice here is that after setting the constraint for PE Ratio (PE Ratio between 5 and 15), the variable and its constraint appear on the area we earlier called the Filters Monitor, directly above the table. In this area you can follow which constraints are currently in use. This also provides a quick way to jump into the constraints page for any variable, since the name of the variable in blue print is clickable. Try clicking on PE Ratio, and you will be directed to the constraints page again.

In a similar manner you proceed by setting constraints for the other variables. This limits the qualifying companies further and gradually builds the filter you wish.