# Filters are great! Why don't all reports use them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Tags:** custom-filters\ **Created:** [September 27, 2021, 7:52pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/filters-are-great-why-dont-all-reports-use-them/1860 "2021-09-27T19:52:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 2
**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 8:52pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/filters-are-great-why-dont-all-reports-use-them/1860/2 "2021-09-27T20:52:32Z")
Most reports are built to satisfy a specific need for a user. And since reports are often a first foray into hacking Gramps, they generally start simplistic in design with few options. The options that tend to be targeted first are things that CANNOT be done with a simple workaround… like a filtered export. That’s why filters tend to be bolted on later. It seems like documenting how to add a filter option to an existing report would be a lovely expansion page to the “[Adapt a built-in Report](https://www.gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/Adapt_a_built-in_Report)” wiki article. Right now, it is just an un-validated shell about about how to properly fork a built-in report so that you can experiment. But an article about how to add a filter option would make it a _USEFUL_ set of documentation. (Started the [“example of a gramplet with a custom filter configuration option” topic](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/looking-for-an-example-of-a-gramplet-with-a-custom-filter-configuration-option/5967/3) Sep 2024) And along with adding a Sorting option article, it might get a some people playing with improving our reports. Both articles are beyond my Python experience levels. --- _[View the full topic](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/filters-are-great-why-dont-all-reports-use-them/1860)._