🔍 Extending Smart Search Filter for Multiple Regions

🚩Introduction 

• In Oracle APEX, the Smart Search filter is a convenient feature that allows users to quickly search data in a Classic Report or Cards region without writing custom code. However, this functionality is limited to a single region, which can be restrictive when a page contains multiple regions that should respond to the same search input.

• In this tutorial, you will learn how to extend the Smart Search filter to work with multiple regions on the same page. We will implement a solution that allows one Smart Search input to drive filtering across multiple Classic Report ,Cards regions etc.

• By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a clear, reusable approach for coordinating search behavior across regions, improving both usability and consistency in your Oracle APEX applications without breaking the declarative nature of APEX.

📑 Why Extending the Smart Search Filter Is Needed

The built-in Smart Search filter in Oracle APEX works well when a page contains a single searchable region, such as a Classic Report or Cards. However, extending the Smart Search filter becomes essential when:

• A single page displays multiple reports or card regions that should respond to the same search input

• Users expect a global search experience instead of filtering each region individually

• Related data is split across different region types (Classic Reports, Cards, or combinations of both)

• Pages are designed as dashboards with multiple data views

• Search criteria must be kept consistent across regions for better usability

• Reducing page clutter by avoiding multiple search fields is a requirement

Extending the Smart Search filter ensures a more intuitive user experience, improves search consistency, and aligns Oracle APEX applications with modern, user-friendly interface expectations. 

👉 Steps to Extend the Smart Search Filter Functionality

Smart Search Filter can be used with the classic report or cards. In this blog we will be using the classic report and we will setup the filter to work with multiple regions.

Step 1: 

In the page designer, create a region and change the type to classic report and select the source as sql query. 

Step 2: 

Now, create another region and select the type as Smart Filters and under the source attribute select the classic report which was created in the above step in the Filtered Region property. 

Step 3: 

Create one filter (named Dept) of type checkbox under the Smart Filter region and map that filter source to the database column (DEPARTMENT_ID) of the classic report. Now the Classic report is linked with the smart search filter. Once you filter the department, the report will be automatically filtered.

Step 4: 

Now to extend this filter to other region, create one more region of type Interactive report and enclose this report region with the popup dialog region for demo purpose.'

Create one button, which will be used to call this popup region. Create a dynamic action of type click event and create a true action of type open region and under the selection type, select the popup region name to show that popup region.

Step 5: 

Creat a page item (named Dept) of type hidden. This is going to be used in other reports for filtering the regions.

Step 6:

After this, create a dynamic action for the classic report of type After Refresh and create true action of type Execute Javascript code and assign the value of the filter item to the dept page item. Create one more action to refresh that interactive report. Now you can reference this dept page item in your regions to filter the data according to the department selected in the Smart Filter.

var dept_id = $v("P60_DEPT"); //Smart Search Filter (Department)
 
apex.item("P60_DEPT_ID").setValue(dept_id);

  

You can watch the live demo in my youtube channel 👉 Thanigai Solutions

🔥 Conclusion

Thus, extending the Smart Search filter in Oracle APEX can be achieved using native APEX components and dynamic actions, without the need for custom plugins. By coordinating a single Smart Search input with multiple Classic Report and Cards regions, developers can overcome the default single-region limitation and deliver a more unified search experience.

This approach enables a consistent, page-level search mechanism that adapts well to dashboard-style layouts and multi-region pages. It not only improves maintainability by centralizing search logic but also significantly enhances the overall user experience, making Oracle APEX applications more intuitive and efficient to use.