> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.superoffice.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to use multiple criteria with the FindAgent

> How to use multiple criteria with the FindAgent

Unlike the [ArchiveAgent][1], the `FindAgent` supports saved restrictions and also handles some behind-the-scenes translation related to reporter criteria that the archive agent does not need to worry about.

The example below shows the use of the `SaveRestrictions` method exposed through the `FindAgent`.

```csharp CS theme={null}
using SuperOffice;
using SuperOffice.CRM.Services;
using SuperOffice.CRM.ArchiveLists;
using SuperOffice.CRM.Globalization;
using SuperOffice.Util;

using (SoSession mySession = SoSession.Authenticate("sam", "sam"))
{
  //Initializing the FindAgent
  using(FindAgent newFindAgt = new FindAgent())
  {
    //Declaration of the Local variable
    string storageType = "Criteria";
    string providerName = "findcontact";
    string storageKey = "associate=1236";
    string[] staticColumns = new string[] { "name", "firstName", "lastName" };

    //Making use of a method exposed in the FindAgent
    //GetAvailableRestrictionColumns - which Gets a list of
    //the column names corresponding to available restrictions for
    //a certain archive provider and restriction storage provider.
    string[] handledColumns = newFindAgt.GetAvailableRestrictionColumns(storageType, providerName);

    //GetSpecifiedCriteriaInformationWithDefaults - Get criteria information from a
    //set of saved criteria, for a specific set of columns.
    CriteriaInformation criteria = newFindAgt.GetSpecifiedCriteriaInformationWithDefaults(storageType, providerName, storageKey, handledColumns, staticColumns);

    //Represents a list of keys and values i.e columns and the conditions.
    Dictionary<string, ArchiveRestrictionInfo> restrictions = ArchiveRestrictionInfo.ToNameDictionary( criteria.Restrictions );

    //Setting the restriction for specific columns
    //Udef fields may not run depending on the database.
    //string values
    restrictions["lastName"].SetValue("Tester 5");
    restrictions["lastName"].IsActive = true;
    restrictions["firstName"].SetValue("Tester 5");
    restrictions["firstName"].Operator = "contains";
    restrictions["firstName"].IsActive = true;

    //int values
    restrictions["personId"].SetValue( "215" );
    restrictions["contactId"].SetValue( "100", "143" );
    restrictions["contactId"].Operator = "between";

    //list
    restrictions["position"].SetValue( "1" );
    restrictions["category"].SetValue( "1", "2", "3", "4" );

    //bool
    restrictions["nomailings"].SetValue(true.ToString());
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:6"].SetValue("1");

    //decimal
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:8"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(1.4));
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(1.8), CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(2.6));
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].Operator = "between";
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].IsActive = true;

    //datetime
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:4"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDate(DateTime.Now));

    //Save the restrictions so that it may be used later as search criteria
    newFindAgt.SaveRestrictions(storageType, providerName, storageKey, CollectionOps.DictionaryValuesToArray(restrictions));
  }
}
```

The intention is to store and restore a set of restrictions that could be used later as search criteria. The first thing we do is to get the `FindAgent` instance, which contains the method that we use. Once the initialization is done, we declare the variable that we would need to pass to the different methods we use.

## storageType

The storage type specification of the restriction, which could be "Criteria" or "Reporter" or any possible extension.

## providerName

This is the name of the archive provider which is intended to use the restriction.

## storageKey

This is to be interpreted by the restriction storage provider when it fetches the criteria for the search.

## staticColumns

This is an array of restrictions that are to be excluded from the `CriteriaArchiveRows` part of the result.

In the **Find** dialog that corresponds to the "static fields", this variable is used to avoid duplication in the **Match also** criteria list. In place, this variable is used it could be stated as `null`, which indicates that all restrictions should be included in the criteria list.

For example, if you have a criteria such as person/firstname="John" then all matches on this field will contain the same value "John" and the column can be excluded from the result making more room for the useful information.

## handledColumns

```csharp CS theme={null}
using SuperOffice;
using SuperOffice.CRM.Services;
using SuperOffice.CRM.ArchiveLists;
using SuperOffice.CRM.Globalization;
using SuperOffice.Util;

using (SoSession mySession = SoSession.Authenticate("sam", "sam"))
{
  //Initializing the FindAgent
  using(FindAgent newFindAgt = new FindAgent())
  {
    //Declaration of the Local variable
    string storageType = "Criteria";
    string providerName = "findcontact";
    string storageKey = "associate=1236";
    string[] staticColumns = new string[] { "name", "firstName", "lastName" };

    //Making use of a method exposed in the FindAgent
    //GetAvailableRestrictionColumns - which Gets a list of
    //the column names corresponding to available restrictions for
    //a certain archive provider and restriction storage provider.
    string[] handledColumns = newFindAgt.GetAvailableRestrictionColumns(storageType, providerName);

    //GetSpecifiedCriteriaInformationWithDefaults - Get criteria information from a
    //set of saved criteria, for a specific set of columns.
    CriteriaInformation criteria = newFindAgt.GetSpecifiedCriteriaInformationWithDefaults(storageType, providerName, storageKey, handledColumns, staticColumns);

    //Represents a list of keys and values i.e columns and the conditions.
    Dictionary<string, ArchiveRestrictionInfo> restrictions = ArchiveRestrictionInfo.ToNameDictionary( criteria.Restrictions );

    //Setting the restriction for specific columns
    //Udef fields may not run depending on the database.
    //string values
    restrictions["lastName"].SetValue("Tester 5");
    restrictions["lastName"].IsActive = true;
    restrictions["firstName"].SetValue("Tester 5");
    restrictions["firstName"].Operator = "contains";
    restrictions["firstName"].IsActive = true;

    //int values
    restrictions["personId"].SetValue( "215" );
    restrictions["contactId"].SetValue( "100", "143" );
    restrictions["contactId"].Operator = "between";

    //list
    restrictions["position"].SetValue( "1" );
    restrictions["category"].SetValue( "1", "2", "3", "4" );

    //bool
    restrictions["nomailings"].SetValue(true.ToString());
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:6"].SetValue("1");

    //decimal
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:8"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(1.4));
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(1.8), CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(2.6));
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].Operator = "between";
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].IsActive = true;

    //datetime
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:4"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDate(DateTime.Now));

    //Save the restrictions so that it may be used later as search criteria
    newFindAgt.SaveRestrictions(storageType, providerName, storageKey, CollectionOps.DictionaryValuesToArray(restrictions));
  }
}
```

This is an array of restrictions that are to be excluded from the `CriteriaArchiveRows` part of the result. In the **Find** dialog, that corresponds to the "static fields" this variable is used to avoid duplication in the "Match also" criteria list. In places, this variable is used it could be stated as `null` which indicates that all restrictions should be included in the criteria list.

When retrieving the list of columns for the variable we have made use of the `GetAvailableRestrictionColumns` method, which requires the `storageType` and `providerName` as the input parameters. It returns a list of column names corresponding to the available restrictions for the passed in `providerName` and `storageType`.

```csharp CS theme={null}
using SuperOffice;
using SuperOffice.CRM.Services;
using SuperOffice.CRM.ArchiveLists;
using SuperOffice.CRM.Globalization;
using SuperOffice.Util;

using (SoSession mySession = SoSession.Authenticate("sam", "sam"))
{
  //Initializing the FindAgent
  using(FindAgent newFindAgt = new FindAgent())
  {
    //Declaration of the Local variable
    string storageType = "Criteria";
    string providerName = "findcontact";
    string storageKey = "associate=1236";
    string[] staticColumns = new string[] { "name", "firstName", "lastName" };

    //Making use of a method exposed in the FindAgent
    //GetAvailableRestrictionColumns - which Gets a list of
    //the column names corresponding to available restrictions for
    //a certain archive provider and restriction storage provider.
    string[] handledColumns = newFindAgt.GetAvailableRestrictionColumns(storageType, providerName);

    //GetSpecifiedCriteriaInformationWithDefaults - Get criteria information from a
    //set of saved criteria, for a specific set of columns.
    CriteriaInformation criteria = newFindAgt.GetSpecifiedCriteriaInformationWithDefaults(storageType, providerName, storageKey, handledColumns, staticColumns);

    //Represents a list of keys and values i.e columns and the conditions.
    Dictionary<string, ArchiveRestrictionInfo> restrictions = ArchiveRestrictionInfo.ToNameDictionary( criteria.Restrictions );

    //Setting the restriction for specific columns
    //Udef fields may not run depending on the database.
    //string values
    restrictions["lastName"].SetValue("Tester 5");
    restrictions["lastName"].IsActive = true;
    restrictions["firstName"].SetValue("Tester 5");
    restrictions["firstName"].Operator = "contains";
    restrictions["firstName"].IsActive = true;

    //int values
    restrictions["personId"].SetValue( "215" );
    restrictions["contactId"].SetValue( "100", "143" );
    restrictions["contactId"].Operator = "between";

    //list
    restrictions["position"].SetValue( "1" );
    restrictions["category"].SetValue( "1", "2", "3", "4" );

    //bool
    restrictions["nomailings"].SetValue(true.ToString());
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:6"].SetValue("1");

    //decimal
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:8"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(1.4));
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(1.8), CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(2.6));
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].Operator = "between";
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].IsActive = true;

    //datetime
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:4"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDate(DateTime.Now));

    //Save the restrictions so that it may be used later as search criteria
    newFindAgt.SaveRestrictions(storageType, providerName, storageKey, CollectionOps.DictionaryValuesToArray(restrictions));
  }
}
```

With the execution of the above code, we have retrieved criteria information from a set of saved criteria, for specific set columns. The results are contained in two forms. Namely,  fully populated ArchiveRestrictionInfo objects, used to display details and for saving changes; and as a list suitable for an Archive control. All columns specified in the call will be present in the results. The method requires 5 parameters to produce the output. The parameters have been explained above.

The next step is to create a variable that could be used to store the restrictions.

```csharp CS theme={null}
using SuperOffice;
using SuperOffice.CRM.Services;
using SuperOffice.CRM.ArchiveLists;
using SuperOffice.CRM.Globalization;
using SuperOffice.Util;

using (SoSession mySession = SoSession.Authenticate("sam", "sam"))
{
  //Initializing the FindAgent
  using(FindAgent newFindAgt = new FindAgent())
  {
    //Declaration of the Local variable
    string storageType = "Criteria";
    string providerName = "findcontact";
    string storageKey = "associate=1236";
    string[] staticColumns = new string[] { "name", "firstName", "lastName" };

    //Making use of a method exposed in the FindAgent
    //GetAvailableRestrictionColumns - which Gets a list of
    //the column names corresponding to available restrictions for
    //a certain archive provider and restriction storage provider.
    string[] handledColumns = newFindAgt.GetAvailableRestrictionColumns(storageType, providerName);

    //GetSpecifiedCriteriaInformationWithDefaults - Get criteria information from a
    //set of saved criteria, for a specific set of columns.
    CriteriaInformation criteria = newFindAgt.GetSpecifiedCriteriaInformationWithDefaults(storageType, providerName, storageKey, handledColumns, staticColumns);

    //Represents a list of keys and values i.e columns and the conditions.
    Dictionary<string, ArchiveRestrictionInfo> restrictions = ArchiveRestrictionInfo.ToNameDictionary( criteria.Restrictions );

    //Setting the restriction for specific columns
    //Udef fields may not run depending on the database.
    //string values
    restrictions["lastName"].SetValue("Tester 5");
    restrictions["lastName"].IsActive = true;
    restrictions["firstName"].SetValue("Tester 5");
    restrictions["firstName"].Operator = "contains";
    restrictions["firstName"].IsActive = true;

    //int values
    restrictions["personId"].SetValue( "215" );
    restrictions["contactId"].SetValue( "100", "143" );
    restrictions["contactId"].Operator = "between";

    //list
    restrictions["position"].SetValue( "1" );
    restrictions["category"].SetValue( "1", "2", "3", "4" );

    //bool
    restrictions["nomailings"].SetValue(true.ToString());
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:6"].SetValue("1");

    //decimal
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:8"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(1.4));
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(1.8), CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(2.6));
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].Operator = "between";
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].IsActive = true;

    //datetime
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:4"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDate(DateTime.Now));

    //Save the restrictions so that it may be used later as search criteria
    newFindAgt.SaveRestrictions(storageType, providerName, storageKey, CollectionOps.DictionaryValuesToArray(restrictions));
  }
}
```

Here we have made use of the `Dictionary` class located in the `System.Collection.Generic` namespace, which will store the restrictions as a key-value pair. The key is of string type and the values are of `ArchiveRestrictionInfo` type, which is a class that carries information such as `contact_id = 2` which could be used in a query of an `ArchiveProvider`.

Once this is done, we may create and assign different restrictions. The example shows how to assign restrictions to multiple types of data as well as user-defined fields.

<Note>
  When executing the code for a user, an error might occur based on the state of their database since they may not have some or all of the user-defined fields shown in the example. In such a case, the code will be executable once the user-defined fields have been commented out or removed.
</Note>

Once all the required restrictions have been added, the created restriction may be saved with the execution of the following statement.

```csharp CS theme={null}
using SuperOffice;
using SuperOffice.CRM.Services;
using SuperOffice.CRM.ArchiveLists;
using SuperOffice.CRM.Globalization;
using SuperOffice.Util;

using (SoSession mySession = SoSession.Authenticate("sam", "sam"))
{
  //Initializing the FindAgent
  using(FindAgent newFindAgt = new FindAgent())
  {
    //Declaration of the Local variable
    string storageType = "Criteria";
    string providerName = "findcontact";
    string storageKey = "associate=1236";
    string[] staticColumns = new string[] { "name", "firstName", "lastName" };

    //Making use of a method exposed in the FindAgent
    //GetAvailableRestrictionColumns - which Gets a list of
    //the column names corresponding to available restrictions for
    //a certain archive provider and restriction storage provider.
    string[] handledColumns = newFindAgt.GetAvailableRestrictionColumns(storageType, providerName);

    //GetSpecifiedCriteriaInformationWithDefaults - Get criteria information from a
    //set of saved criteria, for a specific set of columns.
    CriteriaInformation criteria = newFindAgt.GetSpecifiedCriteriaInformationWithDefaults(storageType, providerName, storageKey, handledColumns, staticColumns);

    //Represents a list of keys and values i.e columns and the conditions.
    Dictionary<string, ArchiveRestrictionInfo> restrictions = ArchiveRestrictionInfo.ToNameDictionary( criteria.Restrictions );

    //Setting the restriction for specific columns
    //Udef fields may not run depending on the database.
    //string values
    restrictions["lastName"].SetValue("Tester 5");
    restrictions["lastName"].IsActive = true;
    restrictions["firstName"].SetValue("Tester 5");
    restrictions["firstName"].Operator = "contains";
    restrictions["firstName"].IsActive = true;

    //int values
    restrictions["personId"].SetValue( "215" );
    restrictions["contactId"].SetValue( "100", "143" );
    restrictions["contactId"].Operator = "between";

    //list
    restrictions["position"].SetValue( "1" );
    restrictions["category"].SetValue( "1", "2", "3", "4" );

    //bool
    restrictions["nomailings"].SetValue(true.ToString());
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:6"].SetValue("1");

    //decimal
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:8"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(1.4));
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(1.8), CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDouble(2.6));
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].Operator = "between";
    restrictions["personUdef/SuperOffice:8"].IsActive = true;

    //datetime
    restrictions["contactUdef/SuperOffice:4"].SetValue(CultureDataFormatter.EncodeDate(DateTime.Now));

    //Save the restrictions so that it may be used later as search criteria
    newFindAgt.SaveRestrictions(storageType, providerName, storageKey, CollectionOps.DictionaryValuesToArray(restrictions));
  }
}
```

With the use of the `SaveRestriction` method exposed in the `IFindAgent` interface, the restriction will be saved so that it could later be used as a search criterion including dynamic search and find statements. The method requires the parameters:

* storageType
* providerName
* storageKey
* an array of ArchiveRestrictionInfo

Here we have made use of the `CollectionsOps` class exposed in the `SuperOffice.Util` class to convert between various collections of data. In this case, from `Dictionary` type to an array of `ArchiveRestrictionInfo` type.

[1]: ../iarchiveagent/using-criteria


## Related topics

- [How to use multiple criteria with the ArchiveAgent](/en/api/search/iarchiveagent/using-criteria.md)
- [SuperOffice.WebApi.Agents.FindAgent](/en/api/reference/webapi/SuperOffice.WebApi.Agents.FindAgent.md)
- [Find a contact using a udef field](/en/api/web-services/howto/custom-objects/find-contact-by-udef.md)
- [Get Criteria Information](/en/api/reference/restful/agent/find_agent/get-criteria-information.md)
- [Find From Restrictions Columns2](/en/api/reference/restful/agent/find_agent/find-from-restrictions-columns2.md)
- [Find From Restrictions2](/en/api/reference/restful/agent/find_agent/find-from-restrictions2.md)