How to filter for multiple criteria in Excel?

Question

I am trying to filter for multiple criteria, but I see that the "Filter" option only has 2 fields for "AND/OR" options. I have a column full of links. I want to extract all rows that contain these in it:

.pdf .doc .docx .xls .xlsx .rtf .txt .csv .pps

Is there a good way to do this?

Answer 1

The regular filter options in Excel don't allow for more than 2 criteria settings. To do 2+ criteria settings, you need to use the Advanced Filter option. Below are the steps I did to try this out.

http://www.bettersolutions.com/excel/EDZ483/QT419412321.htm

Set up the criteria. I put this above the values I want to filter. You could do that or put on a different worksheet. Note that putting the criteria in rows will make it an 'OR' filter and putting them in columns will make it an 'AND' filter.

1. E1 : Letters
2. E2 : =m
3. E3 : =h
4. E4 : =j

I put the data starting on row 5:

1. A5 : Letters
2. A6 :
3. A7 :
4. ...

Select the first data row (A6) and click the Advanced Filter option. The List Range should be pre-populated. Select the Criteria range as E1:E4 and click OK.

That should be it. Note that I use the '=' operator. You will want to use something a bit different to test for file extensions.