How do I add multiple Criteria selections usling a List(of Func(of DataRow, Boolean)?

[Christhemist]

I am selecting records in a datagridview using a user input criteria with the code below. However, I am wanting to use multiple search criteria's as the user feels needed. The code I have works, it finds the qualifying records and turns them red, but when I search for another criteria it turns the previous records back to the color black.

Private Sub DataGridView1_RowPrePaint(sender As Object,
        e As DataGridViewRowPrePaintEventArgs) Handles DataGridView1.RowPrePaint
        If (e.RowIndex < 0 OrElse e.RowIndex = DataGridView1.NewRowIndex) Then Return
        Dim row = DataGridView1.Rows(e.RowIndex)
        If (String.IsNullOrEmpty(Filter)) Then
            row.DefaultCellStyle.ForeColor = Color.Black
        Else
            Dim data = DirectCast(DataGridView1.Rows(e.RowIndex).DataBoundItem,
                DataRowView).Row
            If data.Field(Of String)(ColumnName).ToLower() _
                                                 .StartsWith(Filter.ToLower()) Then
                row.DefaultCellStyle.ForeColor = Color.Red
                DataGridView1(0, row.Index).Value = True
            Else
                row.DefaultCellStyle.ForeColor = Color.Black
            End If
        End If
    End Sub

And here is the search form code:

Sorter.Filter = ItemToFind
            Sorter.DataGridView1.Invalidate()

[jmcilhinney]

Firstly, not that "criteria" is already a plural. There's no such thing as "criterias". There is one criterion and many criteria.

As for your question, criteria are simply Boolean expressions. How do you usually combine Boolean expressions? Using AND and/or OR operators, right? So, if you want to highlight rows that match two criteria then you would combine the two expressions with an AndAlso operator. If you want an arbitrary number of criteria then you can put them in an array or collection and then call All, e.g.

Dim criteria = {Function(s As String) s.StartsWith("A"),
                Function(s As String) s.EndsWith("z")}
 
Dim result1 = criteria.All(Function(f) f("Adam"))
Dim result2 = criteria.All(Function(f) f("Aziz"))

In that case, 'result1' will be False because not all the functions in the array return True when passed the value "Adam" while 'result2' will be True all functions do return True when fed "Aziz".

[Christhemist]

How is this implemented into my current code? Thanks

[jmcilhinney]

How is this implemented into my current code? Thanks

However you decide to implement it when you take the time to think about it.