Filtering Tools
Learn how to use the platform's filtering tools to find exactly the content you're looking for.
Overview
3D Policy offers powerful filtering tools that allow you to narrow down content based on various criteria. These tools help you find relevant publications quickly and efficiently, even when navigating through large amounts of content.
Why Filtering Matters
Effective filtering helps you:
- Find publications on specific topics within broader categories
- Discover content relevant to your research interests
- Stay updated on new publications in your areas of expertise
- Create personalized content feeds based on your preferences
- Combine multiple criteria to find highly specific content
Thematic Tags (Default)
Using Thematic Tags
Thematic tags are the primary way to filter content on the platform. Each publication is tagged with relevant themes, allowing you to find content on specific topics regardless of which program or department it belongs to.
How to Use Thematic Tags:
- From any Articles & Publications page, locate the "Filter by Tags" section in the sidebar
- Browse the available tags or use the search box to find specific tags
- Click on a tag to filter the content to show only publications with that tag
- Select multiple tags to further refine your results (publications must have all selected tags)
- Click the "X" next to a tag to remove it from your filter
Popular Thematic Tags:
Tag Hierarchy:
Thematic tags are organized in a hierarchical structure, with broader themes containing more specific subtags. For example:
- Climate Change (parent tag)
- Carbon Markets
- Climate Adaptation
- Renewable Energy
When you filter by a parent tag, you'll see all content tagged with that tag or any of its subtags.
Continents & Regions
Geographic Filtering
In addition to program-based organization, you can filter content by specific continents, regions, or countries. This allows for more granular geographic filtering than the broader program categories.
Geographic Filter Levels:
- Continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania
- Regions: Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Western Europe, etc.
- Countries: Individual country filters
How to Use Geographic Filters:
- From any Articles & Publications page, locate the "Geographic Filters" section in the sidebar
- Expand the continent or region you're interested in
- Select a specific region or country to filter content
- Combine geographic filters with thematic tags for more precise results
Note on Geographic Tagging:
Publications are tagged with all relevant geographic areas they cover. For example, a publication about EU-Africa relations would be tagged with both "Europe" and "Africa" and would appear in searches for either continent.
Topics & Keywords (Personalized Tags)
Personalized Filtering
3D Policy allows you to create and save personalized filters based on your specific interests. These personalized filters can combine multiple criteria and be saved for future use.
Creating Personalized Filters:
- Apply your desired combination of filters (thematic tags, geographic filters, etc.)
- Click the "Save Filter" button in the filter panel
- Name your filter (e.g., "Climate Policy in Southeast Asia")
- Choose whether to receive notifications for new content matching this filter
- Access your saved filters from the "My Filters" section of your profile
Keyword Search:
In addition to tag-based filtering, you can use the keyword search function to find content containing specific terms:
- Use the search bar at the top of any Articles & Publications page
- Enter keywords related to your topic of interest
- Use quotation marks for exact phrase matching (e.g., "carbon pricing")
- Combine keyword search with other filters for more precise results
Advanced Search Techniques:
- Use AND between terms to require both (e.g., climate AND finance)
- Use OR between terms to match either (e.g., renewable OR sustainable)
- Use NOT to exclude terms (e.g., energy NOT nuclear)
- Use * for wildcard searches (e.g., econom* will match economy, economic, economics)
Filter Combinations & Best Practices
For the most effective content discovery, consider these best practices:
- Start broad, then narrow: Begin with a general category or tag, then add more specific filters
- Combine different filter types: Mix thematic tags with geographic filters for more precise results
- Save your common searches: Create personalized filters for topics you frequently research
- Use the "Related Content" feature: When viewing a publication, explore related content suggestions
- Follow tags: Subscribe to notifications for new content with specific tags of interest
Remember that you can always clear all filters by clicking the "Clear Filters" button to start a new search.