Sqlite.swift create dynamic complex queries

Question

I have 1 table with multiple columns. On the app, we are looking forward to add 4 dynamic filters like (cat, size, color,shape).

We know we can create a filter to sqllite like so:

user = user.select(name) 
        .filter((color == "Blue") && (size = "Big") && (cat="a") && (shape="round")) 
        .order(name.asc, name) // ORDER BY "email" DESC, "name"
        .limit(5, offset: 0)

But what happens if a filter, let's say that for color we want to search for all colors. Then,

.filter((color == "?????") && (size = "Big") && (cat="a") && (shape="round"))

Any ideas on how to create dynamic filters for this case?

Answer 1

The filter() method takes an Expression<Bool> argument, and compound expressions can be created dynamically with the logical operators &&, ||, etc.

Simple example:

// Start with "true" expression (matches all records):
var myFilter = Expression<Bool>(value: true)

// Dynamically add boolean expressions:
if shouldFilterColor {
    myFilter = myFilter && (color == "Blue")
}
if shouldFilterSize {
    myFilter = myFilter && (size == "Big")
}
// ... etc ...

// Use compound filter:
query = user.select(name) 
        .filter(myFilter) 
        .order(name.asc, name)
        .limit(5, offset: 0)