Grid Filtering on null DropDownList Item

[Don]

I am trying to filter the Grid based on what the user types.  One of my fields is a drop down list and if the foreignKey ID is null the filter breaks because it cannot get the value.  

The field is Gender.  Is there a way to first check if Gender_Id is null before I check Gender_Types.Gender?  Because if Gender_Id is null then so is Gender_Types.

Here is my code:



// Filter the Grid as a user types
    $("#Search").on("keyup click input", function () {
        grid = $("#Grid").data("kendoGrid");
        var searchFilter = { logic: "and", filters: [] };

        if (this.value.length > 0) {
            var search = this.value.trim();
            var search_array = search.split(" ");
            for (var i = 0; i < search_array.length; i++) {
                var filter = { logic: "or", filters: [] };

                filter.filters.push({ field: "Full_Name", operator: "contains", value: search_array[i] });
                filter.filters.push({ field: "Gender_Types.Gender", operator: "contains", value: search_array[i] });

                searchFilter.filters.push(filter);
            }

            grid.dataSource.query({ filter: searchFilter });

            // When done filtering select page one otherwise no page is selected
            grid.dataSource.page(1);

        } else {
            grid.dataSource.query({ filter: searchFilter });

            // When done filtering select page one otherwise no page is selected
            grid.dataSource.page(1);
        }
    });

[Petur Subev]

Hello Donald,

Filtering/grouping/editing etc. on a nested field is not really supported - we strongly recommend to flatten the data before showing it into the Grid.

What kind of dataSource operations do you use? Do you use serverFiltering set to true or to false?

In case you are using server side operation you can implement custom filtering and handle that null checking logic manually.

http://docs.telerik.com/kendo-ui/aspnet-mvc/helpers/grid/custom-binding#custom-ajax-binding

If using client side operations you can try to filter with a custom operator:

http://www.telerik.com/forums/custom-filtering-7b617857877c#prkw13DE9E2pMvYMcx-6Hg

Kind Regards,
Petur Subev
Telerik