New

Persistent Custom Filters Folder + Dropdown Loader in Advanced Display Filter

Problem

Currently, in Trados Studio’s Advanced Display Filter, you can save custom filters and later import them. However, every time you need to load a saved filter, you must manually browse to the folder where you stored it, locate the file, and import it again.

  • You have to remember where you saved each filter.

  • The process is repetitive and breaks workflow, especially when switching between multiple custom filters (e.g., “Segments with Tags + Unlocked”, “Only Locked”, “Long Target”, etc.).

  • There is no way to define a default filters folder or see a simple dropdown list of your saved filters inside the UI.

Why this is important

  • Speed – A translator might apply a custom filter dozens of times per project. Browsing every single time is a significant time sink.

  • User experience – A dropdown is a standard UI pattern for quick access. It would align with other Studio panels (e.g., saved searches in Find/Replace).

  • High-demand filters – Some advanced combinations, such as “Segments containing tags + Unlocked”, are very difficult to recreate manually each time. Being able to save such a filter and load it in one click is a highly requested feature.

  • Organization – If the dropdown could also support categories/folders (e.g., “QA filters”, “Length filters”, “Tag filters”), that would be ideal for power users.

Proposed solution

  1. Add a setting in Advanced Display Filter preferences:

    • Default custom filters folder – user browses once to select a folder. Ideally Trados would remember the path of this folder every time and not have to make the user browser for it everytime Studio is opened. 

  2. Add a dropdown list next to the “Load”/“Import” button (or replace the current file‑browse action with a dropdown).

    • The dropdown automatically lists all *.sdladfsettings  filter files found in that folder.

    • Selecting an item from the dropdown loads the filter instantly.

  3. (Optional but ideal) Allow subfolders inside the main folder to appear as categories in the dropdown (e.g., via indentation or a nested menu).

Example use case

A user saves a filter called Tags + Unlocked - Medium Length.tdf in their default folder. Later, they open the Advanced Display Filter, click the dropdown, see that filter name, select it – and the filter is applied immediately. No browsing, no hunting.
Screenshot of the Advanced Display Filter 2.0 interface in Trados Studio, showing filter options and a dropdown labeled 'My Custom Filters' with two saved filters: 'Tags + Unlocked (very useful)' and 'Only Locked - short first'. A cartoon character with a speech bubble says, 'Wait... I can load filters in one click now? Magic!'

Sameh Elsharkawy