A system for filtering items to be displayed on a graphical user interface provided to a client and for interaction by a user, the graphical user interface for a building automation system, is provided. The system includes a processor and memory communicably coupled to the processor. The memory includes computer code for allowing the user to create a filter definition via a computer based form. The memory further includes computer code for saving the created filter definition to memory and computer code for applying the saved filter definition to a set of building automation system data items. The memory yet further includes computer code for generating the graphical user interface, the graphical user interface including results of the applied filter definition.