How to label filters that filter on overlapping date ranges

Question

I am looking for the appropropriate labeling for filters that search an event that is active within the provided date range.

Filters:
Ends after <date input>
Starts before <date input>

Result:
+-----+------+---------+
| ... | From | Through |
+-----+------+---------+

The (pseudocode) implementation of these filters is as follows:

endsAfter.HasValue && endsAfter <= Through
startsBefore.HasValue && startsBefore >= From

I have labeled them Ends after and Starts before for now but I'm wondering if there are better alternatives.

The purpose of this screen is to find Group Reservations for a hotel. These filters are used to see which groups are in-house during the selected time period. — Jonathan, Mar 16 '17 at 12:17
I think you already gave some alternatives for you: 1. Time period, 2. Date range 3. Start/Beginning - End. I am a little bit confused why you want to say "Starts before" and not "Starts", "Ends after" and not "Ends". Is it about flexibility? — Dimitra Miha, Mar 16 '17 at 12:18
I would interpret "Starts" as the exact date that the event starts — Jonathan, Mar 16 '17 at 14:36

Paul van den Dool · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-16 12:23:11Z

1

The labels Ends after and Starts before make sense for you as the developer. You need to search for events that:

The users just wants to see what events are active during a number of days (weeks / whatever). I would suggest:

Show events that are active between [start-date-input] and [end-date-input]

Or at least something in the same line.
You could also try using a date range selector.

Good luck.

answered Mar 16 '17 at 12:23

Paul van den Dool

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This way of displaying it is not working for me: • Either date is optional, this representation doesn't show that. • The example is simplified, this page has over dozen+ filters • Doesn't need to be this verbose, all users are trained staff – Jonathan Mar 16 '17 at 14:33
Then, your current solution might be best. Not many weeks ago I tried changing similar labels in the enterprise application the company I work at build. Only to meet resistance by the user who were trained staff as well. – Paul van den Dool Mar 16 '17 at 14:46
@PaulvandenDool This is most of the times the case. The trained staff are afraid of the change, without realizing that it might be better for them. – Dimitra Miha Mar 16 '17 at 15:22

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