What the rules are for a filter ID and filter name

Every VICIdial Lead filter has two name fields, and they follow different rules. The Filter ID is a strict, permanent code; the Filter Name is a relaxed, editable label. Getting the ID right the first time matters, because unlike the name, you do not get a second chance to change it.

The Filter ID rules

The Filter ID is the short internal identifier for a Filter. It has the tightest rules of any field on the screen, and the add form will reject your submission if you break any of them.

• Letters and numbers only — no spaces, no punctuation, no symbols.
• Unique — you cannot reuse an ID that already exists in the system.
• Permanent — once saved it cannot be edited, ever.
• Length — the add screen accepts 2 to 10 characters; the modify view notes a ceiling of up to 20, with a minimum of 2 either way.

Why the ID is locked

flowchart TD
  A[Campaign references filter by ID] --> B[Filter ID stays fixed]
  B --> C[Reference always resolves]
  A --> D[If ID could change]
  D --> E[Old references break silently]
  E --> F[Wrong leads dial]

The ID is what a Campaign or user stores as its pointer to the filter. If the ID could change after the fact, every stored reference would risk pointing at nothing. Locking it means those links stay reliable for the life of the filter — the trade-off being that a real rename means delete-and-recreate. It is a small inconvenience that buys a lot of stability.

The Filter Name and Comments

The Filter Name is the friendly, descriptive label — something like California fresh leads. It is required alongside the ID, runs from 2 to 30 characters, and unlike the ID it can be edited freely later. Filter Comments are optional free text up to 255 characters, with a 2-character minimum if you fill them in, and they are the place to jot down what the rule actually does for the next admin.

These limits are easy to forget until a submission bounces. Leaving the ID or name blank rejects the form outright, and slipping a space or hyphen into the ID does the same. Keep the ID clean and the rest is forgiving — names and comments you can refine over time, the ID you choose once. When you are naming a batch of filters, it helps to agree on a short convention up front, such as a region prefix plus a purpose, so every ID reads the same way to whoever opens the list later.

With the naming sorted, the next piece is the rule itself. For where filters sit alongside the rest of your call-quality tools, the quality-control guide lays it out, and the QC setup walkthrough shows the broader configuration.

VICIfast runs a managed VICIdial box where the Filters section is ready to configure, live in under 40 seconds. See our plans and pricing.