According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which a search request containing search criteria is received from a first user. The search criteria include at least one search category. Filter search specification associated with the at least one search category is determined. The filter search specification is used to specify a particular type of records in the at least one search criteria to be selected for the search request. A search is performed based upon the filter search specification and the search criteria to identify records that match filter search specification and the search criteria.