XF 2.0 Use custom field or add own field if using for thread filter

[arms]

Which would you better for a simple string field with a choice with 3 selections but want to filter threads by it..
Will own field be better or can I just use custom thread field?

I am no programmer, but have manged this in XF1.5 be addding my own custom field and extending prepareThreadConditions,_getDisplayConditions and actionForum. but it would be must simpler to allow XF2 to mange the custom field as part of custom thread fields, but aware it put it in array, so would have to split it out.

 

[arms]

So trying with custom fields.

Trying by extending the forum controller with the applyForumFilters which works for fields that don't need to be unserialized.

Do i unserialize or is there a finder for custom thread fields?