For table layouts where the column property holds a dropdown control, our client wants the filter popup for that column to show the associated code descriptions rather than the actual code values. Of course, the column property for the dropdown holds the actual code value and we use a data page to source the dropdown.

Is there something I am missing that can instruct Pega to show the associated description of the code value rather than the code itself? 

The simplest OOB solution that I can come up with is to use the Filter By "Format" option in the column properties.

Unfortunately, the end result is not ideal and our client does not want to see the actual dropdown in the filter popup.

I can give the client exactly what it wants by

1. Defining a separate property that represents the description of that code property
2. Populate the description property during initialization of the table's page list
3. Populate the description property during Change event of column property
4. Creating embedded section for the actual dropdown property and including the dropdown within embedded section
5. Configure the description property as the filter property within the Column Properties tab (which only seems to be available if the column cell content is an embedded section)

Here is the end result that the client really wants...

Please tell me there's an easier way as this is a lot of work for just one dropdown column. Can you imagine if there are table layouts with several dropdowns :-(.