Filter versus control
A filter is applied by you and the reader cannot change it. A filter control is a component the reader interacts with.
Both have their place: a filter to exclude internal traffic permanently, a control to let people choose a region.
Where filters can be applied
| Level | Applies to |
|---|---|
| Chart | That component only |
| Group | Selected components |
| Page | Every chart on the page |
| Report | Every chart in the report |
| Data source | Everything using that source |
Right-click a component for group-level; use the Page and File menus for the broader scopes. Putting a permanent exclusion at data-source level means nobody can forget it.
Filter controls
Add → Control gives dropdown lists, fixed-size lists, input boxes, sliders, checkboxes and advanced filters.
In Setup, a control field is the dimension it filters on, and you can show a metric beside each value — the count or revenue next to each region, which helps people choose.
A control affects every chart on the page using a source that contains that field. To limit its reach, group the control with specific charts and set the group as its scope.
Common problems
A control only affects charts whose data source contains the control field. Blend one chart and not another, and the control silently applies to only one of them.
Also: a control with hundreds of values is unusable as a dropdown. Use a search input box instead.
Advanced filters
The advanced filter control lets a reader build conditions — contains, starts with, greater than. Powerful, but most audiences want two or three sensible dropdowns rather than a query builder.