Master Filtering in the Web Dashboard

• Sep 19, 2022
• 4 minutes to read

The Web Dashboard allows you to use a data-aware dashboard item^[1] as a filter for other dashboard items. This feature is called Master Filtering. End users can select elements in a Master Filter item (grid records, chart bars, pie segments, etc.) to filter data in other dashboard items by the selected values.

Master Filter Items

Each dashboard item falls into one of the following four groups to act as a master filter item or to affect a filter in a different way (for example, to isolate items or prevent them from being filtered).

Data Visualization Items

To use a data visualization item as a master filter item, specify the Master Filter mode.

The elements in items that can be used as filter values vary for each dashboard item. For example, the Chart dashboard item supports filtering by argument, series, or points, and the Grid item supports filtering by rows. For more information on Master Filtering in dashboard items, refer to the following articles:

• Chart
• Scatter Chart
• Grid
• Pies
• Cards
• Gauges
• Choropleth Map
• Geo Point Maps
• Treemap

Note

Pivot, Bound Image, and Text Box dashboard items cannot be used as a Master Filter.

Filter Elements

Filter Elements are designed to filter other dashboard items. Master Filtering is always enabled for these elements. You can change the selection type to select a single or multiple values, or allow an empty selection when no item is selected and the filter item does not affect other dashboard items.

The following filter elements are available in the Web Dashboard:

• Combo Box
• List Box
• Tree View
• Date Filter

Range Filter

Range Filter displays a chart with selection thumbs and allows you to filter values on the argument axis.

Containers

You can isolate master filter items inside the container from the master filter items outside the container.

The following containers are available in the Web Dashboard:

• Dashboard Item Group
• Tab Container

Master Filter Modes

To enable master filtering, go to the dashboard item’s Interactivity menu and use the Master Filtering Mode option.

The Master Filter item supports the following modes:

None

Disables master filtering.

Multiple

Allows you to select multiple elements in the Master Filter item. To reset filtering, use the Clear Master Filter button (the icon) in the dashboard item’s caption.

Single

Allows you to select only one element in the Master Filter item. When this mode is enabled, the default selection will be set to a Master Filter element. You can change this selection, but cannot clear it.

Filtering Across Data Sources

When different items in a dashboard are bound to different data sources, a Master Filter item can filter data across data sources.

The Master Filter item applies filters to fields across data sources when the following conditions are met:

• The field names must match the names of the fields in the current data source. For example, State and States are different fields.
• The fields must belong to the same hierarchy level so that their full names also match. For instance, Customer.City and Customer.Address.City are not treated as matching fields.

If the data sources contain fields with the same data, but the field names are different, you can use a calculated field. In the first data source, create a calculated field with the same name as the field from the other data source, and display the field values from the first data source. As a result, you get two fields with the same data and matching names.

To filter data across data sources, enable master filtering and click Cross-Data-Source Filtering in the dashboard item’s Interactivity menu.

Note

Make sure that the matching field is visible in the dashboard item. You cannot use a hidden field to filter across data sources.

Prevent Items from Being Filtered

You can prevent specific dashboard items from being affected by Master Filters. To do this, enable the Ignore Master Filters option in the dashboard item’s Interactivity menu.

If an item is in a container (in the Dashboard Item Group or Tab Page), the container’s settings affect the master filter’s scope. If an item in a group or a tab page has the Ignore Master Filters option enabled, the item ignores master filters from items in the same container and applies master filters from items outside the container, including items from other groups or tab pages.

Footnotes

1. Pivot, Bound Image, and Text Box dashboard items cannot be used as a Master Filter.