# Applying Filters

Filters allow users to dynamically refine their data by selecting specific values from a dropdown in the chart view. This enhances the flexibility of visual analysis, making it easier to focus on relevant insights.

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#### **1. How Filters Work**

* **Adding a filter column** will generate a dropdown in the chart view, allowing users to **dynamically filter** the dataset.
* Users can **change filter values on the fly** without modifying the underlying dataset.
* **Filters do not modify the base SQL query** but instead **adjust the displayed data** within the visualization.

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#### **2. Configuring Filters**

To apply a filter:

1. **Select a column** to use as a filter.
2. **Ensure that it is not a calculated or user-defined field** (Only predefined dataset columns are allowed).
3. **Click on the filter chip** to open filter settings.
4. **Set default values (optional)**:
   * Choose a **default selection** for the filter.
   * Enable **multi-select** to allow multiple values.
5. **Click "Apply"** to save the changes.

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#### **3. Example of Filters**

**Without Filter Applied**

| ORDERDATE   | SALES     | MARKET       |
| ----------- | --------- | ------------ |
| Jan 1, 2012 | 28,570.44 | Asia Pacific |
| Jan 1, 2012 | 11,740.89 | Africa       |
| Jan 1, 2012 | 21,833.02 | LATAM        |

**After Applying a Filter on "Market" (User selects "Africa")**

| ORDERDATE   | SALES     | MARKET |
| ----------- | --------- | ------ |
| Jan 1, 2012 | 11,740.89 | Africa |

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#### **4. Customization Options**

* **Sorting**: Users can define a sort order for filter options.
* **Multi-Select**: Allows selection of multiple values instead of a single filter.
* **Default Value**: Admins can set a pre-selected value when the chart loads.

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#### **5. Benefits of Using Filters**

✔ **Interactivity** – Users can switch between filter values dynamically.\
✔ **Enhanced Data Exploration** – Helps in analyzing different subsets of data without reloading queries.\
✔ **Efficient Performance** – Filters do not require re-running SQL queries, making data interaction faster.

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#### **6. Applying Changes**

Once filters are configured:

* **Click Apply** to make the changes effective.
* The dropdown will appear in the chart view.
* Users can **change filter selections anytime** without modifying the underlying chart configuration.

Filters provide a seamless way to **customize, refine, and interact with data visualizations dynamically**, ensuring better insights with minimal effort.