Filter options

Building BI filters charts by column data type and by filter type. This reference lists operators for String, Numeric, DateTime, and Boolean columns. It also covers metric filters, Top N filters, and multi-widget filter behaviors.

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Filter types

Standard filters apply to one chart in the Chart Parameters Setup tab. Cross filters, slicers, page filters, and dashboard filters can affect many widgets. Use Edit Scope to control which widgets a cross filter or slicer impacts. Configure page and dashboard filters in the Filter panel. A metric filter is an alternative to a standard filter. It keeps rows based on an aggregation such as Sum, Count, or Max. Bar, Line, Pie, Time Series, and Table charts also support a Top N filter. Top N limits the chart to the top or bottom N values in a column. Use it mainly for focus and styling.

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Operators by data type

The filter UI adapts to the data type of the selected column.

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String

Starts with · Doesn't Start with · Ends with · Contains · Doesn't Contain · Equals · Not Equal · In · Not in · Is null · Is not null · Is blank · Is not blank The null and blank operators take no value. The value input is hidden and null is sent to the backend.

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Numeric

Greater Than · Greater than or equals · Less than · Less than or equals · Between · Not between · Equals · Not equal · In · Not in · Is not a number Not between treats both bounds as exclusive. Is not a number takes no value.

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Boolean

True · False · Is null · Is not null

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Date and time

Date and time filters offer these time-range types: Granularity options for Specific Range with Granularity:

• Date columns: Year, Year-Quarter, Year-Month, Year-Week, Quarter, Month, Week, Day of Year, Day of Month, Day of Week.
• DateTime columns: all of the above plus Date, Date-Hour, Date-Half-Hour, Date-Hour-15min, Date-Hour-Minute, Hour, Minute.

Minute and Hour units appear only for DateTime columns. See Timezone configuration for how filter time ranges anchor to a timezone.

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Metric filters

A metric filter keeps rows based on an aggregation of a column, not the raw column values. For example, keep devices where the count of alarms is greater than 10. Configure a metric filter in this order:

1. Choose an aggregation, such as Count, Count Distinct, Sum, Min, Max, or Average.
2. Set the Show Value When operator and value.

Show Value When uses the same operators as a Numeric filter, including Equals, In, Greater Than, and Is not a number. For String columns, the available aggregations are Count and Count Distinct only. If you select a metric column instead of a raw column, Building BI skips the aggregation step. You configure only Show Value When and the operator.

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Top N filters

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Interaction widgets and behaviors

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Multi-widget filter matching

Slicers and other multi-widget filters work across different data sources when the underlying database column names match exactly. Display names do not matter. For example, filtering on device_name in a Real-Time data source updates a Last Value widget when that source also uses the exact device_name column. Prefer ID columns such as device_id when names can change. See Column reference.

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Filter interdependence

Filters applied to a dataset restrict the options available in other filters. If a value is missing from a dropdown, current filter combinations have likely excluded it.

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Filter scope hierarchy

Which filter types can affect others, and which they can exclude from scope: A filter can only exclude (scope out) filters at or below its own level. New widgets are affected by existing filters by default, so re-check exclusions as a dashboard grows. Use scopes when one widget must stay as an unfiltered reference (for example, a portfolio benchmark card) while a slicer updates the rest of the page. Excluded widgets also skip re-query when that filter changes.

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Slicer filters

A slicer holds one filter. The operator is fixed by the column data type:

• String → In (single or multi-select)
• Boolean → Equals (single select)
• Number → Between (min/max slider)
• Date/Time → Current, Previous, Last, or Specific

Slicer selections persist as the dashboard’s initial state. They are sent to the backend under slicerFilters. Dashboard, page, and cross filters can affect slicers. Slicers cannot be metric filters.

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Next steps