> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.supaboard.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Add Filters to Your Dashboard

> Filters let you and your viewers interactively slice dashboard data without changing the underlying queries. A single filter can control multiple charts and tables at once: for example, a Region filter that updates every widget on the page the moment someone picks a region from the dropdown.

## Before You Begin

* You need **edit access** to the dashboard.
* Your dashboard must have at least one widget (chart, KPI, or table) connected to a data source.
* Filters work by matching columns in your widget queries — the filter panel will only show columns that exist in your data.

***

## Step 1 — Open the Filter Panel

1. Open the dashboard you want to edit.
2. Click the **Edit** button (top-right of the dashboard toolbar) to enter edit mode.
3. In the toolbar, click **Insert Filter**.

The **Insert Filter** panel slides in from the right side of the screen.

***

## Step 2 — Give the Filter a Label

At the top of the panel, type a clear, descriptive label for your filter. This is what viewers will see on the dashboard.

**Good labels:**

* `Region`
* `Date Range`
* `Order Status`
* `Product Category`

***

## Step 3 — Choose a Filter Type

Click the **Filter Type** dropdown and choose the type that matches the kind of data you want to filter.

| Filter Type         | Use when the column contains…                      | What the viewer sees                            |
| ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| **Category**        | A fixed set of values (status, region, department) | A dropdown or multi-select list                 |
| **Date / DateTime** | Dates or timestamps                                | A date picker, month, quarter, or year selector |
| **String**          | Free-form text (names, IDs, descriptions)          | A search box or multi-select                    |
| **Integer**         | Whole numbers (count, rank, age)                   | A number input                                  |
| **Numeric**         | Decimal numbers (price, percentage)                | A number input                                  |
| **Boolean**         | True/False flags (is\_active, has\_license)        | A toggle or true/false dropdown                 |

***

## Step 4 — Select the Columns to Filter

After choosing a type, the panel shows all columns in your dashboard queries that match that type. Check the box next to every column you want this filter to control.

> **Tip:** If a column you expect isn't listed, make sure the widget is connected to a data source and the column type matches the filter type you selected.

***

## Step 5 — Configure the Filter Behavior

This step varies by filter type.

### Category filters

Choose a **Selection Mode**:

* **Single value** — the viewer can pick only one option at a time (good for toggling a status or picking a single region).
* **Multiple values** — the viewer can select several options at once (good for comparing across regions or categories).

***

### Date / DateTime filters

Choose a **Date Operator** — this determines what kind of date control the viewer sees:

| Operator       | What the viewer sees                           |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Date Range** | Two calendar date pickers (start and end date) |
| **Month**      | A month selector                               |
| **Quarter**    | A quarter selector (Q1 – Q4)                   |
| **Year**       | A year dropdown                                |

***

### String filters

Choose an **Operator**:

* **Fuzzy Search (Like)** — the viewer types part of a value and the filter applies a partial-match search. Best for names, descriptions, IDs.
* **Category Style (In)** — the viewer picks from a list of values fetched from the database. Best for columns that have a manageable set of values.

***

## Step 6 — Set a Default Value (Optional)

If you want the filter to start pre-filled when the dashboard loads, expand the **Default Value** section and choose a value.

**By filter type:**

* **Category / String (In):** Click the input and select from suggested values.
* **Date Range:** Use the calendar to pick a start and end date. You can also choose a **relative period** like *This month*, *Last 7 days*, *Last 3 months*, *This year*, etc.
* **Month / Quarter / Year:** Select from the respective picker.
* **Integer / Numeric:** Type a number.
* **Boolean:** Choose **True**, **False**, or leave it unset.

> **Tip:** Relative date defaults like *This month* always resolve to the current calendar period when the dashboard loads, so you don't need to update them each month.

***

## Step 7 — Save the Filter

Click **Insert Filter** at the bottom of the panel.

The filter widget appears in the **filter bar** at the top of your dashboard, just above the widgets. You can now interact with it or continue adding more filters.

***

## Using Filters on Your Dashboard

Once filters are on the dashboard, anyone with view access can use them:

* **Category / String filters:** Click the dropdown and select one or more values. The widgets update instantly.
* **Date Range filters:** Click the calendar icon, pick a start and end date, and confirm. The widgets reload with the selected range.
* **Month / Quarter / Year filters:** Click the control and select the desired period.
* **Integer / Numeric filters:** Click and type a value.
* **Boolean filters:** Toggle or select True/False from the dropdown.
* **Clear a filter:** Click the **×** on the filter widget to remove the current value and return to unfiltered data (or the default value if one was configured).

***

## Editing an Existing Filter

1. Hover over the filter widget in the filter bar while in edit mode.
2. Click the **⋯** (menu) icon that appears.
3. Click **Edit Filter**.
4. The same configuration panel opens with the filter's current settings.
5. Make your changes and click **Save Changes**.

***

## Deleting a Filter

1. Open the filter's edit panel (see above).
2. Click **Delete Filter** at the bottom of the panel.
3. The filter widget is removed from the dashboard and any values it held are cleared.

> **Note:** Deleting a filter does not affect your widget data or queries. It only removes the interactive control.

***

## Tips and Best Practices

**Match filter type to column type.** A `Category` filter on a numeric column won't show any columns to select — the types must align.

**Use multi-column filters to keep dashboards DRY.** If 3 widgets all have an `order_status` column, one category filter that targets all three is better than three separate filters.

**Set defaults for time-sensitive dashboards.** A date filter with a default of *This month* means the dashboard always opens showing current-month data — no manual selection needed.

**Layer filters for complex analysis.** Filters stack — a viewer can select a Region *and* a Date Range at the same time, and both are applied to all widgets simultaneously.

**Fewer filters is better.** Too many filters overwhelm viewers. Aim for 3–5 filters per dashboard. If you need more, consider splitting the dashboard.

***

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: A column I expect isn't showing up in the column selector.**\
A: Check that (1) the widget is connected to a live data source and (2) the filter type you selected matches the column's data type. For example, a date column won't appear in a *Category* filter.

**Q: The filter widget is on the dashboard but doesn't seem to affect any widgets.**\
A: Open the filter for editing and verify that at least one column is selected. If all columns were deselected, the filter has nothing to apply to.

**Q: Can I filter to multiple values at once?**\
A: Yes — when configuring a Category or String (In) filter, choose **Multiple values** as the selection mode.

**Q: Can I hide a filter from viewers but still have it apply a value?**\
A: Yes, on **embedded dashboards** you can set a filter to *Hidden with Preset* — the value is applied silently without showing the control to the viewer. See [Embedded Dashboard Filters](/add-filters-and-environments-in-embedded-dashboard-programatically) for details.

**Q: How do I scope an embedded dashboard to a specific customer or tenant?**\
A: Use the hidden-preset filter mode on embeds, or pass filter values as a URL parameter (`?filter=<base64-json>`). See [Embedded Dashboard Filters](/add-filters-and-environments-in-embedded-dashboard-programatically).