Using Detail Report Filters

Use a Basic Report Filter

About Basic Report Filters

For certain report objects, you can subset your data by using the Filters tab in the right pane of the designer. You can base your filters on any data item in the current data source for this report object, regardless of whether the data item is assigned to a report object in the current report.
Note: If you have multiple basic filters, the designer assumes that there is an AND operator between the filters.

Create a Basic Report Filter

To create a basic report filter:
  1. If it is not already selected, select the report object in the canvas that you want to filter. The report object must have at least one data item assigned.
    Tip
    Clear the Auto-update check box above the report canvas until you are ready to apply your filter changes.
  2. In the right pane, click the Filters tab.
  3. Click the down arrow button beside the Add Filter button, and select a data item from the list. Then, click Add Filter. The filter appears on the tab.
  4. Select the data values for the filter.
    Tip
    Use the arrow to the left of the filter name on the Filters tab to expand or collapse the filter details when you are working with multiple filters.
    • For a basic filter that uses discrete values, a check box is displayed for each distinct value that uses the current format applied to the data item. To the right of each value, a bar indicates the frequency. Select the data values that you want to filter or clear the selections for the data values that you do not want to filter. Select All to select all of the values.
      Here is an example of a basic filter for discrete values:
      A Basic Report Filter with Check Boxes for Each Discrete Value
    • For a filter that uses continuous values, a slider shows you the maximum values and the minimum values that exist for the data item using the current data item format. Use the slider to select a range of target values.
      Here is an example of a basic filter for continuous values:
      A Basic Report Filter with a Slider for Continuous Values
  5. (Optional) If your data contains missing values, and you want to exclude those missing values from your report, then clear the Include missing values check box.
  6. Click the Options button (to the left of the delete icon) for options. The available options depend on whether you are filtering characters, dates, or numerics. You can sort the values or frequencies in the filter.
    The following options are available:
    Option
    Availability
    Edit Filter
    This option is always available.
    Delete Filter
    This option is always available.
    Filter Detail Values
    This option is available only for detail values.
    Filter Aggregated Values
    This option is available only for aggregated values.
    Filter using continuous values
    This option is available only for measure data items.
    Filter using discrete values
    This option is available for measure and category data items.
    Include Missing Values
    This option is available when you filter continuous values. It works the same as selecting the Include missing values check box.
    Exclude Missing Values
    This option is available when you filter continuous values. It works the same as clearing the Include missing values check box.
    Select All
    This option is available when you filter discrete values. It selects all of the current discrete values that are listed. This option does not affect the Include missing values setting.
    Clear All
    This option is available when you filter discrete values. It clears the selections of all of the current discrete values that are listed. This option does not affect the Include missing values setting.
    Invert Selection
    This option is available when you filter discrete values. It changes all of the discrete value check boxes so that if they are selected, then they are cleared. If they are cleared, then they are selected. This option does not affect the Include missing values setting.
    Sort by Values
    This option enables you to sort by the values in the filter.
    Sort by Frequency
    This option enables you to sort by the frequencies in the filter.
    Show Selected at Top
    This option is available for basic filters that use discrete values.
  7. (Optional) If you cleared the Auto-update check box above the report canvas while you worked on your filter, then select it when you are ready to apply your filter changes.

Edit a Basic Report Filter

To edit a basic report filter:
  1. If it is not already selected, select the report object in the canvas that you want to filter. The report object must have at least one data item assigned.
  2. In the right pane, click the Filters tab.
  3. Click the Options button beside the filter name. Then, select Edit Filter. The Edit Filter window is displayed.
    the Edit Filter window
  4. Edit the expression for your filter.
    • You can drag and drop conditions and operators onto the expression on the Visual tab in the right pane.
    • You can enter the expression on the Text tab in the right pane.
    • You can create an expression using both the Visual and Text tabs in the right pane.
    For information, see Conditions for Filters.
    Note: The AND and OR operators can accept more than two conditions. To add a condition to the operator, drag and drop a condition onto the operator name in the right pane. For example, to add a third condition to an AND operator, drag and drop the new condition onto AND in the expression.
    Tip
    Right-click the AND or OR operator in the expression, and then select Addthen selectNew Condition.
  5. Click OK to apply the filter.

Delete a Basic Report Filter

To delete a basic report filter, click the remove filter button beside the filter on the Filters tab.

Use an Advanced Report Filter

About Advanced Report Filters

For most report objects, you can create advanced filters to subset your data by using the Filters tab in the right pane of the designer.
Advanced filters enable you to create filters that use more than one data item.
Here are some key points about advanced filters:
  • Advanced filters that are created in the explorer might contain expressions that you cannot create in the designer.
  • Advanced global filters that are created in the explorer are supported by the designer, but you cannot create advanced global filters in the designer.

Create an Advanced Report Filter

To create an advanced report filter:
  1. If it is not already selected, select the report object in the canvas that you want to filter. The report object must have at least one data item assigned.
    Tip
    Clear the Auto-update check box above the report canvas until you are ready to apply your filter changes.
  2. In the right pane, click the Filters tab.
  3. Click the Options button to select Advanced instead of a specific data item.
  4. Click Add Filter. The Edit Advanced Filter window is displayed.
    Edit Advanced Filter window
  5. Specify a Filter name. The filter name identifies the advanced filter on the Filters tab.
  6. Create a condition for the filter. You can use the Visual tab, Text tab, or a combination of both tabs.
    To create a condition using the Visual tab:
    1. From the Data Items list, select the data item on which the condition is based.
    2. From the Column Templates list, select a condition. For information, see Conditions for Filters.
    3. Drag and drop the condition onto the expression.
    4. For any required parameters, select the parameter, and enter a value, or right-click on the parameter field, and select Replace with to select a data item.
  7. (Optional) Add operators to the expression. You can use the Visual tab, Text tab, or a combination of both tabs.
    To add operators using the Visual tab:
    1. From the Operators list, select an operator to join the conditions in your expression. For more information, see Conditions for Filters.
    2. Drag and drop the operator onto the expression.
    3. From the Column Templates list, select another condition. Then, drag and drop the additional condition onto the expression. Complete any required parameters.
      Tip
      Right-click the AND or OR operator in the expression, and then select Addthen selectNew Condition.
  8. Click OK to apply the filter.
  9. (Optional) If you cleared the Auto-update check box above the report canvas while you worked on your filter, then select it when you are ready to apply your filter changes.

Edit an Advanced Report Filter

To edit an advanced report filter:
  1. If it is not already selected, select the report object in the canvas that you want to filter. The report object must have at least one data item assigned.
  2. In the right pane, click the Filters tab.
  3. Click the Options button beside the advanced filter name. Then, select Edit Filter. The Edit Advanced Filter window is displayed.
  4. Edit or add a condition for the filter. You can use the Visual tab, Text tab, or a combination of both tabs.
    To add conditions using the Visual tab:
    1. From the Data Items list, select the data item on which the condition is based.
    2. From the Column Templates list, select a condition. For more information, see Conditions for Filters.
    3. Drag and drop the condition onto the expression.
    4. For any required parameters, select the parameter, and enter a value, or right-click the parameter field, and select Replace with to select a data item.
  5. (Optional) Replace a condition by dragging and dropping a new condition onto the existing condition in the expression on the Visual tab. Or, remove a condition using the Text tab.
  6. (Optional) Add an operator to the expression. You can use the Visual tab, Text tab, or a combination of both tabs.
    To add an operator using the Visual tab:
    1. From the Operators list, select an operator to join the conditions in your expression. For more information, see Conditions for Filters.
    2. Drag and drop the operator onto the expression.
    3. (Optional) Add a condition.
      Tip
      Right-click the AND or OR operator in the expression, and then select Addthen selectNew Condition.
  7. (Optional) Delete part of an expression by highlighting the part of the expression that you want to delete, and then selecting Delete or Clear.
  8. Click OK to apply the advanced filter.

Delete an Advanced Report Filter

To delete an advanced filter, click the remove filter button on the filter on the Filters tab.

Use a Data Source Filter in a Report

About Data Source Filters

Data source filters are used to restrict the data that is displayed in a report. The data source filters that you create in the designer are applied to every report object in the report that uses the data source. A report that has multiple data sources can contain multiple data source filters.
You can use either continuous values or discrete values to create a data source filter. Continuous value filters can be used only for measures. Discrete value filters can be used for any character; numeric; or date, datetime, or data item; as long as the total number of distinct values does not exceed a maximum number.
Data source filters are not displayed on the Filters or the Data tabs. A data source filter updates the cardinality values that appear on the Data tab.
There is a limit of one data source filter per data source. However, if you want to filter on more than one data source, you can create a combination filter.

Create a Data Source Filter

  1. On the Data tab, click the options button, and then select New Data Source Filter. The New Data Source Filter window is displayed.
  2. Add a condition for the filter. You can use the Visual tab, Text tab, or a combination of both tabs.
    To add conditions using the Visual tab:
    1. From the Data Items list, select the data item on which the condition is based.
    2. From the Column Templates list, select a condition. For more information, see Conditions for Filters.
    3. Drag and drop the condition onto the expression.
    4. For any required parameters, select the parameter, and enter a value, or right-click the parameter field, and select Replace with to select a data item.
  3. (Optional) Replace a condition by dragging and dropping a new condition onto the existing condition in the expression on the Visual tab. Or remove a condition using the Text tab.
  4. (Optional) Add an operator to the expression. You can use the Visual tab, Text tab, or a combination of both tabs.
    To add an operator using the Visual tab:
    1. From the Operators list, select an operator to join the conditions in your expression. For more information, see Conditions for Filters.
    2. Drag and drop the operator onto the expression.
    3. (Optional) Add a condition.
      Tip
      Right-click the AND or OR operator in the expression, and then select Addthen selectNew Condition.
  5. (Optional) Delete part of an expression by highlighting the part of the expression that you want to delete, and then selecting Delete or Clear.
  6. Click OK to apply the filter.

Edit a Data Source Filter

  1. If a data source is not already added, add a data source.
  2. On the Data tab, click the options button, and then select Edit Data Source Filter. The Edit Data Source Filter window is displayed.
  3. Add or modify the condition for the filter. You can use the Visual tab, Text tab, or a combination of both tabs.
    To edit conditions using the Visual tab:
    1. From the Data Items list, select the data item on which the condition is based.
    2. From the Column Templates list, select a condition. For more information, see Conditions for Filters.
    3. Drag and drop the condition onto the expression.
    4. For any required parameters, select the parameter, and enter a value, or right-click the parameter field, and select Replace with to select a data item.
  4. Edit the operator in the expression. You can use the Visual tab, Text tab, or a combination of both tabs.
  5. Click OK to apply the filter.

Delete a Data Source Filter

To delete a data source filter:
  1. On the Data tab, click the options button, and then select Delete Filter.
  2. Click Delete in the confirmation message that is displayed.