A "slicer" comprises a list of member elements from a model hierarchy that you can use to filter the query by one or more elements at runtime. For example, if you add the Country hierarchy to a drop-down slicer, you can use it to filter the data query to include data from just one selected country from the hierarchy.
Slicers can also be used with measures to drive slightly different mechanisms, including:
- A "switching" effect, where the measure can be swapped out using the measure slice. These are known as variable measure sets.
- A "parameterization" effect, where a VALUE filter can be built using a given measure to numerically filter the query. (See below for more information.)
- Click here for more about Slicers in Discover.
Slicer Types
- Drop Down: Adds a drop-down list from which you can select one slice at a time.
- Multi Select Drop Down: Adds a drop-down list from which you can select multiple slices simultaneously.
- List Box: Adds a single-select list within a box container.
- Multi Select List Box: Adds a multi-select list within a box container.
- Text Box: Adds a textbox with drop-down.
- Buttons: Adds single-select buttons, rather than a list.
- Multi Select Buttons: Adds multi-select buttons.
- Multi Select Tree: Supports 'regular' hierarchies in both cube and SQL models. Adds a multi-select tree list; you can navigate through the tree to find and select relevant elements.
- Single Select Tree: Supports 'regular' hierarchies in both cube and SQL models. Adds a single-select tree list; you can navigate through the tree to find the relevant element.
- Date-Time Picker: The date-time picker is a specialized slicer visualization designed to make it easier to use date-time hierarchies and their associated calculations.
Search Slicer Elements
You can search slicer elements in drop-down, list box, and tree slicers from the slicer search bar.
When using multi select drop-down, list box, or tree slicers, the search will return all elements matching the given search input. You can select all the returned results by clicking "All Filtered Items".
Slicer Actions
Actions can be attached to slicers in Present, so that when a user changes the slicer in runtime, it triggers an effect (other than filtering queries). For more information, see Slicer Actions.
Adding Slicers to a Presentation
There are various options for adding slicers to presentations:
- Add an existing slicer that was built in Discover (see below)
- Build a new slicer on-the-fly in Present
- Configure an advanced slicer in Present
- Add Hidden Slicers, rather than on-slide slicers
- Add multiple slicers and cross filter them to create a cascading slicer effect
- Add multiple slicers and apply cross highlighting to them
Slicers in Present are configured by applying interactions from slicer to visual, and from slicer to slicer.
Add Slicers from Discover
Adding slicers from Discover to presentations is a simple process achieved in just a few steps.
Step 1
To add existing slicers to slides in the presentation, first locate the required slicer in the Content panel (yellow highlight below).
Step 2
Drag the slicer and drop it onto the canvas (yellow arrow below).
Step 3
Add interactions between the slicer and any visualizations that the slicer should filter.
To test your slicer, launch the presentation in runtime (F2).
Step 4 (Optional)
Limit your slicer to only including those elements that are relevant to the presentation that you are creating. For example, limiting a Country slicer to only include European countries as options.
- Select the Slicer on the canvas.
- Right-click Slicer Settings.
- In the Slicer Settings panel, select Elements. Since the Slicer is currently linked to a discovery the panel appears as follows:
- If you want to change which elements are included on the slicer wherever it appears, you should edit the elements list in the source discovery.
- If you want to change which elements are included on the slicer in this presentation only, you should unlink the slicer from its parent discovery and edit its elements here in the presentation only.
You have two options for changing which Elements that you want to include in the slicer when it is shown in the presentation:
To do this, click Discover Link to open the source discovery and then edit the Slicer Settings in there. Your changes will affect the slicer wherever it appears (on the discovery, in the presentation, and any other instances).
To do this, click Unlink at the bottom of the panel. Once the slicer is unlinked, its association with the discovery is broken and the elements tree is shown. You can now change the Elements for this slicer in this panel.
For more information, see Slicer Settings.
Warning: Unlinking a slicer from its discovery is permanent. Any changes you make to the discovery after it has been unlinked will not affect the slicer in the presentation. You must be sure that you want to unlink your slicer before you click Unlink.