[Cloud release: 2023.12.08]
[On-prem release: 2023 December]
[On-prem build: 23.12.11509]
(Support for Dynamic time in slicer objects released 2024 January 23 (Cloud), 2024 February (On-prem).)
The Slicer object can be added to any dashboard, and it will give the end-user easy access to data filtering options as an integrated part of the dashboard.
In many cases, the Slicer objects will be able to replace the dropdown filters from the Criteria bar, and thus eliminate the requirement for a Criteria bar. This provides for a leaner end-user experience in general, and for embedded TARGIT solutions in particular.
Object definition
A slicer object is defined by adding a dimension to it. This dimension can be any dimension, including hierarchies and User dimensions.
You must add at least one measure to the Slicer object. While the measure is not directly visible to the end-user, it has an effect on the dimension members shown in the list. By default, the list will include all members with data. Due to the inclusion of a measure, the list can be customized by calculations, visibility agents, top lists, empty members etc.
Note: When you add a Slicer object to your dashboard, you should probably change the default size of the object. In particular for Slicer objects of the type Dropdown or Search, you don't need to allocate more space than required for the 'Select ...' fields. If the objects are bigger, you may risk over objects being overlapped and becoming unavailable.
Object properties
The dialog for Slicer object properties contains a number of settings:
- Title: You can add and style a title as with any other objects.
- Type: The Slicer object can be one of three types:
- Dropdown. Similar to the dropdown from the Criteria bar. Select members from a dropdown list.
- Search. Members are only available from a dropdown list after a Search.
- List. Select members from a list that is permanently open.
- Dropdown. Similar to the dropdown from the Criteria bar. Select members from a dropdown list.
Styling
- Orientation: (For List type only.) Vertical lists will add a scroll bar if list is longer than the object size. Horizontal lists will wrap members within the object's borders, so multiple rows of members may appear.
- Selection: Color and font style when a member has been selected.
- Members shown: (For Dropdown and Search types only.) The maximum number of members shown in the Slicer object. Members exceeding this value will be accessible via a scroll bar.
Note: If the value is set too high, Dropdown and Search slicers may contain more members than can be shown inside the canvas borders, and thus become inaccessible to the end-user. - Spacing: (For List type only.) You can set the spacing between the members in the list.
- Styling fit to text: (For List type only.) When disabled, all member boxes in the list will have same size. When enabled, member boxes will have individual sizes according to the length of the text.
- Show check/radio button: Enabling/disabling this feature has a visual effect only. Even without these buttons, you can still select or multiselect members from the lists.
Behavior
- Mouse over: (For Dropdown and List types only.) You can select or create a Mouse over text to be shown when hovering the members.
- Show search hint: (For Search type only.) When the end-user clicks into a Search Slicer, a hint with multiple search options will be shown.
- Toggle selection: (For Dropdown and List types only.) When enabled, a selected member can be unselected by clicking the member again.
Note: You can always use the 'Drill out' feature to remove any selections in your Slicer objects. - Selection: Single selection or Multi selection. If check/radio buttons are enabled, radio buttons will be shown for Single, and check buttons will be shown for Multi.
- Close on label selection: (For Dropdown and Search types only.) When enabled, when the end-user select a member by clicking the member name/label (not the check/radio button), the list will automatically close.
Dynamic time
- If your time dimension in a slicer object has been prepared for Dynamic criteria, you will be able to enable this in the Slicer object properties dialog:
General Slicer object tutorial video:
Comments
Hi! Is there audio available for this tutorial? Thank you, Dana Cleghorn
Hi Dana,
Sure. I just uploaded a version with audio. Thanks for making us aware of this. :-)
BR / Ole
Hi Ole,
I'm currently working with the 2025 version of Targit, and I’ve noticed that the Slicer is not functioning properly in reports.
I'm able to insert it, but when I try to filter, it does not select the item I click on.
Do you know if this is expected behavior, or could it be an anomaly?
Kind regards,
Tiago Felsky
Hi Tiago,
Slicer objects are working like the 'Drill down' criteria feature. E.g., you can remove a filter set by a slicer object by performing the "Remove all drill downs" action.
Drill down criteria is not and has never been supported in reports - only in dashboards. And the same applies to slicer objects.
You might also argue that reports are rarely meant for direct interaction with the user - as opposed to dashboards. And slicers are very much meant for interaction.
So, yes, this is the expected behavior. Instead, you should use the Criteria bar or the Criteria Editor for reports.
BR / Ole
Hi Ole,
I understand; however, the question arose due to your post, where it was stated that the slicer would also work in reports.
In addition, during our testing we verified that the slicer does indeed work in reports, but only in search mode.
Unfortunately, it does not work with user dimensions, which would be of great importance to me.
In our company, we use reports so that managers can perform performance evaluations with employees (the report is printed). To select the employee, they need to apply a series of filters, something we have already prepared in the user dimension. The issue is that, because of these filters, the employee’s name does not appear automatically, and we intended to use the slicer itself to provide the employee’s name in the report.
Kind regards,
Tiago Felsky
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