11.11. Chart Cross Filter

While we've seen filters and controls for both editors and viewers, there's another way to provide viewers with the opportunity to slice and dice data within a report: chart cross filters. This technique turns a chart into a control. Let's explore how to make a chart interactive and use cross filters based on the selection of the chart's dimensions.

Enabling Chart Cross Filters

To enable chart cross filters, select the chart and scroll down to the end of the data properties tab. Look for chart interactions and cross filtering. Enabling it will add interactivity to the chart, allowing users to cross filter based on the selected dimensions.

For example, if you click "home" in an interactive chart, it will function just like a control. The viewer can select multiple values by holding the Control or Command key and clicking on the desired options. The cross-filtered data will display corresponding values based on the selection. To reset the values, right-click and choose "reset".

Using Cross Filters with Various Charts

You can enable cross filters for different types of charts, such as pie charts and time series. For time series, you can use a technique called brushing to cross filter your report. Brushing allows you to click and drag over a specific range of the chart to filter the data accordingly.

For instance, if you want to investigate the traffic sources, landing pages, and devices responsible for a peak in your time series chart, click and drag over the peak. The data displayed in the other charts will be filtered based on the selected range.

Combining Chart Cross Filters and Filter Controls

Chart cross filters can work in conjunction with other filter controls on the page. They will essentially filter each other, allowing viewers to explore data more granularly and efficiently.

For example, an e-commerce company might use chart cross filters to explore sales data. By clicking on a specific product category in a bar chart, the viewer can see the traffic sources, landing pages, and devices that contributed to sales for that category. This can help the company identify trends and optimize their marketing efforts.