11.9. Filtered Filter Controls

Let's dive into filtered filter controls. These are filter controls that have filters applied to them. We discussed how filters can be applied to a chart, a control, a page, or a report. We've seen filters on charts, pages, and reports, but not on controls yet.

Imagine you have a control with a list of countries, but you don't want your viewers to select from all the countries. You only want them to select from countries that had traffic from a specific source...

Applying a Filter to a Control

To apply a filter to a control, first, click on the control. Note that it might be trying to inherit the report level filter. Keep in mind that if you apply anything at the report level, it will apply to everything, including the options available in a dropdown menu.

First, unselect the report level filter to display the list of all countries. Now, you can add a filter and select the source or medium, such as "cpm". Include the selected field with the medium equal to "cpm".

Once you apply that filter, you will see only the countries with traffic from that specific channel within the applied date range.

Filtered Control Impact on Data

It's important to note the distinction when using filtered controls: If you select a country, you will still see all the source mediums coming from that country, even if they're not "cpm". The rest of the source medium will be included as well, because the filter is only applied to the control and not the rest of the charts. If the filter were at the report or page level, the behavior would be different.

Filtered controls can be handy when you want to simplify the options for your viewers. You can filter a dropdown menu or create a fixed-size list for specific data.

For a real-life example, imagine a marketing agency that wants to give its clients the ability to choose only from countries where their ads have been displayed. By applying a filtered filter control to the list of countries, the agency can ensure that their clients see only relevant options. This can help clients make more informed decisions about their ad placements.