Should I apply filters at the report or dashboard level?

Question

In what situation should I put the filter on the report and when should I put the filter on the dashboard?

Answer

A report filter is an attribute added to the Filters section of a report. These filters allow you to focus on the dataset you're pulling from or remove unwanted information. For example, if you're making a report about the performance of a certain support team, use a filter to only show data related to that team. Learn more about report filters in this article: Filtering a report.

A dashboard filter is a widget you can add to your dashboard. These filters affect many or all of the reports on your dashboard and are used to manipulate the data range or type of data you're viewing. For example, if you have a lot of reports about agent activity, add a data filter for Agent name to pick which agent you want to view data about. Learn more about dashboard filters in this article: Best practices for using dashboard filters.

Generally speaking, put most filters at a dashboard level. That way you can access the filters and manipulate the data quickly and easily, without having to leave the dashboard and edit the reports themselves. In situations where you never want to manipulate that filter, or that filter is fundamental to the report's design, put the filters at the report level. These questions will help you decide:

• Do you want to be able to manipulate this characteristic of the data, or is it set in stone?
• Does this filter apply to this report only, or do you want the same filter to apply to all the reports on the dashboard?

Example

You are a support manager and you created a dashboard with reports that help you monitor your team's performance. One of the reports shows how well your team supports a specific important customer. For this report, use a filter on the report level to help focus the data to only show activity related to that one important customer.

If you want to adjust the date range for all the reports on your dashboard, add a time filter at the dashboard level. This way, you can see trends in the short term and the long term.

Tip: Expand your possibilities with bookmarks: Explore recipe: Taking dashboard filters and bookmarks to the next level.