Single Filter against multiple columns

Question

Hello ExpertsI wonder if there is way to build a single filter on Dashboard that interacts with 2 different columns in the database? Here is an example2 columns in table:-- primary City- secondary cityOn the dashboard level, we would like to build a single filter called 'city' which should filter against both of these columns using OR condition (eg: select sum(sales) from customer_orders where primary_city='Toronto' or secondary_city='Toronto'

Tri Anthony · Accepted Answer

Hi ramansingh89,

You can add each column as a dashboard filter, and then use the Filter Relationship feature to create the OR logic. To cascade the selection from one filter to the other and ensure the two filters are always synchronized, you can use the script in the Dashboard Script for Automatic Filter Cascading article. To declutter the UI and avoid confusion for the users, you can use the free and officially supported Hide Filters add-on by Paldi Solutions to hide the second filter.

This way, users will only see and interact with one filter, but it will automatically pass the selection to the hidden second filter as well in the backend.

Let me know if you have any follow-up questions.

-Tri

ali sial · Answer

This is a great use case. If you're trying to apply a single filter across multiple columns, one effective approach is to create separate filters and then configure an OR relationship between them. Several Sisense users have reported success using Filter Relationships and filter synchronization techniques to make one visible filter control multiple underlying fields. This keeps the dashboard clean while still delivering accurate results across all relevant columns.

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ali sial · Answer

Yes, this is generally possible, but it depends on the BI tool or dashboard platform you're using. A common approach is to create a calculated field or a custom filter logic that checks both columns and applies an OR condition.

For example, when a user selects "Toronto" from the City filter, the query behind the dashboard would effectively work like:

WHERE primary_city = 'Toronto'
   OR secondary_city = 'Toronto'

Another option is to create a unified city dimension (through data modeling, a view, or a derived table) that combines values from both columns, allowing a single dashboard filter to interact with both fields seamlessly.

Could you share which platform you're using (Tableau, Power BI, Looker, Metabase, etc.)? The implementation steps can vary quite a bit between tools.

mrmhkip009 · Answer

I am trying to filter multiple columns in a dataset using a single filter, but it doesn't seem to be working as expected. The filter doesn’t apply correctly across all selected columns, and I can’t get the results I need. How can I fix this?

This issue is especially critical for applications like PoliceClearanceOnline where accurate filtering is essential to process and retrieve the necessary data for clients effectively.

Angelica121 · Answer

I am trying to filter multiple columns in a dataset using a single filter, but it doesn't seem to be working as expected. The filter doesn’t apply correctly across all selected columns, and I can’t get the results I need. How can I fix this?

This issue is especially critical for applications like PoliceClearanceOnline where accurate filtering is essential to process and retrieve the necessary data for clients effectively.

Jake Raz · Answer

Hmm, I'm not sure of a way to do this out of the box. This might be something you could do with the BloX plugin, but I don't know enough about BloX to say for sure. If you have Blox, though, I'd explore that avenue first, if you can.

If not, and if michael_qbeeq's suggestion isn't viable for you -- say, for example, you're like me and using an older version of Sisense that doesn't have that feature -- then you may just have to go with listing both fields in the dashboard filter and instructing users to only activate one or the other. Not ideal, I know.

It might be possible to use a dashboard script to grab the value entered in one of the fields and then populate it into the other, then (with the same script or an additional one) use OR logic, rather than AND logic, for the two filters. That way, even though both filters will be listed, users only have to key in one of them. However, I don't know of a script off-hand that can do that. Maybe try searching the forums to see if you can find a somewhat-similar script (a dashboard script that's modifying the dashboard-level filters somehow) then seeing if you can use an AI chatbot to refine it down to something that'll work for your specific purposes. I've used this particular Sisense-specific chatbot in the past with some success, though like most LLM-based chatbots, it can sometimes get stuff pretty wrong. Here's an example of a dashboard script that might work as a starting point, I've used it to auto-set certain filter values at the dashboard level.

Sorry I don't have more specific or helpful advice. Good luck! If you figure out a decent script to do this, let me know, as I'd also be interested in accomplishing something like this!

michael_qbeeq · Answer

Hi Raman,

You can do that by adding both columns as filters and then clicking on Filter Relationship in filters menu:

Then in new window create an OR logic between filters

and that should add an additional indicator at the top of the filters. Hope this helps. If you would need any additional assistance feel free to reach out!

Michael Becker

qbeeq.io