Introduction
Filtering narrows down the data available in a workbook to aid focused analysis and to help answer specific business questions.
Helpful links
Filter Types
In Astrato the filtering capabilities help you create visual data stories and experiences with ease.
Global filters (Workbook Filters)
Global filters apply across the entire workbook session for each user. If a user selects a year, all data in the workbook reflects this - unless a chart filter or measure filter has a rule that takes precedence.
Chart Filters
Want to set an object to look at specific criteria, like a date range or region - then chart filters are what you are looking for! Chart filters enable setting permanent filters for specific objects. This is accessed from the Filters tab.
Each filter has a plus sign (+) beside it, click the + to add more filters to an object.
To add chart filters to an object, select the field, operator, and value. Once completed, click the Apply button to confirm. Repeat the process with additional measure filters.
Measure Filters
Thinking of creating a comparison between measures containing different filter criteria? Measure filters are what you need. Compare sales between listed partners, and business units, all in measure filters, without needing to create new fields or groupings in your source data.
The example below shows revenue in two ways the first is revenue from won deals, and the second is potential revenue, from deals expected to be won this month.
The number in brackets next to the measure filter title indicates the number of measures that have filters applied.
Parameterized View Filtering (private preview for OEM users)
With parameterized views, you can build dynamic, user-driven queries without rewriting SQL each time.
Custom SQL statements can be created with parameters inside your view. When the view runs, Astrato swaps in the actual values — from users, variables, controls, or defaults — to generate the final query.
How it works
Supported for Custom SQL views (sourceType: "statement").
Declare parameters inline using {name:type} — e.g. {store_id:int}, {from_date:date}.
Types include string, int, float, boolean, date, and more.
Astrato auto-parses all parameters and handles substitution at runtime.
Example
A view with source:
SELECT * FROM users WHERE age > {min_age:int} AND status = {user_status:string}
Parameters:
min_age:
intuser_status:
string
This allows one reusable view to power many scenarios — filters, what-if inputs, user-personalised data slices — all without duplicating SQL.
In each object, you can link a variable (or hardcode a value) to each parameter you have in use.
Filter bar
Enabling and configuring the filter bar
The filter bar is enabled automatically on new workbooks. To show or hide the filter bar, go to Workbook settings and use the field to select to hide or show the filter bar.
The filter bar can be styled to suit your workbook background. If you've set an image or color on your worksheet, the filter bar can blend in seamlessly by adjusting the Opacity or Background blur with an image or color on your worksheet.
Editable fields
The filter bar visible at the top of the worksheet is now enhanced with editable fields to simplify and speed up data analysis for you, and the teams you share your data with. The drop-down lists have a check mark beside the filters applied to the data object.
Select the filters you want, and a checkmark displays which filters are active on the data object.
Filter Object
The filter object enables end-users to quickly narrow down the global filter state across the workbook.
Measures and progress bars help visualize the general make-up of your data, helping you select right-first-time filters on the data that matters.
ℹ Filters are not synchronized across browser tabs
Tip: Enable Quickselect to bypass the apply/cancel buttons.
Date Picker
The date picker object enables users to select a range of dates easily.
Date Picker Settings
Collapsed\Expanded
Set the default display for the date picker.
Collapsed -
Expanded-
Single day \ Range
Set the selection behavior of the date picker.
Week Start Day
Set the weekday for the start of the week display
Color
Set the color for the selected dates.
Slider
The slider filter is great for continuous numeric fields; users can easily pick a range of values. Furthermore, by showing the distribution of values, users can focus on the meaningful parts of the data.
The image shows a slider with a selection made. The overall distribution is visible, and the selected range is highlighted in blue.
Slider Settings
Data
Dimension
The dimension can be either a numeric field or a date field.
Custom min and max-
You can set the custom range manually. By default, it will be between the minimal and maximal values in the dimension field.Step distance-
You can set the unit for each step; for the date field, the step options are predefined.
Distribution bars
Display a bar above the values showing the significance of each range of values.
*distribution bars only work for numeric dimensions.Number of bars-
Set the number of bars for the display manually.
Style
Slider
Control the display of the labels.
Color
Set the coloring of the distribution bars
Object
Set the display of the slider object and borders.
Always One Selected Value
This feature lets you lock important filters so they always have exactly one value selected. It prevents reports from ever falling into an “unfiltered” or “multi-select” state.
What it does
You can mark specific fields in a workbook as Always One Selected.
Once enabled:
The field must always have one active value
Users cannot clear it
Users cannot select multiple values
“Clear all filters” will ignore this field
If it’s the only filter, the Clear All button disappears
This keeps key business context locked in place.
How it works in the UI
Setup location
Workbook Panel → Filtering section → Always One Selected Fields
Two inputs are used:
Field selector – choose the dimension or filter field
Default value input – define the value that should always be selected
It uses the same style component as “Hidden Fields” for consistency.
Visual behavior
The filter chips in filter bars, cannot be removed when a single value is forced
Fields can be hidden using the dedicated "hide fields" setting in the filter bar
The normal “X” icon is replaced with a check-in-circle icon
Users cannot clear the field or remove it from the filter bar
Clear All ignores these fields completely
This makes it obvious which filters are mandatory.
Common Use Cases
Single Customer DashboardsYou embed a dashboard for a specific account.
Perfect for customer portals. | Region-locked ReportingYou want each user to stay in their own region:
Great for compliance and data security. | Parameter-driven AppsDashboards that must always be scoped to:
Ensures context is never lost. |
Use this for:
Core business context fields
Security-sensitive dimensions
Embedded analytics
Multi-tenant applications
Executive dashboards with strict scope