All about Data Studio Filters

Using filters in Data Studio is one of the most common uses of the tool. Thanks to this feature, we can scale dashboards and reports as well as being flexible.

Filters usually are present in all software about data. They provide freedom to the users and the opportunity to choose some segments in order to get better analysis.

Google Data Studio Filters

The dashboards and report tool by Google allows us to isolate data in a different way than other tools, like Google Analytics.

Data Studio is more flexible than Google Analytics. In addition, GDS shows a better UX and UI in order to filter data not only for data’s owner but also for only read users.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmeRzqozQFU

Filters: Data Studio vs Analytics

A Data Studio filter doesn’t eliminate data. That is the biggest difference between both tools.

In Google Data Studio the filter only shows the data we have chosen. Once we undo the filter, all raw data appears.

For our advantage, we can have a raw data source from Analytics and apply the filters in Data Studio. This way, we will never lose information.

This happens not only with Google Analytics data source, but with also connectors as Google Sheets, Google Ads, Floodlights by SA 360 or Linkedin.

So, the most accurate way in order to preserve original data is through Google Data Studio filters.

Finally, we can use the same Google Analytics report and change filters in order to deep-dive. While in Google Analytics you have to change views to do it.

Types of Data Studio Filters

There are to types of filters in GDS:

1. Dimensions
2. Date

The first one can be defined in field filters. We can set up ad hoc.

Date range is prefixed and we can choose the different range like month-to-date,year-to-date, last 30 days…

We can’t do a filter based on metrics plus dimensions. But we can use two or more filters at the same time.

It is allowed to filter raw data as calculated fields as well with blended data. It works!

Dimension Filters

In order to segment information, we can filter dimensions and order by metrics. However, we can’t create a metric filter.

Metric is not a mandatory field. It’s just to order information and filter over filter. I mean, if you use as metric URL Clicks, there will be no dimensions with 0 clicks.

As I said, Data Studio is a very flexible software. So we can change metrics into dimensions.

For instante:

• Every keyword which cost per conversion is equal or more than 100 euros, they will be “Improving campaigns”
• Every keyword which cost per conversion less than 100 euros: “Excellent keywords”

Regex in Data Studio: your ally

The best way to create filters through calculated fields is using regular expressions in Data Studio.

Data Range in Data Studio

Data range filter by Data Studio is one of the best feature of the tool. Neither Google Ads nor Analytics let us to filter and compare as Data Studio.

We can find the same predefined data range in Data Studio as in Google Ads or Analytics: 7 last days, week to date, last 28 days, this month, etc. The list of predefined data range are:

• This Quarter
• Last Quarter
• This Quarter to date
• This Month
• Last Month
• Month To Date
• This Year
• Last Year
• This Year to Date
• Today
• Yesterday

The difference between Data Studio filters and other software is the advanced filter.

We can use in advanced options a fix day as start day and as end date today. So, everyday the report will be updated.

Other option is a non-fixed initial date. We can choose as initial date:

• today last 90 days
• today last 2 days
• today last 3 weeks
• etc.

This way our Data Studio report will move with the time.

In reference the first option. Imagen you launch a new campaign and you want to check its performance. You can set the first day as fix and the ending day as today or today minus 1 day.

If you activate compare, every day the report sums, the comparison also sums.

For the first option, you have an always on campaign and you want to be sure of the last 90 days in order to find trends and also compare versus last 180 days to be sure of bigger trends. You don’t need a fix date.

In conclusion: this allows us to update every day the report not only to the present but also to the past.

You can filter by date in two ways:

1. On the top where the calendar icon is
2. On the right column as a dropdown

Data Studio Filters Control

Controlling information from Data Studio is really easy.

If you are an user, the filter is through the dropdown filters or typing words/numbers. It depends of the filter but it is very intuitive.

If you are the data source’s owner, you can add or eliminate Data Studio filters. Or even activate a table as a filter of other charts.

Add filters in Data Studio

Are you ready to add filters in your Dashboard? Let’s go:

In addition, you can use any chart as filter. After clicking over a chart appears the data info and the style.

Choose Data and at the bottom you find Interactions. Mark Apply filter.

Delete filters in Data Studio

Only admins can delete filters in Data Studio. When he/she edits, can delete when clicked on delete button.

If a view user doesn’t want filter data and there is a filter. If he doesn’t select any dimension, there will be raw data.

However, if the data source is filtered by the owner, the view user never will check the raw data.

Filter levels

There are three ways of filter data in Data Studio:

1. Report Level
2. Page level
3. Chart level

The most specific level (chart) predominates over the most general (report level).

The use of these levels depends on the owner of the data and what he/she wants to say.

For instante, if you want to show two scorecards and every has a different campaign. You should create a chart level filter for every scorecard.

If you want a page with organic traffic, the filter level will be Page Level.

That’s all. Any doubt, don’t hesitate to comment!