Introduction:
In Power BI, a slicer is a visual element that presents a set of options or values based on a specific field from the underlying data source. Users can interact with the slicer by selecting one or multiple values, which then filter the data displayed in the report accordingly. Slicers act as interactive filters, enabling users to dynamically slice and dice data to gain insights and focus on specific aspects of the information presented.
Slicer Types:
- Dropdown Slicer: This is the default slicer type in Power BI. It presents a dropdown menu that lists the available values from the selected field. Users can click on the dropdown arrow to view all the options and select one or multiple values to apply filters.
- List Slicer: List slicers display a vertical or horizontal list of values that users can select from.
- Tile/Checkbox Slicer: Checkbox slicers present a list of values with checkboxes next to each item.
Slider/Between Slicer: Slider slicers provide a visual range selection option. Users can drag the slider handles to specify a range of values, such as a range of dates or numeric values. Slider slicers are helpful when working with continuous ranges or when users need to define specific value intervals.
Creating Slicers:
- In the “Visualizations” pane on the right side of the screen, locate the “Slicer” icon (represented by a funnel-shaped icon) and click on it.
- Drag and drop the field you want to use as a slicer from the “Fields” pane onto the slicer canvas.
Power BI will automatically generate a slicer based on the field type. You can further customize the slicer appearance and behavior using the options available in the “Visualizations” pane.
Note: For slicer interaction with visuals please refer Part 2