← Years 5–6 Data & Information

Filtering data

A filter shows only the rows that match a value you choose and hides the other rows. The hidden rows are not deleted. Clear the filter to see them all again.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 20, VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 26, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 72, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 68, VCE Data Analytics - U4O1 - Development and Evaluation — Module 7, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data — Module 17, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data — Module 8, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 50, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 25, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Digital Footprints and Data Minimisation — Module 35, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 94, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 9, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Privacy Principles and Digital Footprints — Module 39

Understanding Filtering data in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: Ticking only Dog in the Pets column filters the table so just the rows with Dog stay visible. The other rows are hidden. Choosing Clear Filter from the Pets column removes the filter and shows every row again. This proves the data was kept. You turn on the filter buttons first. These usually appear as small arrows next to each heading. Sorting changes the order of the rows. Filtering changes which rows you can see. A filter only hides rows. Deleting them loses the data, so clearing the filter is the correct way to see all rows. Filter buttons must be switched on in the headings before you can choose a value like Cat to filter the rows.

Common mistakes: Dog is a value in the Pet column, so you must click the Pet filter button. The line should be: Click the Pet button, pick Dog. A filter hides the rows that do not match. It does not delete them. The line should say the rows are hidden.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 11–20) and word search (Modules 1–20).

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Learning
Duo
What does a filter do to the rows in a table?
Deletes the rows that do not matchShows only the rows that match the value you choose
Matches
Filter the Pets column by Dog, then delete the hidden rows to clear the filter
↓
Deleting rows does not clear a filter and it removes data for good. You should use Clear Filter to bring the hidden rows back.
Applying
Meanings
Term
filter
Meaning
A filter shows only the rows that match a value you choose and hides the other rows. The hidden rows are not deleted. Clear the filter to see them all again.
Practice
turn on filter buttons
Testing
Gaps
filter.(A1:C10)
Check Answer
Spots
2Turn on the filter buttons
3Click the Age button, pick Dog

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Quick Questions

1. What does a filter do to the rows in a table?
A. Shows only the rows that match the value you choose ✓
B. Deletes the rows that do not match
A filter only hides the rows that do not match. The hidden rows are still in the spreadsheet.
2. You filter a Pet column to show only 'Dog'. What happens to the rows with 'Cat'?
A. They are hidden but not deleted ✓
B. They are deleted forever
Filtered-out rows are only hidden. They come back when you clear the filter.
3. Which step comes first when you want to filter your data?
A. Turn on the filter buttons for the headings ✓
B. Clear the filter
You turn on the filter buttons first. These usually appear as small arrows next to each heading.
4. Where do the filter buttons usually appear?
A. Inside every single cell
B. Next to the column headings ✓
Filter buttons sit in the heading row so you can choose a value for that column.
5. You click a filter button on the Year column and tick only '5'. What will you see?
A. All of the rows, with Year 5 in bold
B. Only the rows where Year is 5 ✓
Choosing a value tells the filter which rows to keep showing. All the other rows are hidden.

Match the Pairs

Filter button → Turns on drop-down arrows in the heading row so you can choose which rows to show
Clear filter → Shows all the hidden rows again
Choose a value to show only the rows that match it → Pets column: tick only "Dog"
Hidden rows are not deleted, so removing the filter brings them back → Filter menu: Clear Filter from Pets
Filter the Pets column by Dog, then delete the hidden rows to clear the filter → Deleting rows does not clear a filter and it removes data for good. You should use Clear Filter to bring the hidden rows back.
Click a cell in an empty column and tick "Cat" to filter without turning on filter buttons → You must turn on the filter buttons in the heading row first. Without them there is no drop-down arrow to choose a value.

Key Term

filter
A filter shows only the rows that match a value you choose and hides the other rows. The hidden rows are not deleted. Clear the filter to see them all again.

Fill in the Blanks

1. filter.on(A1:C10)
Hint: Type the word that turns the filter buttons on for the table.
2. filter.on(A1:C10) filter.choose("Pet", "Dog")
Hint: Type the action word that picks a value to show.
3. filter.on(A1:C10) filter.choose("Pet", "Dog") filter.clear()
Hint: Type the action word that removes the filter so all rows show again.
4. show rows where Pet = "Dog"
Hint: Type the keyword that sets the rule for which rows to keep.
5. filter.choose("Pet", "Dog") rowsDeleted = false
Hint: Type the true or false value that shows hidden rows are not deleted.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Table columns: Pet, Name, Age
B Turn on the filter buttons
C Click the Age button, pick Dog
D Only the Dog rows show
Line C — Dog is a value in the Pet column, so you must click the Pet filter button. The line should be: Click the Pet button, pick Dog.
Question 2
A Turn on the filter buttons
B Click the Colour button
C Choose Red from the list
D Non-Red rows are deleted
Line D — A filter hides the rows that do not match. It does not delete them. The line should say the rows are hidden.
Question 3
A Turn off the filter buttons
B Click the Year button
C Choose 5 from the list
D Only Year 5 rows show
Line A — You need to turn ON the filter buttons before you can choose a value to filter by. The line should be: Turn on the filter buttons.
Question 4
A Click a cell in the table
B Turn on the chart buttons
C Click the Team button
D Choose Blue from the list
Line B — Filtering uses filter buttons on the heading row, not chart buttons. The line should be: Turn on the filter buttons.
Question 5
A Click the City sort button
B Choose Perth from the list
C Only Perth rows are shown
D Other rows are hidden
Line A — A sort button puts rows in order. It does not hide any rows. To show only Perth you need the filter button.

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