← VCE Spreadsheets, SQL & Visualisation

Slicers and interactive filters

A set of buttons linked to a table, pivot table or chart. Click a button to filter the data, so a viewer can explore it interactively. Clear the filter to show everything again.

Part of: VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 78, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 108, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 137, VCE Data Analytics - U4O1 - Development and Evaluation — Module 61, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Analysing and visualising data — Module 10, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 56

Understanding Slicers and interactive filters in VCE Spreadsheets, SQL & Visualisation

What it does: Clicking a slicer button filters the data behind the chart, so the chart updates to show only the selected value. Slicers are added from the menu. You select your data, choose Insert > Slicer, then tick the field you want as buttons. There is no =SLICER() formula. Slicers make a dashboard interactive. Viewers choose which category to see, instead of you making a separate chart for every option. The Clear Filter button on a slicer switches off the selection, so every row appears again.

Common mistakes: To add a slicer you choose Insert > Slicer. Insert > Chart would add a chart, not a set of filter buttons. Clearing the filter shows all the data again, so it should be s.ClearFilter(). Deleting the slicer is not the same as clearing its filter.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 71–86) and word search (Modules 55–86).

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Learning

Duo

A slicer is a set of buttons that filters a table, pivot table or chart when you click it.

FalseTrue

Matches

Slicer: Sport = Netball -> sheet still shows every sport

↓

The slicer is not linked to the table, pivot table or chart, so clicking a button filters nothing. Connect it to the data.

Applying

Meanings

Term

slicer

Meaning

A set of buttons linked to a table, pivot table or chart. Click a button to filter the data, so a viewer can explore it interactively. Clear the filter to show everything again.

Practice

Select the sales table

Testing

Gaps

> Slicer > choose the Region field

Check Answer

Spots

1Click inside the pivot table

2Insert > Chart

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Quick Questions

1. A slicer is a set of buttons that filters a table, pivot table or chart when you click it.

A. True ✓

B. False

Yes! Each slicer button is a quick filter, so a viewer can explore the data without writing any formulas.

2. Your pivot table shows sales for Years 7 to 10. Which tool lets a viewer click a button to see only Year 9?

A. A slicer ✓

B. A chart title

A slicer gives clickable buttons for each value, such as Year 7, Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10. A chart title only labels the chart.

3. Which is the best way to add a slicer in a spreadsheet?

A. Click the pivot table or chart, then choose Insert > Slicer and pick a field ✓

B. Type =SLICER() into a cell and press Enter

Slicers are added from the menu. You select your data, choose Insert > Slicer, then tick the field you want as buttons. There is no =SLICER() formula.

4. A slicer is linked to a column chart. You click the 'Term 2' button. What happens to the chart?

A. The chart is deleted and replaced by a new one

B. The chart updates to show only the Term 2 data ✓

A slicer linked to a chart filters the data behind it, so the chart redraws using only the selected values. The original data is not deleted.

5. You have filtered a table with a slicer and now want to see all the data again. What should you do?

A. Delete the original data and re-enter it

B. Clear the filter on the slicer ✓

Use the Clear Filter button (the small funnel icon with an X) on the slicer. It shows every row again and the data is untouched.

Match the Pairs

Insert > Slicer → Adds a slicer: a set of buttons you can click to filter a table, pivot table or chart

Clear Filter button (X icon) → Removes the slicer's filter so all the data is shown again

A slicer linked to a chart changes the chart when you click a button → Slicer: Year = 2024 -> chart shows only 2024

A slicer lets viewers explore data interactively, with no need to edit the table → Click the 'Netball' button to see only Netball rows

Slicer: Sport = Netball -> sheet still shows every sport → The slicer is not linked to the table, pivot table or chart, so clicking a button filters nothing. Connect it to the data.

Delete the slicer to show all the data again → Deleting the slicer is not needed and removes the buttons. Use Clear Filter instead to show everything while keeping the slicer.

Key Term

slicer

A set of buttons linked to a table, pivot table or chart. Click a button to filter the data, so a viewer can explore it interactively. Clear the filter to show everything again.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Insert > Slicer > choose the Region field

Hint: Type the name of the ribbon tab used to add a slicer

2. A slicer has buttons that filter data

Hint: Type the name of the tool made of filter buttons

3. Select the chart, then Insert > Slicer

Hint: Type the object you select so the slicer links to it

4. Click a button to filter the linked chart

Hint: Type the verb for what a slicer button does to the data

5. Click Clear Filter to show all the data

Hint: Type the word that follows Clear on the button that resets the slicer

Spot the Error

Question 1

A Click inside the pivot table

B Insert > Chart

C Tick the Region field

D Click OK to add the slicer

Line B — To add a slicer you choose Insert > Slicer. Insert > Chart would add a chart, not a set of filter buttons.

Question 2

A s = AddSlicer(Sales,"Day")

B s.Select("Mon")

C s.Delete()

Line C — Clearing the filter shows all the data again, so it should be s.ClearFilter(). Deleting the slicer is not the same as clearing its filter.

Question 3

A s = AddSlicer(Sales,"Team")

B s.LinkTo(Team)

C s.Select("Blue")

Line B — A slicer is linked to a chart (or table), not to a field name. It should be s.LinkTo(Chart1) so the chart changes when a button is clicked.

Question 4

A s = AddSlice(Sales,"Region")

B s.Select("West")

C Sales shows only West rows

Line A — The function is called AddSlicer, not AddSlice. It should be s = AddSlicer(Sales,"Region").

Question 5

A s = AddSlicer(Sales,"Day")

B click "Mon" -> only Mon rows

C click "Tue" -> only Mon rows

Line C — Clicking the Tue button filters the data to Tuesday rows. It should say only Tue rows, not Mon rows.

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