Filter Widget Overview in SmartSuite
The Filter Widget is a versatile tool designed to help you apply filter criteria across multiple widgets within your Dashboard. Whether you’re working with data from different tables or want to narrow down information based on specific conditions, the Filter Widget lets you do it all with ease, offering a seamless way to manage your data views. This widget is particularly useful for creating a centralized, real-time view of your workspace data.
What is the Filter Widget?
The Filter Widget allows users to apply custom filters across multiple widgets on the same dashboard tab. It pulls data from your chosen Solution and Table and applies filters dynamically, giving you greater control over how you display data from across your SmartSuite workspace.
Key Features of the Filter Widget
Source Data Flexibility: Select data from any Solution and Table within SmartSuite to apply filters.
Multiple Widget Connections: Connect the Filter Widget to multiple widgets on the dashboard that are pulling data from the same Table.
Dynamic Filtering: Filter data in real-time, refining results in connected widgets with conditions such as status, assignees, and more.
Customizable Filters: Choose from various filter options, including Single Select, Multiple Select, Yes/No, Assigned To, and Linked Records.
Conditional Filtering Logic: Combine Filter Widget criteria with the existing filters in connected widgets for advanced data control.
Configuring the Filter Widget
Follow these steps to set up the Filter Widget in your SmartSuite Dashboard:
1. Add the Filter Widget:
In your Dashboard, click on Add Widget.
Select Filter Widget from the options.
Choose the Solution and Table that will serve as the data source.
2. Define Widget Connections:
Select the widgets you want to connect to the Filter Widget. Only widgets that pull data from the same table as the Filter Widget will be available for connection.
Each widget can only be connected to one Filter Widget at a time, but one Filter Widget can be linked to multiple widgets.
Note that you will receive an error message if there are no widgets available for connection.
2. Decide if you want to Display Widget Name
Select the widgets you want to connect to the Filter Widget. Only widgets that pull data from the same table as the Filter Widget will be available for connection.
Configuring Dynamic Filters
Filter Widgets create what we call Dynamic Filters that allow users to quickly narrow their view to include only those elements and records that meet the selected criteria.
Configuring them is easy:
In the widget’s settings, click on the Filter tab.
Click Add Filter to configure a filter.
The Filter Widget supports dynamic filters for several field types, allowing you to apply precise filtering to the connected widgets. They include:
Status: Filter records by their status (e.g., Completed, In Progress).
Assigned To: Filter based on the assigned user.
Yes/No Fields: Apply filters for yes/no responses.
Linked Records: Filter by linked records in other tables.
Default Values and Conditions
You can also configure Default Values and Conditions to select the view your users will initially be presented with. The default conditions vary depending on field type. You can also specify the direction of sorting for the available values.
Use Cases for the Filter Widget
The Filter Widget in SmartSuite is a powerful tool designed to streamline data management across your dashboard. By applying custom filters dynamically, it allows you to create a centralized, real-time view of your workspace data, making it easier to focus on what’s important.
Here are some practical use cases for the Filter Widget:
Project Management: Filter tasks by status (e.g., Completed, In Progress) to get a clear view of project progress.
Sales Tracking: Narrow down leads by their status or assigned sales representative to focus on high-priority opportunities.
Customer Support: Filter support tickets by their status or assigned agent to manage workload and prioritize urgent issues.
HR Management: Filter employee records by department or employment status to streamline HR processes.
Inventory Management: Filter inventory items by stock status or supplier to manage stock levels and supplier relationships.
Marketing Campaigns: Filter campaign data by status or assigned team member to track campaign progress and performance.
Financial Reporting: Filter financial records by date range or account type to generate specific financial reports.
Event Planning: Filter event tasks by status or assigned team member to ensure all event preparations are on track.
Product Development: Filter development tasks by status or assigned developer to monitor the progress of product features.
Education Management: Filter student records by grade level or enrollment status to manage student information efficiently.
Putting it All Together
The Filter Widget in SmartSuite acts as a central control hub for your dashboard, allowing you to apply specific filter criteria across multiple connected widgets. By selecting data from any Solution and Table within SmartSuite, the Filter Widget dynamically refines the displayed information based on your chosen conditions.
For instance, you can filter tasks by their status, such as “Not Started” or “In Progress,” to get a clear view of your project’s progress. This real-time filtering capability ensures that all connected widgets update simultaneously, providing a cohesive and focused data view. This is how it looks in action:
The Filter Widget can narrow down data based on business-specific criteria, such as the assigned representative or other relevant fields. For example, in a sales dashboard, you can filter leads by the assigned sales representative to focus on high-priority opportunities.
Similarly, in a customer support scenario, you can filter tickets by their status or assigned agent to manage workload and prioritize urgent issues. This flexibility in filtering allows you to tailor your dashboard to meet specific business needs, enhancing data visibility and decision-making.
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