Make an in-report filter (similar to Slicer) that does "contains" a user-input text string

[seth127]

Hello,

I'm not very optimistic that this is possible, but I have to imagine that other people would want it too, so I figured I'd ask.

Is it possible to put something in a report that works like a Slicer, but instead of the check boxes like a slicer has, it has a text input box that essentially operates like the "Advanced filtering" tab in the Filters sidebar? 

Basically, I want the user to be able to filter a visualization by items that contain the text string they input (like to search for specific project titles or clients just by typing in the name). I realize that this is possible by going into report view and clicking the Filters sidebar and then selecting the correct field and then cilcking "Advanced filtering" and then clicking "contains" and then typing your text string, but I'm sharing this report mostly with people who aren't terribly proficient with Power BI and I worry that they are never going to remember all of those steps. If I could just build those into a Slicer-like functionality on the report page that would be really awesome and useful.

Fingers crossed that there's a solution, or at least an Ideas ticket for this.

Thanks!

Seth

[Anonymous]

Hello,

Just to give you an update on this. Since this is coming from 2015!... I was missing so much EXCEL 2016 filter by string feature that I looked for something similar in Power BI. I found it, it was (is) called Smart Filter by OKViz. Good, it really does PRE filter your list by the string you are typing and do it fast, but you can just add the suggested items to the filter one by one since they vanish after you select one value, so you have to type again and back to the start point successively. In addition to that, to really filter the list takes a life so you can go for a cup of coffee (or two) while it does the job for some thousands rows tables. Well, I have tried the Attribute Slicer as suggested above and turns out that outperforms OKViz by a round-trip way!! it keeps the PRE filter in place so that you can add items no restrictions, and it keeps the filter when you type a different string!. The only point in favour, or cool feature of OKViz one is that you can set it in observer mode so that it gives you the items in that filed while you filter the table (or visual) by other (or the same) field when using a different filter visual.

[skasper]

I recommend 'Smart Filter by SQLBI' from here https://app.powerbi.com/visuals/

[norahfox · Accepted solution]

Try the Attribute Slicer here: https://app.powerbi.com/visuals/. It's a slicer with a search box.

[seth127]

That is perfect! 

...except that it seems really buggy. When you clear the search field after search, it seems to keep on a filter so then you can only search some of the results. Then if you click around the page on a few things it will at some point actually reset the search. Also, certain searches give results sometimes and then the same search comes up blank 5 minutes later (with no filters on it). Bummer.

It says it's still in development. Anyone know if there's a place to comment on things like this that are in Beta testing? This thing would be awesome if it actually worked right.

Thanks!

Seth