Interactive Controls

Slicers

Clicking a button filters the connected pivot table and any linked pivot chart instantly. No dropdown menus, no dialog boxes — one click shows only that store, category, or salesperson. Multiple values can be selected by holding Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac), and a clear button in the top-right corner of the slicer resets to All.

The dashboard value of slicers comes from their ability to control multiple pivot tables simultaneously. A single Store slicer can filter a revenue summary, a transaction count table, and a monthly trend chart all at once — the user clicks once and the entire dashboard updates.

To insert a slicer:
Click inside the pivot table → PivotTable Analyze tab → Insert Slicer → choose the field (e.g. Store) → OK.
The slicer appears as a floating panel — drag to reposition it near the charts it controls.

Timelines

A timeline is a slicer built specifically for date fields. Instead of a list of buttons, it shows a horizontal bar representing the date range, and you drag handles to select a specific period. The time level — Years, Quarters, Months, or Days — can be switched with a dropdown in the top-right corner of the timeline panel.

Inserting a timeline:

1. Click inside the pivot table or chart;
2. PivotTable Analyze tab → Insert Timeline;
3. Select the date field — e.g. Order Date — and click OK;
4. Drag the handles on the timeline bar to select a date range. Use the level dropdown (top-right) to switch between Years, Quarters, Months, or Days.

Task

1. Insert a slicer (Store)

   Click inside the PivotTable. Go to PivotTable Analyze → Insert Slicer, select Store, and click OK.

2. Apply and test filters

   Click one store (e.g., Northgate). The PivotTable and PivotChart update immediately.
   
   

   Hold Ctrl and select another store (e.g., Riverside) to analyze multiple selections at once.

3. Reset the view

   Click the Clear Filter icon in the slicer. All data becomes visible again.

4. Insert a timeline (Order Date)

   Click inside the PivotTable. Go to PivotTable Analyze → Insert Timeline, select Order Date, and click OK. A timeline control will appear.

5. Filter by time

   Change the timeline level (e.g., Months → Days). Drag to select a specific time range (e.g., January). The dashboard now reflects only that period.

6. Combine filters

   Select a store in the slicer and adjust the timeline. The PivotTable and charts now reflect both filters simultaneously.