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Search filters

Search filters provide custom search boxes to allow quick filtering across specific variables in a dashboard. This persistent search tool makes it easy for any dashboard viewer to find specific records or values without having to understand the underlying data structure.

Example use cases

Customer ID

Create a search filter labelled Customer ID that searches across both Customer Reference Number and Customer URN variables, allowing viewers to find customers regardless of which identifier they have.

Human resources dashboard

HR professionals often need to quickly locate employee records based on various identifiers like surname, email address, or employee ID. A search filter lets you enter any of these details into a single search box.

Customer support dashboard

Customer support agents often need to retrieve customer records based on partial information, such as a surname or a ticket reference number. Using the search filter, agents can input whatever information is available, and the dashboard will pull up relevant records where any of the search terms match.

Sales team dashboard

Sales teams often need to pull up client records for follow-ups or reporting. By setting up a search filter, sales personnel can quickly locate client information using any available data, such as the company name, contact email, or client ID.

Project management dashboard

Project managers often need to search for specific project files or documentation that may be indexed by multiple text variables, like project name, project code, or manager's name. By using a search filter, project managers can easily find relevant documents by entering any associated text.

Compliance monitoring dashboard

Compliance officers might need to perform regular checks on records, where they have to verify multiple identifiers such as registration numbers, business names, or email addresses. A search filter allows them to input any of these identifiers and return all records matching any of the terms.

Prerequisites

To create search filters:

  • Enable Dashboard Search Filters in Application Settings > Dashboard Settings
  • Have edit permissions for a dashboard

Creating a search filter

  1. Open your dashboard and click Edit.
  2. Click Filters to open the Filters side panel.

  3. Under Search Filters, enter your custom search label in the text box to help viewers know what they are filtering.

    Tip

    Choose labels that clearly indicate what viewers should search for (e.g., 'Customer Email' rather than just 'Search').

  4. Click + Add Filter.

  5. In the Select filter dialogue, search for and add one or more variables by ticking the checkboxes. See Working with filters.

    Note

    Search filters only accept variables.

    Tip

    Group related variables together in a single search filter. For example, combine Forename and Surname variables in a 'Customer Name' search filter.

  6. Click Add.

  7. Add any additional variable to your filter by clicking + Add Filter again.

    Tip

    Click the bin icon to remove a variable from the filter.

  8. Toggle on Show filters in view mode if you want viewers to see the filters in view mode.

  9. Click Close.

  10. Save your dashboard.

A search box appears in the top-right corner with your chosen label.

When viewers use this search filter, Orbit searches all specified variables and returns results matching any of them.

Using search filters in view mode

  1. In view mode, enter your search term in the search box.
  2. Press Enter or wait a few seconds.

The dashboard filters to show only records matching the search term across the specified variables.

Tip

Clear your search by clicking the X.

Note

View any active search filter variables by clicking Filters and expanding Search filters in the side panel.

Note

You can switch off search filters if you do not want them to be available on a user system.