What are report filters?

Filters determine what data is or isn’t included in a report when it is generated. There are two main types of report filters: hardcoded and changeable. 

A custom print can only have hardcoded filters, whereas an aggregated report can have a mixture of both hardcoded and changeable. Filters can either be single select or multi-select.

What is a hardcoded filter? 

A hardcoded filter is one which is built into the report and can't be changed by the user. This type of filter is most commonly found in print templates. 

Here are some examples of hardcoded filters:

Inclusions

• Only include ‘key’ records i.e. key tasks/milestones, key risks, key issues etc.
• Only include ‘red’ status records i.e. red tasks/milestones, red risks, red issues etc.
• Only include milestones, not tasks.

Exclusions

• Exclude any records that have a status of ‘complete’ or ‘done’.
• Exclude archived data.
• Exclude all financial data.

To accommodate different filter requirements on custom prints, multiple versions of a print template can be created. For example, a full business case which includes all data and then a light business case which only includes key records and excludes all financial data. 

What is a changeable filter?

A changeable filter is one which sits outside of the report and is selected by the user before the report is generated. This type of filter is only found in aggregated reports and enables the same report to be run multiple times, presenting different sets of data. 

Changeable filters can be progressive or non-progressive. Progressive filters will only show results based on the previous filter selection.

Here are some examples of changeable filters:

• Hierarchy groups i.e. select one programme group, run the report and then run it again with another hierarchy group. Hierarchy filters can either be single or multi-select. 
• Stages i.e. include all projects from the Initiate and Deliver stages only, or select all stages apart from Closure.
• Tag Headers and Tags i.e. select ‘Department’ and then one or more department tags. 
• Key i.e. just include key records or include all records
• Statuses i.e. include all projects or just those marked as ‘red’, ‘red and amber’.
• Dates i.e. only include costs and savings for this financial year, or only include tasks and milestones due in the next 3 months.
• Risk Score i.e. include all risks or just those above a current score of 20.