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Excel Slicer Tool
The Excel slicer tool is a visual filtering option made to simplify the data filtering process in Excel. With the data modeling briefly outlined above, using the Excel version 2010 and above, users can easily create and control slicers, link, and sync several slicers to filter views concurrently.
The visual aspect of the slicers makes it an appealing and delightful experience to filter data rather than using the old method of filtering in the dropdown menus. Slicers are data tables or PivotTable fields that, when clicked, change what is shown in the analyzed summary report.
Excel Pivot Table Slicer
Pivot Table slicers are specific filtering tools used in Excel to advance user interactivity within Dynamic reports. Dynamic reports in Excel are the interactive summary reports created from cluster data to show the trends and make Decision. In a Pivot Table, a table summarizing enormous data sets, a slicer provides a visual method for filtering the stated data from the table.
The Pivot Table Slicer is part of the Pivot Table feature, hence to analyze data through manipulation, a user should first create a Pivot Table. Compared to the Excel Slicer Tool, the functionality remains pretty much identical when using them with a Data Model or Pivot Table.
Excel Table Slicer
However, unlike the slicer tools for the Data Model and Pivot Table, which are only available from Excel 2010 onward, the Table slicer can only be produced in Excel 2013 and newer. Excel Table Slicer differs from Pivot Table Slicer because it doesn't analyze data from a Pivot Table but rather constrained data in standard Excel tables. While filtering in Excel Tables, the Slicer can be utilized as a feature confined to Excel Tables, offering a better method of filtering without involving any Pivot Table.
Excel Slicers
Excel Slicers from the File tab can be formatted from the Ribbon under the Slicer Tools - Options styling menu. In the Excel Slicer Tool, one can format the slicer to change its dimensions and colors. Every slicer contains selectable rectangles named buttons with a category of data. Such buttons contain the name of the data category, which corresponds to the given column in the underlying data set.
Upon clicking a button in the slicer, the data that relates to that button is shown in the report, while the irrelevant data is hidden. A slicer also has the capability of having a multi-select option, enabling users to choose more than one button at once to show several data categories simultaneously. Additionally, slicers come with filter and clear buttons that, when needed, filter data or return the data to its original state.
Connecting Excel Slicer to Pivot Table
An Excel Slicer that filters a Pivot Table is a powerful interactivity tool. It enables users to filter their summarized data analysis visually. To create an Excel Slicer that connects to a Pivot Table, one first needs to make sure that their Pivot Table is linked to the underlying data. Then, the Slicer is inserted through the Ribbon via the Analyze tab in Excel.
Once created, the Slicer is bound to the Pivot Table by choosing the Pivot Table field that corresponds to the Slicer. After the Slicer has been linked to a specific Pivot Table field, the Slicer buttons are simply clicked to filter the data shown in the Pivot Table results. Moreover, multiple Pivot Tables can be controlled or filtered by one Slicer, thus giving a synchronized view across various reports.
Creating Slicer in Excel
Another feature of the Excel Slicer Tool is the feature of creating Slicers on tables or PivotTables, which can be easily accessed from the Ribbon. Users can access the Slicer insert buttons and define how they want their Slicer to look and how it will behave.
This is performed by linking the slicer to a PivotTable field. The creation of the Slicer in Excel is a simple process, achieved through selecting the Pivot Table and clicking the "Insert Slicer" button from the Ribbon, which opens a window. From this window, users select the desired field to insert slicers.
Following this, a new Slicer object appears on the worksheet centered around the relevant data field. Adjustments made to the field in the main data set reflect accordingly in the Slicer.
Key Features
Key elements or characteristics of the Excel Slicer Tool are its visual approach to filtering the data with an easy-to-use interactivity style. There are important features that need to be highlighted. The Slicer buttons are visible as data categories, making it easy to filter information by simply clicking on the desired button.
Apart from that, filtering is further enhanced by providing checkbox multi-selection capabilities, enabling users to select several data categories concurrently.
Limitations
Despite the usefulness of the Excel Slicer Tool, it does have some limitations. One of its limitations is that it can only be linked to PivotTables and not to regular cells or tables. Exporting worksheets that contain slicers to older Excel formats such as Excel 97 to 2003 may lead to loss of functionality as well as some elements of the slicers.
Working Conditions
The Excel Slicer Tool operates under specified working conditions to ensure seamless functionality.
These conditions entail having an underlying data set, be it a standard Excel table or a data model, for the Slicers to function properly. The slicers should be adequately linked to PivotTables or defined table fields within the worksheet so that the slicer's filtering function can be conveyed to displayed data. Another condition that exists is that the version of Excel should be one from Excel 2010 onward, as earlier versions lack some of the slicer's capabilities and features. In these working conditions, the Excel Slicer Tool attains efficiency in filtering data interactively.
Filtering data
In one business context, an Excel Slicer Tool can be used to filter sales data, an underlying data set. This underlying data set may be a table containing columns for the date, product, salesperson, and sales amount. Right there, the sales PivotTable is created to summarize the data, and slicers are inserted to filter the report by date, product, and salesperson.
For example, the revenue report can be filtered per year by merely clicking a date button, showing that sales figures filtered the analysis in an instant, making decision-making functionalities evolve in business.
Creating dashboards
The Excel dashboard slicers can be used to create an interactive dashboard, another scenario of applying the Excel Slicer Tool. The dashboard here is a collection of charts and PivotTables that provide a complete overview of business performance. Slicers are linked to the dashboard PivotTables, enabling users to filter all dashboard elements by simply clicking on the slicer buttons.
This means that if a user wants to analyze sales by region, he will click on the "South" region slicer button, and all dashboard charts and tables will instantly update to reflect that data. This interactivity feature makes it easier for stakeholders to analyze business performance from various views.
Assessing performance
The third scenario is a two-dimensional analysis of performance assessment in a business setting. For this assessment, a company may have Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as sales, customer count, and employee performance that needs to be analyzed. An underlying data set can be a table containing various columns of this information.
A set of KPIs can be displayed as a PivotTable, and slicers can be added to filter the report according to the different parameters. This allows the users to assess the performance at any time based on any selected factor, be it a specific product, department, or time frame, which is very important for tracking business growth and achieving goals.
The Excel Slicer Tool is an interactive filtering feature that allows users to filter and analyze data visually easily.
Slicers create a visual representation of the filtering process, allowing users to click on buttons to filter data displayed in PivotTables, charts, or tables.
The Excel Slicer Tool feature is included in Excel 2010 and later versions.
Slicers can filter data visually from both Excel tables and PivotTables.
It's limited in functionality if trying to use it on versions prior to 2010 and cannot filter data in regular Excel worksheets.
