Creating an embedded filter

1. In a semantic data model tree, locate the table that you want to add filters to, and choose one of the following options:

• To create a filter for a single column in the table, from the column menu, click Filter.

• To create filters for multiple columns in a table, from the table menu, click Manage filters. On the Filters tab, select the column for which you want to create the filter, and click Add a filter.

  This option in the expression editor allows you to create a filter by using the expression editor. Specify the filter name, type its expression, and click OK. Next, you can either continue adding filters by using this option, or proceed to step 2.

2. Specify the filter values. The options to select values depend on the column data type.

   For columns with integer and decimal data types, you have two options to specify the values: Range and Individual items. When you choose Range, you can use the slider to specify the range values, or type the range start and end values. When you choose Individual items, select the check boxes that are associated with the values.

   You can enter decimal values only for columns with the decimal data type. When you try to enter a decimal value for a column with the integer data type, the decimal separator is cleared.

• For columns with date and time (timestamp) data types, specify a range of values before, after, or between the selected date and time, or select individual values.

• For columns with text data types, select the check boxes that are associated with the values.

3. Click OK to save the filter.

   The effect of the filter is not automatically shown for the members in the semantic model panel. To see that effect, click Refresh members on the related column.

If you used the Manage filters option, you can continue creating filters for other columns in the table. The filters that you created are listed on the Filters tab.

After an embedded filter is created, the filter icon appears next to the column and table names in the semantic model panel and expression editor.

The filter icon on a table indicates that the table contains at least one embedded filter. You can see the embedded filters that a table contains in the table properties, on the *Filters tab.

Embedded filters in a complex query

Semantic data models include a Design mode setting, which you can access in the Properties tab. Design mode controls, which filters the system applies during queries. This setting is enabled by default.

You can add an embedded filter to a metric definition and set it to Design mode to reduce sampling during the definition enrichment. For example, you can exclude data that is irrelevant for specific locations, time periods, product lines, and other dimensions. This approach is especially useful when working with highly complex data packages.

During the export of metric definitions, watsonx BI profiles your data to build enriched metrics. Profiling can fail when the sampling set includes a high volume of data. To reduce the risk of failures, use a Design mode filter to limit the data. For example, you can apply a Design mode filter to limit the data to a single year or a specific country. Using this filter helps can ensure that enrichment completes successfully and quickly.

When you add an embedded filter to a metric definition, choose one of the following Usage values to control when the filter is applied:

• Enabled - The filter is always applied.

• Disabled - The filter is not applied.

• Default - The filter is applied, unless the incoming query contains a filter that references the same columns (query items).

• Design mode - The filter is applied only when the query indicates that it’s in design mode.

Filters that use Design mode always run during metadata enrichment and during suggested question generation. These filters are not used in conversations.

Semantic data models also include a Design mode setting in the Properties tab. This setting controls, which filters the system applies during modeling queries and is enabled by default. When Design mode is on, filters with a Usage of Design mode run during modeling.

Managing embedded filters

To edit or remove a filter on a single column or a table:

1. From the column or table menu, click Properties.

2. On the Filters tab, click the filter name to expand the section.

3. Click the appropriate link.

Creating a selectable filter

1. Open a semantic data model and decide what type of a selectable filter you want to create.

• To create a filter inside a table, from the table menu, click Filter.

  The Filter option is also available for a folder inside the table, and for the table in the diagram.

• To create a filter outside a table, from the semantic data model menu, click Filter.

  The Filter option is also available for a folder at the root of the semantic data model.

  The expression editor opens.

2. Type the filter name.

3. In the Expression panel, provide the filter expression by using the expression editor capabilities

4. Click OK.

The filter is added as a stand-alone entry in the semantic model panel with the filter icon before the filter name.

Filters that are created at the folder-level are added to the applicable folder.

Managing selectable filters

To edit the filter, from the filter menu, click Edit filter.

To remove the filter, from the filter menu, click Remove.