The Advanced Filter and Input Box in Looker Studio

If you want to let viewers search for specific values within a report, the input box in Looker Studio is a very useful control to try. It works like a search field: the viewer enters a word, phrase or number, and the compatible charts on the page are filtered accordingly.

Looker Studio is now called Data Studio. The controls and options explained in this post are still available, but you’ll now find them under the current Data Studio name.

The Input Box and Advanced Filter are two similar controls. Both allow viewers to enter their own search term instead of selecting a value from a predefined list, but there are some important differences between them.

Let’s explore how the input box in Looker Studio works, how it compares with the Advanced Filter, and when I would use each option.

For the examples in this post, I’ve used the Superstore Products dataset. Visit my post on how to add data sources to Data Studio to learn more about the dataset and how to access it.

You can also visit my post on how to add controls to your report in Data Studio if you need a refresher before getting started.

What is the input box in Looker Studio?

The Input Box is a text or number field where the viewer can enter a value. When it’s used as a filter, Data Studio compares that value with the selected control dimension and filters the charts on the page.

For example, you could use an input box to let viewers search for:

• A particular product or brand
• A word contained in a page title or URL
• A campaign name
• A customer or order reference
• One or more specific numerical values

An input box can also be connected to a parameter. In that case, instead of filtering a dimension, it lets the viewer enter a value that can be used in calculated fields, targets or other interactive elements.

In this post, however, we’ll focus on using the input box in Looker Studio as a filter.

Search conditions available in an input box

When configuring an input box as a filter, you select the search condition that Data Studio will use to compare the viewer’s entry with the values in the control field.

The available conditions are:

• Equals: The dimension value must match the search term exactly.
• Contains: The dimension value can contain the search term anywhere within it.
• Starts With: The dimension value must begin with the search term.
• Regexp: The value must match a regular expression.
• In: The value must match one or more search terms, which are entered as a comma-separated list.

The right condition depends on how precise you want the search to be. For example, Equals is useful when the viewer knows the complete value, while Contains is more flexible when the search term forms only part of a longer product name or URL.

Text filters are generally case-sensitive, although this can vary depending on the data connector. It’s therefore a good idea to test the control with your own data and, if necessary, add a short note for viewers.

When should you use an input box?

I use an input box when I want viewers to define the value they’re searching for themselves.

This is particularly useful when a dimension contains so many values that displaying them in a dropdown list would be inconvenient. Rather than scrolling through hundreds of product names, pages or search queries, the viewer can type the relevant term directly.

The input box in Looker Studio also works well when I want to control the search behaviour in advance. I select the appropriate search type during the report setup, and the viewer only needs to enter their term.

How to configure an input box in Looker Studio

Suppose you have a table containing product names, quantities and gross revenue. You want viewers to display only products from the Wilson Jones brand.

The brand isn’t stored in a separate field, but it appears within the product name. We can therefore use Product Name as the control field and search within that dimension.

Here’s how I set it up:

1. Add an Input Box control to the report.
2. Select Product Name as the control field.
3. Choose Contains as the search type.
4. Place the control close to the table it will filter.
5. Test the control by entering Wilson Jones.

Using Contains means the search term can appear anywhere within the product name. The product doesn’t need to begin or end with “Wilson Jones”.

With the configuration above, the input box in Looker Studio, now Data Studio, should look like this:

When the viewer enters Wilson Jones, the table is filtered to show only product names containing that text. The quantities and gross revenue displayed in the table will update at the same time.

Remember to test the capitalisation used in the dataset, as text filtering is generally case-sensitive but can behave differently depending on the connector.

What is the Advanced Filter in Data Studio?

The Advanced Filter is similar to the Input Box, but it gives the viewer more control over how the search is performed.

Instead of the report creator fixing the search condition, the available conditions appear in a dropdown menu within the control. The viewer can enter a value and choose whether Data Studio should look for an exact match, a partial match, a value that starts with the term, a regular expression or one of several values.

Unlike an input box, an Advanced Filter can only be used to filter data. It can’t be used to provide a value to a parameter.

When should you use an Advanced Filter?

Use the Advanced Filter when you want viewers to choose both the search term and the condition used to match it.

For example, one viewer might want to find every product name that contains “Wilson”, while another may want to find a product name that equals a complete value. The Advanced Filter lets both viewers choose the option that best suits their search.

This makes it more flexible than the input box in Looker Studio, but it also asks the viewer to make an additional decision. I therefore use it when the audience is likely to understand the different search conditions and benefit from that flexibility.

Advanced Filter example

We can use the same Wilson Jones example for the Advanced Filter.

Select Product Name as the control field. The viewer can then enter Wilson Jones and select Contains from the condition dropdown.

Personally, I often prefer the Advanced Filter when I want viewers to have the flexibility to select the filtering condition that best suits their needs.

If you want to change the condition that appears by default, go to Search type within the control settings and select the option you prefer.

Input Box vs Advanced Filter

The two controls look and behave in similar ways, but the main difference is who chooses the search condition.

• Input Box: The report creator selects the search condition in advance. The viewer only enters the value.
• Advanced Filter: The viewer can enter a value and choose the search condition from the control.

I use the input box in Looker Studio when I want the search experience to remain simple and predictable. I use the Advanced Filter when the viewer needs more flexibility.

Neither option is always better. The right choice depends on the report, the dimension being searched and how confident the audience will be choosing between different operators.

Final thoughts on the input box in Looker Studio

The input box in Looker Studio, now Data Studio, is a simple way to help viewers search within dimensions containing many possible values.

It gives you control over the search condition and keeps the viewer’s interaction straightforward. The Advanced Filter offers more flexibility by allowing viewers to select the condition themselves.

Both controls can make a report much easier to explore, particularly when a dropdown list would contain too many options.

Give them a try and see which one provides the best experience for your report viewers.

What do you think of these two controls? Did you already know about them? As always, your comments and questions are more than welcome!

FAQs – The Advanced Filter and Input Box in Looker Studio