---
title: "Using Views"
description: "Views let you create saved filters on your model, to show only specific variables, category items, scenarios, time periods, and charts. This can be useful if you as the model builder want to filter the model for a specific subset of things, or if you want to share only a View of your model with your collaborators, as opposed to the whole thing."
source_url: https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/viewing-and-visualizing-data/using-views
language: en
last_updated: 2023-08-16
---
# Using Views

## Overview

Views let you create saved filters on your model, to show only specific variables, dimension items, scenarios, time periods, and charts.

This can be useful if you as the model builder want to filter the model for a specific subset of data, or if you want to [share only a view](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/viewing-and-visualizing-data/using-views/sharing-views.md) of your model with your collaborators, instead of the whole model content.

## Creating and Configuring a View

To create and configure a view:

{% stepper %}
{% stepper-step %}
Click the **Views** button in the top left of the spreadsheet.
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
In the **Views** dialog, click **New** or **Create a view** and start adding filters (see subheading below).

{% /stepper-step %}
{% /stepper %}
## Filter Options

The **Filters** section is displayed as follows:

Filter options to configure a view

The following filters are available:

### Variable filters

| Filter | Description |
|---------|---------|
| is none of | Filters out the specific variable(s) you select |
| is one of | Filters for only the specific variable(s) you select |
| contains | Filters for variable names that contain your searched term |
| has dimension | Filters for only the variables that have the selected dimension applied |
| does not have dimension | Filters out the variables that have the selected dimension applied |

### Chart filters

| Filter | Description |
|---------|---------|
| is one of | Filters out the selected visual(s) |
| is none of | Filters for only the selected visual(s) |

{% info-box %}
Note that if you share a view with a **chart filter**, the variables in the spreadsheet will still be visible, unless you explicitly filter them out. In this situation, a [dashboard](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/viewing-and-visualizing-data/using-dashboards.md) may be more appropriate.
{% /info-box %}

### Time filters

The time filter is simple - just enter the time range you would like to see. Note that this affects both the spreadsheet, as well as the time range shown in any visuals.

### Dimension filters

The dimension **is one of** filters by dimension item(s) within a **dimension**(on all the variables where that dimension exists), as well as any dimensions mapped to it.

**Example**:

If **Employee** is linked to **Title** which is linked to **Department**, and your view filters for the **Engineering Department**, xP&A will do the following across the spreadsheet and charts:

- Filter for **Engineering** on the variables that have the **Department** dimension
- Filter for the **Titles** that sit within **Engineering** on any variables that have the **Title** dimension
- Filter for **Employees** within **Engineering**(linked via their **Title**), on any variables that have the **Employees** dimension
- Filter the [aggregates](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/modeling-your-data/using-dimensions/aggregating-dimensions.md) of the above relevant variables for only the **Engineering Department**
 - If you want to show others the unfiltered aggregates within a view, you can do this by creating another variable that [aggregates the dimension away](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/modeling-your-data/create-andedit-formulas/variable-modifiers.md) (e.g. create a **Monthly Payroll** with the **Department** dimension aggregated away).

{% warning-box %}
Please note:

- Dimensions that are not effectively linked to the filter dimension will not be filtered.
 - Consider the modified version of the example above: If in your data it is possible to have the same **Title** belonging to different departments, you cannot establish **Title**-\> **Department** mappings; you could only have **Employee**-\> **Title** and **Employee**-\> **Department**. If you then create a view that filters by department, the **Employee** items will be filtered, but your users still could access all the items of the **Title** dimension, e.g. via [Editable Tables](https://docs.causal.app/charts-and-dashboards/creating-visuals/editable-tables). This might not be desirable if the names of **Title** items are sensitive.
 - As a workaround, for some data sources it is possible to replace **Title** with synthetic column like **Title & Department**, which can directly be mapped to **Department**, thus allowing the filter rules to work.
- This **will not** filter out variables that **do not have the dimension on them**. If you wish to do that, you could combine the filters **Variable has dimension** and **Dimension is one of.**
{% /warning-box %}

### Scenario filters

| Filter | Description |
|---------|---------|
| is one of | Filters for only the specific scenario(s) you select |

{% info-box %}
When a view with a **scenario** filter is active, you will only be able to see the **selected** scenarios.
{% /info-box %}

## Examples for Views

### Model Navigation

Models can get large and complex. Views let you easily slice and dice your model for just the portion you are wanting to see at a point in time. For example, if I just want to dig into the inputs for **Model 3** for **2025**, I could set up the view below to easily select.

Example for model view

### Budgeting Processes

For example - if your **Expenses model** is broken down by **Department**, you can create separate views to share with each department head, where they will only be shown the parts of the model that are relevant to them.

### Tailored Dashboards

You might need to share your model with different groups of stakeholders — the management team, the rest of the company, investors, board, etc.

Instead of creating separate models to slice the same information in different ways, you can create multiple views on the same model. Each view will limit which charts, tables, and variables are shown, so that each group of stakeholders can see a dashboard that is tailored to them.