When working with a range of related cells in Excel, my first step is to create an Excel Table. In addition to the benefits noted in my post “Excel – My Favourite Things - Excel Tables,” slicers is another feature available for Excel Tables that I often use.
Slicers are an interactive method to filter Excel Tables, PivotTables and related charts. It provides a quick way to filter data, see how it is filtered, and quickly clear the filter.
For this example, we will use a chart created from the data in an Excel Table to demonstrate the creation and configuration of a slicer.
Slicers are an interactive method to filter Excel Tables, PivotTables and related charts. It provides a quick way to filter data, see how it is filtered, and quickly clear the filter.
For this example, we will use a chart created from the data in an Excel Table to demonstrate the creation and configuration of a slicer.
On the Table Design tab (must have a cell within the table selected for the tab to show), click Insert Slicer. The following dialogue will open; we will select month from the list and click OK for this slicer.
Your slicer will now be an object on the Excel sheet that you can move and resize. To configure the slicer, with it selected, click on the Slicer tab on the ribbon. The Slicer tab provides configuration options, including Slicer Styles, align, and set the columns, button size, and overall size of the slicer.
One setting I find very useful under Slicer Settings is to change the Display header and check Hide items with no data.
With the slicer options completed, you can quickly filter the table and chart and clear the filter by clicking on the icon at the top of the slicer.
 Icon at the top of the slicer |  |  |
Multiple slicers can be connected to the same Excel Table to allow advanced filtering.
Enjoy the simplification of filtering with Slicers in your workbooks.
Enjoy the simplification of filtering with Slicers in your workbooks.
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