How do I apply data filter to only the table range and not the whole row?

Question

I have got two adjacent tables. When I apply data filter on first table, it filters the whole row hiding rows from 2nd table as well. How do I restrict filter to only the first table range?

Answer 1

To answer your direct question How do I restrict filter to only the first table range? the answer is - you can't.

Reading the comments it seems what you need is to display the filtered table data next to a chart and another table. There is a little know tool in Excel that you can use to achieve this - the Camera Tool. With this you can create a dynamic image of a range and place it where you want. The image updates when a filter is applied to the source range, without affecting the rows on the Dashboard sheet.

Screenshots to demonstrate: Setup with tables on seperate sheets, and camera images beside chart on dashboard sheet

With Filter applied to Table A

The Camera tool is not on the Ribbon (Excel 2010) or the standard toolbars (Excel 2003). You need to add it using Customisation. (Add to Qucik Access Toolbar in 2010 or Tools/Customisation Menu in 2003)

Answer 2

I had a similar issue, where i had a table I wanted to remain static - like a key, but wanted to filter the main table.

To get around this, I copied the static table, and pasted it as an image. This way, when you filter on the main table, the image remains where you have put it.

Answer 3

Unfortunately you won't be able to do that. When you filter, it filters the entire row (something to think about would be how the row number would display if that weren't the case). You will need to restructure your setup if you wish to prevent that (not sure of your particular use case, so sorry I can't give a more specific suggestion).

Answer 4

A simple workaround for this general issue that others may have mentioned (but I don't see here):

You can't filter just a range (eg a few columns in a spreadsheet), but you can sort just a range. And by sorting the range, then deleting some blocks of unwanted cells in the range, then sorting the range back to the original order, you can fake a filter.

A bit clunky, but easy for some jobs if you're careful.