---
title: "Using Jinja to Retrieve Time Grain Filter Values"
slug: "using-jinja-to-retrieve-time-grain-filter-values"
updated: 2026-09-09T10:54:13Z
published: 2026-09-09T10:54:13Z
canonical: "docs.preset.io/using-jinja-to-retrieve-time-grain-filter-values"
stale: true
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.preset.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Using Jinja to Retrieve Time Grain Filter Values

## **Overview**

This article covers how to use Jinja Templating to retrieve a time grain filter selection that can be used directly in a Virtual Dataset's SQL query: ![time_grain_jinja](https://cdn.document360.io/4749ddf8-aa05-4f3f-80e1-07a5d2d0f137/Images/Documentation/Recording%202026-04-17%20182756.gif)

## **The Process**

This process consists of 3 steps:

1. Create or edit your Virtual Dataset.
2. Create a Chart and add it to a Dashboard.
3. Configure the Dashboard and filters.

Let's have a closer look at each step.

---

## **Step 1: Create or edit your Virtual Dataset**

For this example, we'll use the `Vehicle Sales` table from the `examples` database.

Consider the query below:

```
SELECT
date_trunc(
{%- if time_grain == 'P1D' -%}
'day'
{%- elif time_grain == 'P1W' -%}
'week'
{%- elif time_grain == 'P1M' -%}
'month'
{%- elif time_grain == 'P3M' -%}
'quarter'
{%- elif time_grain == 'P1Y' -%}
'year'
{%- elif time_grain == 'P1Y' -%}
'year'
{% else %}
'month'
{%- endif -%}
, order_date) as order_date
,sales
,product_line
FROM "Vehicle Sales" 
group by date_trunc(
{%- if time_grain == 'P1D' -%}
'day'
{%- elif time_grain == 'P1W' -%}
'week'
{%- elif time_grain == 'P1M' -%}
'month'
{%- elif time_grain == 'P3M' -%}
'quarter'
{%- elif time_grain == 'P1Y' -%}
'year'
{%- elif time_grain == 'P1Y' -%}
'year'
{% else %}
'month'
{%- endif -%}
,order_date)
,sales
,product_line
```

A Virtual Dataset created using this query will have three columns: `order_date`, `sales` and `product_line`. This is a simple example where the dashboard filter is applied to the inner query, rather than the outer dataset query.

The `if` statement sections handle the `time_grain` logic. In this example, `month` is set as the default time grain.

To execute this query in SQL Lab:

1. Access your Workspace.
2. Navigate to **SQL > SQL Lab**.
3. Make sure the **examples** connection is selected.
4. Paste the query and click **RUN**.  

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/4749ddf8-aa05-4f3f-80e1-07a5d2d0f137/Images/Documentation/image(423).png)

This is the produced SQL query:

```
-- 6dcd92a04feb50f14bbcf07c661680ba
SELECT
  DATE_TRUNC('MONTH', order_date) AS order_date,
  sales,
  product_line
FROM "Vehicle Sales"
GROUP BY
  DATE_TRUNC('MONTH', order_date),
  sales,
  product_line
LIMIT 1001
-- 6dcd92a04feb50f14bbcf07c661680ba
```

Click CREATE CHART to build a chart from this query.

---

## **Step 2: Create a Chart and add it to a Dashboard**

In the **Chart Builder**, create a table chart using the default configurations:

1. Click **SAVE** in the top right corner.  

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/4749ddf8-aa05-4f3f-80e1-07a5d2d0f137/Images/Documentation/image(424).png)
2. Name your chart and also create a dashboard to it:  

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/4749ddf8-aa05-4f3f-80e1-07a5d2d0f137/Images/Documentation/image(425).png)
3. Click the **SAVE & GO TO DASHBOARD** button.

---

## **Step 3: Configure the Dashboard and filters**

The dashboard will open in your browser. Here are the steps to configure the filter:

1. Click on the right arrow to expand the Filter menu.  

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/4749ddf8-aa05-4f3f-80e1-07a5d2d0f137/Images/Documentation/image(426).png)
2. Click the **Cog** icon and **Add or edit filters and controls**  

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/4749ddf8-aa05-4f3f-80e1-07a5d2d0f137/Images/Documentation/image(427).png)
3. In the **Filter Type** field, select "Time grain", and in the **Filter Name** field, enter a name for the filter.
4. In the **Dataset** field, select the dataset created in **Step 1**.
5. Navigate to the **Scoping** tab and make sure the filter is mapped to the chart that was added to the dashboard.
6. Click Save.

Great work! Now, let's see the filter in action: ![time_grain_jinja](https://cdn.document360.io/4749ddf8-aa05-4f3f-80e1-07a5d2d0f137/Images/Documentation/Recording%202026-04-17%20182756.gif)