---
title: "system.dataset.filterColumns"
description: "Takes a dataset and returns a view of the dataset containing only the columns found within the given list of columns."
---

# system.dataset.filterColumns

> Takes a dataset and returns a view of the dataset containing only the columns found within the given list of columns.

This function is used in **Python Scripting**.

## Description

## Client Permission Restrictions
This scripting function has no [Client Permission](projects\project-properties\project-properties.md#client---permissions) restrictions.

## Syntax
`system.dataset.filterColumns(dataset, columns)`

### Parameters
Type | Parameter | Description 
------- | ------- | ------
Dataset | `dataset` | The starting dataset.
PySequence | `columns` | A list of columns to keep in the returned dataset. The columns may be in integer index form (starting at 0), or the name of the columns as Strings.

### Returns
**Dataset** - A new dataset containing the filtered columns.

### Scope
All

## Code Examples
```python title="Example 1"

# This example takes the dataset from a five column Bar Chart and displays a subset of the data in two separate tables.  This is performed in a button component actionPerformed script.
  
chartData = event.source.parent.getComponent('Bar Chart').data
 
northSouth = [1, 2] # North Area, South Area cols
eastWest = ["East Area", "West Area"] 
 
filteredData = system.dataset.filterColumns(chartData, northSouth)
event.source.parent.getComponent('NorthSouthTable').data = filteredData
  
filteredData = system.dataset.filterColumns(chartData, eastWest)
event.source.parent.getComponent('EastWestTable').data = filteredData
```