---
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

Takes a [dataset](platform/scripting/python-scripting/variables-datatypes-and-objects/datasets.md) and returns a view of the dataset containing only the columns found within the given list of columns.

:::note
Datasets are immutable, which means they cannot be directly modified once created. Instead, this scripting function returns a new dataset with some modification applied, which must be assigned to a variable to be used. See [Altering a Dataset](platform/scripting/python-scripting/variables-datatypes-and-objects/datasets.md#altering-a-dataset).
:::

## Client Permission Restrictions
This scripting function has no [Client Permission](../../../ignition-modules/vision/vision-project-properties/vision-project-properties.md#vision-permissions-properties) restrictions.

## Syntax

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

### Parameters
Type | Parameter | Description 
------- | ------- | ------- 
Dataset / PyDataset | `dataset` | The starting dataset.
List[Integer] / List[String] | `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. If a value passed to this parameter is not in a list, then an empty dataset will be returned. 

### Returns
**Dataset** - A new dataset containing the filtered columns. The order of columns in this dataset is determined by the column order provided to the columns parameter. 

### Scope
Gateway, Vision Client, Perspective Session

## Code Examples

```python title="Code Snippet"
# This example takes the dataset from a two 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
   
north = [0, 1] # Label and North Area columns (using column index)
south = ["Label", "South Area"] # Label and South Area columns (using column names)
   
filteredData = system.dataset.filterColumns(chartData, north)
event.source.parent.getComponent('NorthTable').data = filteredData
 
filteredData = system.dataset.filterColumns(chartData, south)
event.source.parent.getComponent('SouthTable').data = filteredData
```