> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.inforiver.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/18.-variables/variable-types/select.md).
# Select
You can use the single and multi select variable to choose one or multiple options simultaneously from a set of choices.
## 1. Multi select
### 1. Multi select configuration
This section outlines configurations specific to multi-select variables.
**1.1. Options:** Specify the options that will be displayed in the variables panel.
**1.2. Assign values:** Enable this toggle to assign values to each option. The value associated with the option will be taken when the variable is referenced.
Multi select variable configuration
**1.3. Select any one to create from:** Choose the **List** option to enter the dropdown values manually.
Instead of manually keying in the dimension categories, you can directly source them by selecting the dimension. Choose the **Dataset** option and select the appropriate dimension from the dropdown to source values.
{% hint style="info" %}
This option is currently available only in Reporting Matrix.
{% endhint %}
Select dropdown categories from dataset
### 2. Examples
#### **2.1. Filter based on option selection**
**STEP 1:** Create a select variable with the configuration shown below.
Create select variable
**STEP 2:** Create an Inforiver filter that references the technical name of the select variable.
Create an Inforiver filter
**STEP 3:** Select options from the variable and notice how the data gets filtered without having to update the Inforiver filter.
Filtering data with a select variable
## 2. Single select
This section outlines configurations specific to multi-select variables.
**1.1. Options:** Specify the options that will be displayed in the variables panel.
**1.2. Assign values:** Enable this toggle to assign values to each option. The value associated with the option will be taken when the variable is referenced.
Single select variable configuration
You can set up filters using single-select variables, which is similar to how we do for multi-select variables.
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