Azure SQL Direct Query Method: Default Filter to restrict Retrieved Data

Hello All,

I am currently building a dashboard using Azure SQL as the DB and using Direct Query mode for visualization.

The DB stores Web Analytics information.

The count of records for some of the facts have  ~10million and upwards, the column list though is not much maximum metrics and dimensions being 20.

Is there a way i can perform the following operations to improve the performance of the dashboard.

1. Define a default Date parameter to restrict Web Analytics information being retrieved when the dashboard loads.

2. Override this default parameter with a user selection ? The Date Filter is chiclet slicer visualization.

Thanks for any help and feedback