Filter shelf vs filter card in Tableau - Business Scenario Comparison

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a data analyst working with Tableau to create interactive dashboards.

📋 Request: Your manager wants you to explain the difference between using the filter shelf and the filter card in Tableau, and show how each affects the dashboard filtering experience.

📊 Data: You have a sample sales dataset with columns: Region, Category, Sales, and Date.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a simple Tableau dashboard showing sales by region and category, demonstrating filtering using both the filter shelf and the filter card. Provide a clear explanation of their differences.

Sample Data

Region	Category	Sales	Date
East	Furniture	500	2024-01-15
West	Technology	700	2024-01-20
North	Office Supplies	300	2024-02-10
South	Furniture	450	2024-02-15
East	Technology	600	2024-03-05
West	Office Supplies	350	2024-03-10
North	Furniture	400	2024-04-01
South	Technology	550	2024-04-05

1

Step 1: Connect to the sample sales data in Tableau and create a new worksheet.

Load the data with columns: Region, Category, Sales, Date.

Expected Result

Data is loaded and visible in Tableau's data pane.

2

Step 2: Create a bar chart showing total Sales by Region.

Drag 'Region' to Rows, drag 'Sales' to Columns, set aggregation to SUM.

Expected Result

Bar chart displays total sales for each region.

3

Step 3: Add a filter on 'Category' using the filter shelf.

Drag 'Category' to the Filters shelf, select all categories, then keep only 'Furniture' and 'Technology'.

Expected Result

The chart updates to show sales only for Furniture and Technology categories.

4

Step 4: Show the filter card for 'Category' on the worksheet.

Right-click 'Category' on the Filters shelf and select 'Show Filter'.

Expected Result

A filter card appears on the right side allowing interactive filtering by category.

5

Step 5: Explain the difference: The filter shelf controls which data is included in the view and is not visible by default, while the filter card is a visible control on the dashboard that users can interact with to change filters.

No formula needed.

Expected Result

Learner understands that filter shelf is for setting filters behind the scenes, filter card is for user interaction.

6

Step 6: Create a dashboard and add the worksheet with the filter card visible.

Drag the worksheet to the dashboard, ensure the filter card is visible and usable.

Expected Result

Dashboard shows the sales bar chart with a visible filter card for Category.

7

Step 7: Test filtering by selecting different categories on the filter card and observe the chart updating.

Click on 'Furniture' or 'Technology' in the filter card to filter the data.

Expected Result

Chart updates dynamically based on selected categories.

Final Result

Bar Chart

↓

Filter Card: Category

↓

x

↓

x

↓

✓Filter shelf sets filters that control data behind the scenes and are not visible by default.

✓Filter card is a visible filter control on the dashboard that users can interact with.

✓Using filter cards improves user experience by allowing dynamic filtering.

✓Filter shelf filters apply before visualization rendering, filter cards expose these filters to users.

Bonus Challenge

Create a filter action on the dashboard that filters sales by Region when a user clicks on a region in another chart.

Show Hint

Use Dashboard > Actions > Add Filter Action, set source and target sheets, and configure filtering on click.

Practice

1. What is the primary purpose of the Filter Shelf in Tableau?

easy

A. To create calculated fields for filtering

B. To display filter controls for users to interact with

C. To add and manage filters that control which data is shown

D. To design dashboards and arrange visual elements

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of the Filter Shelf

   The Filter Shelf is where you place fields to filter the data in your view.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from Filter Card

   The Filter Card is the visible control for users, but the shelf is for applying filters behind the scenes.

3. Final Answer:

   To add and manage filters that control which data is shown -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Filter Shelf = Manage filters [OK]

Hint: Shelf applies filters; card shows filter controls [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Filter Shelf with Filter Card
• Thinking Filter Shelf is for user interaction
• Mixing filter creation with dashboard design

2. Which of the following is the correct way to show a filter control to users in Tableau?

easy

A. Right-click a field on the Filter Shelf and select 'Show Filter'

B. Create a calculated field and add it to the Filter Shelf

C. Drag a field to the Filter Shelf only

D. Add a field to the Columns shelf

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate the filter on the Filter Shelf

   Filters are first added to the Filter Shelf to limit data.

2. Step 2: Show the filter control

   Right-clicking the filter on the shelf and choosing 'Show Filter' displays the Filter Card for user interaction.

3. Final Answer:

   Right-click a field on the Filter Shelf and select 'Show Filter' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Show Filter = Right-click shelf filter [OK]

Hint: Right-click shelf filter to show card [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding field only to shelf without showing filter
• Trying to show filter from Columns shelf
• Confusing calculated fields with filter controls

3. If you add a filter to the Filter Shelf but do NOT show the Filter Card, what will happen?

medium

A. Users can still change the filter values interactively

B. Tableau will show an error message

C. The filter will not apply to the data

D. The data will be filtered but users cannot change the filter

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand filter application

   Filters on the Filter Shelf always apply to the data, limiting what is shown.

2. Step 2: Recognize user interaction limits

   If the Filter Card is not shown, users cannot interact or change the filter settings.

3. Final Answer:

   The data will be filtered but users cannot change the filter -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Filter Shelf filters data; Card allows user changes [OK]

Hint: Shelf filters data; card enables user control [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming users can change filters without Filter Card
• Thinking filter won't apply without card
• Expecting error when card is hidden

4. You added a filter to the Filter Shelf and showed the Filter Card, but users report they cannot change the filter selections. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The filter is set to 'Single Value' and users are trying to select multiple values

B. The filter is set to 'Only Relevant Values' which disables user changes

C. The filter is applied to a dimension with no data

D. The filter is a context filter that locks selections

Solution

1. Step 1: Check filter control type

   If the filter card is set to 'Single Value' mode, users can only select one value at a time.

2. Step 2: Understand user behavior

   If users try to select multiple values but the filter restricts to single, it appears they cannot change selections as expected.

3. Final Answer:

   The filter is set to 'Single Value' and users are trying to select multiple values -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Single Value filter limits user selection [OK]

Hint: Check filter card selection type for user limits [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing context filter with user interaction lock
• Assuming 'Only Relevant Values' disables all changes
• Ignoring filter control type settings

5. You want to create a dashboard where users can filter sales data by region and product category. You add both filters to the Filter Shelf and show their Filter Cards. However, you want the product category filter to only show categories relevant to the selected region. How should you configure the filters?

hard

A. Add the product category filter as a context filter before the region filter

B. Set the product category filter to 'Only Relevant Values' so it updates based on region selection

C. Use a calculated field to combine region and category and filter on that

D. Place both filters on the Filter Shelf without additional settings

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand filter dependency

   To make one filter update based on another, Tableau uses 'Only Relevant Values' setting on the dependent filter.

2. Step 2: Apply 'Only Relevant Values' to product category filter

   This setting ensures product categories shown depend on the selected region, improving user experience.

3. Final Answer:

   Set the product category filter to 'Only Relevant Values' so it updates based on region selection -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Only Relevant Values = dynamic filter update [OK]

Hint: Use 'Only Relevant Values' for dependent filter updates [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using context filter incorrectly for dependency
• Not enabling 'Only Relevant Values' on dependent filter
• Trying to combine filters with calculated fields unnecessarily