Filter shelf vs filter card in Tableau - Formula Comparison Trace

Sample Data

Sample sales data by region used to demonstrate filtering in Tableau.

Cell	Value
A1	Region
A2	East
A3	West
A4	South
A5	North
B1	Sales
B2	1000
B3	1500
B4	1200
B5	1300

Formula Trace

FILTER shelf applied: Region = 'East' or 'West'; FILTER card applied: Sales > 1200

Step 1: Apply FILTER shelf: Region IN ('East', 'West')

Step 2: Apply FILTER card: Sales > 1200 on filtered data

Step 3: Final data shown: Region = West, Sales = 1500

Cell Reference Map

    A       B
1 |Region | Sales
2 | East  | 1000
3 | West  | 1500
4 | South | 1200
5 | North | 1300

FILTER shelf references A2:A5 (Region)
FILTER card references B2:B5 (Sales)

FILTER shelf uses Region column (A2:A5) to limit data to East and West. FILTER card uses Sales column (B2:B5) to filter sales greater than 1200.

Result

    A       B
1 |Region | Sales
2 | West  | 1500

Final visualization shows only the West region with sales of 1500 after applying both filters.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What does the FILTER shelf do in Tableau?

A Changes the color of marks

B Limits the data source before visualization

C Adds labels to the chart

D Sorts the data alphabetically

Key Result

FILTER shelf limits data source first; FILTER card filters data after shelf filtering.

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