Measure filters in Tableau - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

This data shows sales amounts for different fruit products.

Cell	Value
A1	Product
B1	Sales
A2	Apples
B2	100
A3	Bananas
B3	50
A4	Cherries
B4	200
A5	Dates
B5	30

Formula Trace

IF SUM([Sales]) > 50 THEN 'Keep' ELSE 'Filter Out' END

Step 1: SUM([Sales]) for Apples

Step 2: 100 > 50

Step 3: IF TRUE THEN 'Keep' ELSE 'Filter Out' END

Step 4: SUM([Sales]) for Bananas

Step 5: 50 > 50

Step 6: IF FALSE THEN 'Keep' ELSE 'Filter Out' END

Step 7: SUM([Sales]) for Cherries

Step 8: 200 > 50

Step 9: IF TRUE THEN 'Keep' ELSE 'Filter Out' END

Step 10: SUM([Sales]) for Dates

Step 11: 30 > 50

Step 12: IF FALSE THEN 'Keep' ELSE 'Filter Out' END

Cell Reference Map

    A       B
1 Product  Sales
2 Apples   100
3 Bananas  50
4 Cherries 200
5 Dates    30

Arrows show SUM([Sales]) used for each product row.

The formula uses the Sales values from column B for each product in column A to decide if the product is kept or filtered out.

Result

    A       B       C
1 Product  Sales   Filter Result
2 Apples   100     Keep
3 Bananas  50      Filter Out
4 Cherries 200     Keep
5 Dates    30      Filter Out

The Filter Result column shows which products pass the measure filter (Sales > 50) and which do not.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What is the filter result for Bananas with sales of 50?

A Filter Out

B Error

C Keep

D Keep if sales equal 50

Key Result

IF SUM([Measure]) > Threshold THEN 'Keep' ELSE 'Filter Out' END

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a measure filter in Tableau?

easy

A. To filter data based on numeric values in measures

B. To change the color of a chart

C. To add labels to dimensions

D. To create new calculated fields

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what measure filters do

   Measure filters focus on numeric data, allowing you to filter based on values like sales or profit.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Changing colors, adding labels, or creating fields are different Tableau features unrelated to filtering measures.

3. Final Answer:

   To filter data based on numeric values in measures -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Measure filters = numeric value filtering [OK]

Hint: Measure filters always work on numbers, not text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing measure filters with dimension filters
• Thinking measure filters change visuals only
• Believing measure filters create new data

2. Which of the following is the correct way to apply a measure filter in Tableau?

easy

A. Drag a dimension to the Filters shelf

B. Right-click a worksheet and select 'Add Filter'

C. Double-click a measure in the Data pane

D. Drag a measure to the Filters shelf

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how to apply measure filters

   Measure filters are applied by dragging a measure (numeric field) to the Filters shelf.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Dragging a dimension filters categories, not measures; right-clicking worksheet doesn't add filters; double-clicking measure adds it to view, not filter.

3. Final Answer:

   Drag a measure to the Filters shelf -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Measure filter = drag measure to Filters [OK]

Hint: Only measures go to Filters shelf for measure filtering [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Dragging dimensions instead of measures to Filters
• Trying to add filters from worksheet menu
• Double-clicking measures expecting filter dialog

3. Given a sales measure filter set to show only sales greater than 1000, what will happen to a product with sales of 900?

medium

A. It will be excluded from the view

B. It will cause an error

C. It will show as zero sales

D. It will be included in the view

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the filter condition

   The filter shows only sales > 1000, so any sales less or equal to 1000 are excluded.

2. Step 2: Apply condition to product sales

   Product with sales 900 is less than 1000, so it will be excluded from the view.

3. Final Answer:

   It will be excluded from the view -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Sales 900 < 1000 -> excluded [OK]

Hint: Filters exclude data not meeting condition, no errors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking filtered-out data shows as zero
• Assuming filter includes all data
• Expecting error on excluded data

4. You applied a measure filter on Profit > 0 but still see negative profit values in your view. What is the likely cause?

medium

A. The filter condition was set incorrectly as Profit < 0

B. The filter was applied on a dimension instead of the Profit measure

C. The data source has errors causing wrong values

D. The filter is applied after aggregation, so negative values remain

Solution

1. Step 1: Check filter application

   If the filter was applied on a dimension, it won't filter numeric Profit values correctly.

2. Step 2: Understand why negative profits appear

   Applying filter on dimension does not remove negative profits; measure filter on Profit is needed.

3. Final Answer:

   The filter was applied on a dimension instead of the Profit measure -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Filter on dimension ≠ filter on measure [OK]

Hint: Always apply measure filters on measures, not dimensions [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Applying measure filter on dimension field
• Setting wrong filter condition
• Assuming data source errors cause filter issues

5. You want to create a dashboard showing only customers with total sales above 5000. Which approach using measure filters is best?

hard

A. Apply a measure filter on individual sales transactions > 5000

B. Use a dimension filter on customer names containing '5'

C. Create a calculated field for total sales per customer and filter > 5000

D. Filter the data source to exclude sales below 5000

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the requirement

   We want customers with total sales above 5000, so aggregation per customer is needed.

2. Step 2: Choose correct filtering method

   Applying filter on individual transactions won't sum sales; dimension filter on names is unrelated; filtering data source excludes data prematurely.

3. Step 3: Use calculated field and filter

   Create a calculated field summing sales per customer, then apply measure filter > 5000 to show only those customers.

4. Final Answer:

   Create a calculated field for total sales per customer and filter > 5000 -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Aggregate then filter for totals [OK]

Hint: Aggregate measure per group before filtering totals [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Filtering individual transactions instead of totals
• Using dimension filters unrelated to sales
• Filtering data source instead of view