Filter actions in Tableau - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Filter actions let you click on one part of your Tableau dashboard to change what data shows in another part. This helps you explore data easily without making new charts or filters manually.

When you want to click a region on a map and see sales details for that region in a table.

When your dashboard has multiple charts and you want them to update together based on what you select.

When you want to create interactive reports that let users explore data by clicking instead of typing filters.

When you want to highlight related data points across different views by selecting one.

When you want to reduce clutter by using one control to filter many charts at once.

Steps

Step 1: Click

- Dashboard menu

A dropdown menu appears with dashboard options

Step 2: Select

- Actions...

The Actions dialog box opens showing existing actions

Step 3: Click

- Add Action button

A list of action types appears

Step 4: Choose

- Filter

The Add Filter Action dialog box opens

Step 5: Name

- Name field

You enter a clear name for the filter action

Step 6: Select

- Source Sheets list

You pick the dashboard sheets where the filter will start

Step 7: Select

- Target Sheets list

You pick the sheets that will change when you click the source

Step 8: Choose

- Run action on dropdown

You pick how the filter triggers: Hover, Select, or Menu

Step 9: Click

- OK button

The filter action is saved and active on the dashboard

Before vs After

Before

Dashboard shows all sales data for all regions in all charts

After

After clicking the West region on the map, the sales table updates to show only West region data

Settings Reference

Source Sheets

📍 Add Filter Action dialog box

Choose which sheets will trigger the filter when clicked

Default: None selected

Target Sheets

📍 Add Filter Action dialog box

Choose which sheets will be filtered based on the source selection

Default: None selected

Run action on

📍 Add Filter Action dialog box

Decide how the filter action is triggered by user interaction

Default: Select

Clearing the selection will

📍 Add Filter Action dialog box

Control what happens when the user clears the filter selection

Default: Show all values

Common Mistakes

Not selecting the correct source or target sheets

The filter action won't work if the sheets are not properly linked

Always double-check that the source sheet is where you click and the target sheets are the ones you want to filter

Choosing 'Hover' trigger without realizing it filters on mouseover

This can cause unexpected filtering when just moving the mouse over data

Use 'Select' trigger for clearer user control unless hover filtering is desired

Not setting what happens when clearing selection

Dashboard may stay filtered or show no data, confusing users

Set 'Clearing the selection will' to 'Show all values' for easy reset

Summary

Filter actions let you click one chart to filter others on the dashboard.

You must pick source and target sheets and how the filter triggers.

Remember to set what happens when the filter selection is cleared.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a Filter Action in Tableau dashboards?

easy

A. To make dashboards interactive by linking charts through clicks or hovers

B. To change the color scheme of the dashboard

C. To export data from Tableau to Excel

D. To create calculated fields automatically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what filter actions do

   Filter actions allow users to click or hover on one chart to filter data in another chart, making dashboards interactive.

2. Step 2: Eliminate unrelated options

   Changing colors, exporting data, or creating calculated fields are not related to filter actions.

3. Final Answer:

   To make dashboards interactive by linking charts through clicks or hovers -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Filter actions = interactive linking [OK]

Hint: Filter actions connect charts by clicks or hovers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing filter actions with formatting options
• Thinking filter actions export data
• Assuming filter actions create calculations

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set up a filter action in Tableau?

easy

A. Create a calculated field and drag it to the filter shelf

B. Select source sheet, target sheet, and define filter behavior

C. Use the Data menu to export filtered data

D. Change the dashboard size to enable filtering

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify filter action setup steps

   Setting up a filter action requires choosing the source sheet (where user clicks), the target sheet (which gets filtered), and how the filter applies.

2. Step 2: Remove unrelated options

   Creating calculated fields, exporting data, or changing dashboard size are not steps to set up filter actions.

3. Final Answer:

   Select source sheet, target sheet, and define filter behavior -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Filter action setup = source + target + filter behavior [OK]

Hint: Filter actions need source and target sheets defined [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing filter actions with calculated fields
• Trying to export data to filter
• Thinking dashboard size controls filtering

3. Given a dashboard with a filter action set from Sheet A to Sheet B on the field Category, what happens when a user clicks on 'Furniture' in Sheet A?

medium

A. Sheet A filters out 'Furniture' category

B. Sheet B shows all categories except 'Furniture'

C. Sheet B shows data only for 'Furniture' category

D. Sheet B does not change

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand filter action behavior

   Clicking 'Furniture' in Sheet A sends a filter to Sheet B to show only 'Furniture' data.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect outcomes

   Sheet B will not exclude 'Furniture' or remain unchanged; Sheet A does not filter itself.

3. Final Answer:

   Sheet B shows data only for 'Furniture' category -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Click filters target sheet to clicked value [OK]

Hint: Click filters target sheet to clicked value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking filter excludes clicked value
• Assuming source sheet filters itself
• Believing target sheet remains unchanged

4. You set a filter action from Sheet X to Sheet Y, but clicking on Sheet X does not filter Sheet Y. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. Filter actions only work on hover, not click

B. The dashboard size is too small

C. Sheet Y has no data

D. Source and target sheets are not correctly assigned in the filter action

Solution

1. Step 1: Check filter action configuration

   If clicking Sheet X does not filter Sheet Y, the source and target sheets may be incorrectly set or reversed.

2. Step 2: Exclude unrelated reasons

   Dashboard size does not affect filter actions; Sheet Y having no data would show empty but still respond; filter actions can work on click or hover depending on settings.

3. Final Answer:

   Source and target sheets are not correctly assigned in the filter action -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Correct source and target sheets enable filtering [OK]

Hint: Verify source and target sheets in filter action setup [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring source-target assignment
• Blaming dashboard size
• Assuming filter actions only work on hover

5. You want to create a dashboard where clicking on a region in a map filters multiple charts by that region, but hovering over the map filters only one chart. How should you configure filter actions?

hard

A. Create two filter actions: one on click targeting multiple charts, one on hover targeting one chart

B. Create one filter action on click targeting all charts

C. Create one filter action on hover targeting all charts

D. Use a parameter instead of filter actions

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand different interaction types

   Click and hover are separate triggers for filter actions in Tableau.

2. Step 2: Configure multiple filter actions

   To have click filter multiple charts and hover filter only one chart, create two filter actions with different triggers and targets.

3. Step 3: Exclude incorrect options

   One filter action cannot have two triggers; parameters do not provide this interactive filtering behavior.

4. Final Answer:

   Create two filter actions: one on click targeting multiple charts, one on hover targeting one chart -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Separate filter actions for click and hover [OK]

Hint: Use separate filter actions for click and hover [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to use one filter action for both triggers
• Using parameters instead of filter actions
• Assuming hover can filter multiple charts differently