Highlight actions in Tableau - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a Highlight Action in Tableau?

A Highlight Action in Tableau lets you emphasize related data points in a dashboard when you select or hover over a mark. It helps users quickly see connections between data.

beginner

How do you create a Highlight Action in Tableau?

You create a Highlight Action by going to Dashboard > Actions > Add Action > Highlight. Then, you choose the source sheet, target sheet, and fields to link for highlighting.

beginner

What happens when you hover over a mark with a Highlight Action set?

When you hover over a mark, Tableau highlights related marks in the target sheet by changing their color or brightness, making them stand out from other data points.

intermediate

Can Highlight Actions be used between different sheets in Tableau dashboards?

Yes, Highlight Actions can link different sheets in a dashboard. Selecting or hovering on one sheet highlights related data in another sheet, helping users explore relationships.

intermediate

What is the difference between Highlight Actions and Filter Actions in Tableau?

Highlight Actions emphasize related data by changing appearance but keep all data visible. Filter Actions limit data shown by removing unrelated marks from the view.

What does a Highlight Action do in Tableau?

A Removes unrelated data points from the view

B Emphasizes related data points by changing their appearance

C Creates a new calculated field

D Exports data to Excel

Highlight Actions emphasize related data points by changing their color or brightness without removing data.

Where do you add a Highlight Action in Tableau?

A Format > Highlight Options

B Worksheet > Filters > Add Highlight

C Dashboard > Actions > Add Action > Highlight

D Data > New Highlight

Highlight Actions are added via Dashboard > Actions > Add Action > Highlight.

Can Highlight Actions link multiple sheets in a dashboard?

A Only if sheets are on separate dashboards

B No, they only work within one sheet

C Only if sheets use the same data source

D Yes, they can highlight related data across sheets

Highlight Actions can link multiple sheets to highlight related data across them.

What user action typically triggers a Highlight Action?

A Hovering or selecting a mark

B Right-clicking a mark

C Double-clicking a sheet

D Refreshing the dashboard

Highlight Actions are triggered by hovering over or selecting marks.

How does a Highlight Action differ from a Filter Action?

A Highlight changes appearance; Filter removes data

B Highlight removes data; Filter changes appearance

C Both remove data

D Both change appearance only

Highlight Actions change how data looks; Filter Actions remove unrelated data from view.

Explain how Highlight Actions improve dashboard interactivity in Tableau.

Think about how users explore data by focusing on related information.

Describe the steps to create a Highlight Action in a Tableau dashboard.

Remember the menu path and key choices for linking sheets.

Practice

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

easy

A. To make related data points stand out without filtering the data

B. To permanently remove unrelated data from the view

C. To create new calculated fields based on user input

D. To export the dashboard data to Excel automatically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Highlight Action functionality

   Highlight actions emphasize related data visually but do not filter or remove data.

2. Step 2: Compare with other actions

   Unlike filter actions, highlight actions only change appearance to help users explore data connections.

3. Final Answer:

   To make related data points stand out without filtering the data -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Highlight actions emphasize data without filtering [OK]

Hint: Highlight actions emphasize data visually, not filter it [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing highlight with filter actions
• Thinking highlight removes data
• Assuming highlight creates new data

2. Which of the following is the correct way to create a Highlight Action in Tableau?

easy

A. Dashboard > Actions > Add Action > Highlight

B. Worksheet > Filter > Add Highlight

C. Data > Create Highlight Calculation

D. Format > Highlight Settings

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate where to add Highlight Actions

   Highlight actions are added via the Dashboard menu under Actions.

2. Step 2: Confirm correct menu path

   The correct path is Dashboard > Actions > Add Action > Highlight.

3. Final Answer:

   Dashboard > Actions > Add Action > Highlight -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Highlight actions are added from Dashboard menu [OK]

Hint: Add highlight actions from Dashboard > Actions menu [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to add highlight from Worksheet or Data menus
• Confusing highlight with filter or format options
• Looking for highlight in wrong menu

3. Consider a dashboard with a bar chart and a map. You set a Highlight Action from the bar chart to the map on the 'Region' field. What happens when you click a bar representing 'West' region?

medium

A. The entire map refreshes with new data unrelated to 'West'

B. The map filters to show only 'West' region data

C. Only the 'West' region data on the map is highlighted, others dimmed

D. Nothing happens because highlight actions do not work between charts

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand highlight action effect on target view

   Highlight actions emphasize matching data points and dim others but do not filter.

2. Step 2: Apply to example

   Clicking 'West' bar highlights 'West' region on map, dimming other regions visually.

3. Final Answer:

   Only the 'West' region data on the map is highlighted, others dimmed -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Highlight action dims non-matching data [OK]

Hint: Highlight dims unrelated data, does not filter [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking highlight filters data
• Assuming highlight does nothing between charts
• Confusing highlight with refresh or reload

4. You created a Highlight Action but clicking on the source chart does not highlight anything on the target chart. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You must refresh the dashboard manually after creating highlight actions

B. The fields used for linking source and target are different or mismatched

C. Highlight actions only work on maps, not charts

D. Highlight actions require filters to be enabled first

Solution

1. Step 1: Check linking fields in highlight action

   Highlight actions depend on matching fields between source and target views.

2. Step 2: Identify mismatch issue

   If fields differ or have different data types, highlight will not work.

3. Final Answer:

   The fields used for linking source and target are different or mismatched -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Matching fields are required for highlight to work [OK]

Hint: Ensure source and target fields match exactly for highlight [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming highlight needs filters enabled
• Thinking highlight only works on maps
• Forgetting to check field data types

5. You want to create a dashboard where clicking on a product category highlights related sales data across multiple charts without filtering any data. Which Tableau feature should you use and how should you configure it?

hard

A. Use URL Actions to open filtered views in new browser tabs

B. Use Filter Actions linking the 'Product Category' field and apply to all charts

C. Create a parameter to select product category and use calculated fields to filter charts

D. Use Highlight Actions linking the 'Product Category' field across all charts

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify requirement to highlight without filtering

   The goal is to emphasize related data without removing any data points.

2. Step 2: Choose appropriate action type

   Highlight Actions visually emphasize data; Filter Actions remove data points.

3. Step 3: Configure highlight action

   Link 'Product Category' field across all charts using Highlight Actions to achieve the goal.

4. Final Answer:

   Use Highlight Actions linking the 'Product Category' field across all charts -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Highlight actions emphasize data without filtering [OK]

Hint: Highlight actions emphasize related data without filtering [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing filter actions which remove data
• Using parameters unnecessarily
• Confusing URL actions with highlighting