Relative date filtering in Tableau - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Relative date filtering

Dashboard Goal

Understand sales trends by filtering data to show only recent periods like last 7 days, last month, or last year.

Sample Data

Date	Sales	Region
2024-05-01	150	North
2024-05-05	200	South
2024-05-10	250	East
2024-05-15	300	West
2024-05-20	350	North
2024-05-25	400	South
2024-05-30	450	East

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Total Sales
  Formula: SUM([Sales])
  Shows total sales for the filtered date range.
• Line Chart: Sales Over Time
  X-axis: [Date]
  Y-axis: SUM([Sales])
  Shows sales trend over the selected relative date period.
• Relative Date Filter
  Options: Last 7 days, Last 30 days, Last 90 days, This Month, Last Month, This Year
  Filters data dynamically based on today's date.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+----------------------+
|      Total Sales      |  Relative Date Filter |
|       (KPI Card)      |      (Filter)         |
+----------------------+----------------------+
|                                              |
|             Sales Over Time (Line Chart)     |
|                                              |
+----------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

The Relative Date Filter controls which dates appear in the Total Sales KPI and the Sales Over Time chart. Selecting "Last 7 days" updates both components to show only sales from the past week. Changing to "This Month" updates the view to show sales from the current month dynamically.

Self Check

If you set the relative date filter to "Last 30 days", which sales dates remain visible in the dashboard?

Answer: Only sales from 2024-05-01 to 2024-05-30 will show, since the sample data is within May 2024 and the last 30 days includes all these dates.

Key Result

Dashboard shows total sales and sales trends filtered dynamically by relative date selections like last 7 days or this month.

Practice

1. What does a Relative Date filter in Tableau do?

easy

A. It filters data based on fixed dates you manually select.

B. It shows data for a dynamic time period like last 7 days or this month.

C. It groups data by categories like product or region.

D. It sorts data alphabetically by date.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of Relative Date filter

   A Relative Date filter dynamically adjusts the data shown based on the current date, such as last 7 days or this month.

2. Step 2: Compare with other filter types

   Fixed date filters require manual date selection, unlike Relative Date filters which update automatically.

3. Final Answer:

   It shows data for a dynamic time period like last 7 days or this month. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Relative Date filter = dynamic time period [OK]

Hint: Relative Date filters always adjust with today's date [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Relative Date with fixed date filters
• Thinking it sorts data instead of filtering
• Assuming it groups data by categories

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

easy

A. Drag a date field to Filters, choose 'Relative Date', then select the desired period.

B. Drag a measure to Filters and select 'Relative Date'.

C. Right-click a dimension and select 'Sort by Relative Date'.

D. Create a calculated field with TODAY() and filter manually.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how to apply Relative Date filter

   In Tableau, you drag a date field to the Filters shelf and then choose 'Relative Date' to set dynamic periods.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Measures cannot be filtered by Relative Date, sorting is different, and manual calculated fields are not the standard method.

3. Final Answer:

   Drag a date field to Filters, choose 'Relative Date', then select the desired period. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Apply Relative Date filter via date field in Filters [OK]

Hint: Always start with a date field for Relative Date filters [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to apply Relative Date on measures
• Confusing sorting with filtering
• Using manual calculated fields unnecessarily

3. Given today's date is 2024-06-15, what data will be shown if you apply a Relative Date filter for 'Last 7 days' on a sales date field?

medium

A. Sales data from 2024-06-01 to 2024-06-07 inclusive.

B. Sales data from 2024-06-15 only.

C. Sales data from 2024-06-08 to 2024-06-14 inclusive.

D. Sales data from 2024-06-09 to 2024-06-15 inclusive.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand 'Last 7 days' relative to today

   'Last 7 days' means the past 7 days including today.

2. Step 2: Calculate the date range

   From 2024-06-15, last 7 days are 2024-06-09 through 2024-06-15 inclusive.

3. Final Answer:

   Sales data from 2024-06-09 to 2024-06-15 inclusive. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Last 7 days includes today, from today back 6 days [OK]

Hint: Last 7 days includes today, 7 days ending today [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Excluding today's date mistakenly
• Counting from beginning of month
• Confusing with previous full week

4. You applied a Relative Date filter for 'This Month' but your dashboard shows no data. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The filter was set to 'Last Year' instead of 'This Month'.

B. You applied the filter on a non-date field.

C. The date field has no data for the current month.

D. The data source is disconnected.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check data availability for current month

   If no data exists for the current month, the 'This Month' filter will show no results.

2. Step 2: Consider other causes but focus on data

   Applying filter on non-date fields or wrong filter choice would cause errors or different results; disconnected data source usually causes errors, not empty data.

3. Final Answer:

   The date field has no data for the current month. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   No data in current month = empty 'This Month' filter result [OK]

Hint: Check if data exists for the filtered period first [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming filter syntax error without checking data
• Ignoring data source connection status
• Confusing filter period with applied filter

5. You want to create a dashboard that always shows sales data for the last 30 days but excludes today. Which Relative Date filter setting should you use?

hard

A. Set filter to 'Last 30 days' excluding today.

B. Set filter to 'Last 31 days' including today.

C. Set filter to 'This Month' and manually exclude today.

D. Set filter to 'Last 30 days' including today.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand requirement to exclude today

   The filter must show the 30 days before today, not including today itself.

2. Step 2: Choose correct Relative Date filter option

   'Last 30 days' excluding today matches the requirement exactly; including today or using 'This Month' won't exclude today properly.

3. Final Answer:

   Set filter to 'Last 30 days' excluding today. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Exclude today by choosing 'Last 30 days' without today [OK]

Hint: Use 'Last 30 days' excluding today for past 30 full days [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including today when it should be excluded
• Using 'This Month' which varies in length
• Adding extra days unnecessarily