URL actions in Tableau - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

URL actions let you open a web page or another dashboard by clicking on a part of your Tableau report. This helps you connect your data to more information outside Tableau, like websites or other reports.

When you want to open a detailed report on a website by clicking a summary number in your dashboard

When your sales dashboard needs to link to a product page on your company website

When you want to show more info by linking to an external document or help page

When you want to jump from one Tableau dashboard to another using a clickable link

When you want to open a map location in a browser by clicking an address in your report

Steps

Step 1: Click

- Dashboard menu

The dashboard menu opens with options for actions

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

- URL...

The Add URL Action dialog box opens

Step 5: Type

- Name field

You name the URL action to identify it

Step 6: Select

- Source Sheets list

You pick which sheets in the dashboard will trigger the URL action

Step 7: Enter

- URL field

You type or paste the web address or use fields to build a dynamic URL

Step 8: Choose

- Run action on options

You select when the URL opens: on hover, select, or menu

Step 9: Click

- OK button

The URL action is saved and ready to use in the dashboard

Before vs After

Before

Dashboard shows sales data with no clickable links

After

Clicking a product name opens the product page in a web browser

Settings Reference

Name

📍 Add URL Action dialog box

To identify the URL action in the list

Default: URL Action

Source Sheets

📍 Add URL Action dialog box

To choose which sheets trigger the URL action

Default: None selected

URL

📍 Add URL Action dialog box

To specify the web address to open

Default: Empty

Run action on

📍 Add URL Action dialog box

To decide how users trigger the URL action

Default: Select

Common Mistakes

Entering an incorrect or incomplete URL

The link will not open or will show an error page

Double-check the URL format and test it in a browser before adding

Not selecting any source sheets

The URL action will not trigger because no sheet is linked

Always select at least one source sheet that users will click

Using dynamic fields without proper syntax

The URL may not build correctly and fail to open the right page

Use Tableau's field insertion syntax carefully and test the URL

Summary

URL actions let you link dashboard elements to web pages or other reports.

You set them up by choosing source sheets, typing the URL, and picking how users trigger them.

Make sure URLs are correct and source sheets are selected for the action to work.

Practice

1. What is the primary purpose of URL actions in Tableau dashboards?

easy

A. To export dashboard data to Excel files

B. To link dashboard elements to external web pages or resources

C. To filter data within the dashboard automatically

D. To change the color of dashboard charts dynamically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand URL actions functionality

   URL actions allow dashboard elements to open web pages or external resources when triggered.

2. Step 2: Compare other options

   Changing colors or filtering data are done by other Tableau features, not URL actions.

3. Final Answer:

   To link dashboard elements to external web pages or resources -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   URL actions = link to web pages [OK]

Hint: URL actions connect dashboards to websites or files [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing URL actions with filters
• Thinking URL actions change dashboard visuals
• Assuming URL actions export data

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to insert a field value into a URL action in Tableau?

easy

A. http://example.com/product=[Product ID]

B. http://example.com/product=<[Product ID]>

C. http://example.com/product=<Product ID>

D. http://example.com/product=Product ID

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify Tableau field insertion syntax

   Tableau uses angle brackets around the exact field name without brackets inside, like <Product ID>.

2. Step 2: Check options for correct syntax

   http://example.com/product=<Product ID> correctly uses <Product ID> without extra brackets or symbols.

3. Final Answer:

   http://example.com/product=<Product ID> -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Field insertion = <Field Name> [OK]

Hint: Use <Field Name> exactly to insert field values in URLs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding extra brackets inside angle brackets
• Using square brackets inside URL
• Forgetting angle brackets around field name

3. Given a URL action set as http://sales.com/details?region=<Region>&product=<Product>, what URL will open when a user clicks on a data point with Region = 'West' and Product = 'Shoes'?

medium

A. http://sales.com/details?region=<Region>&product=<Product>

B. http://sales.com/details?region=West&product=

C. http://sales.com/details?region=Shoes&product=West

D. http://sales.com/details?region=West&product=Shoes

Solution

1. Step 1: Substitute field values into URL

   Replace <Region> with 'West' and <Product> with 'Shoes' in the URL template.

2. Step 2: Verify correct order and values

   The URL becomes http://sales.com/details?region=West&product=Shoes exactly as in http://sales.com/details?region=West&product=Shoes.

3. Final Answer:

   http://sales.com/details?region=West&product=Shoes -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Field values replace placeholders correctly [OK]

Hint: Replace placeholders with actual field values in URL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mixing up field values order
• Not replacing placeholders
• Leaving placeholders unchanged

4. You created a URL action but clicking it does nothing. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The URL contains incorrect field syntax like missing angle brackets

B. The dashboard filter is not applied

C. The data source is not refreshed

D. The worksheet has no filters

Solution

1. Step 1: Check URL action syntax

   If the URL syntax is wrong, such as missing < and > around fields, Tableau cannot build the URL properly.

2. Step 2: Understand other options

   Filters or data refresh issues do not prevent URL actions from triggering clicks.

3. Final Answer:

   The URL contains incorrect field syntax like missing angle brackets -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Incorrect syntax blocks URL action [OK]

Hint: Check angle brackets around fields in URL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring syntax errors in URL
• Blaming filters for URL action failure
• Not testing URL outside Tableau

5. You want to create a URL action that opens a Google search for the selected product name. Which URL template should you use to make the search dynamic?

hard

A. https://www.google.com/search?q=<Product Name>

B. https://www.google.com/search?q=Product Name

C. https://www.google.com/search?q=[Product Name]

D. https://www.google.com/search?q={Product Name}

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct field insertion syntax

   Tableau requires angle brackets around the exact field name to insert dynamic values, so <Product Name> is correct.

2. Step 2: Check URL format for Google search

   The URL https://www.google.com/search?q= followed by the field value creates a dynamic search link.

3. Final Answer:

   https://www.google.com/search?q=<Product Name> -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Dynamic URL uses <Field Name> syntax [OK]

Hint: Use <Field Name> to insert dynamic values in URLs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using brackets other than angle brackets
• Hardcoding field names as text
• Forgetting to include query parameter 'q='