Parameter actions in Tableau - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

This data shows products and their sales. The parameter 'Selected Product' is set to 'Bananas' by a parameter action. The sales value shown corresponds to the selected product.

Cell	Value
A1	Product
B1	Sales
A2	Apples
B2	100
A3	Bananas
B3	150
A4	Cherries
B4	200
D1	Selected Product
E1	Sales for Selected Product
D2	Bananas
E2	150

Formula Trace

IF [Product] = [Selected Product] THEN [Sales] ELSE NULL END

Step 1: [Selected Product]

Step 2: [Product] = [Selected Product] for each row

Step 3: IF condition THEN [Sales] ELSE NULL for each row

Step 4: Aggregate or display sales for selected product

Cell Reference Map

    A        B        D        E
1 |Product | Sales  |Selected|Sales for
  |        |        |Product |Selected
2 |Apples  | 100    |Bananas | 150
3 |Bananas | 150    |        |    
4 |Cherries| 200    |        |    

The formula uses the 'Product' column (A2:A4), the 'Sales' column (B2:B4), and the parameter 'Selected Product' (D2) to determine which sales value to show in E2.

Result

    A        B        D            E
1 |Product | Sales  |Selected Prod|Sales for
  |        |        |uct          |Selected
2 |Apples  | 100    |Bananas     | 150
3 |Bananas | 150    |            |    
4 |Cherries| 200    |            |    

The final output shows the selected product 'Bananas' in cell D2 and its sales value 150 in cell E2, demonstrating how parameter actions filter data dynamically.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What value does the parameter 'Selected Product' hold during evaluation?

A "Bananas"

B "Apples"

C "Cherries"

D NULL

Key Result

IF [Dimension] = [Parameter] THEN [Measure] ELSE NULL END filters measure by parameter selection