All in Tableau Parameters
Tableau's parameters are variables that can take the place of constants. They are the primary tool that we use when we want to add interactivity into our views, allowing our end users to interact with sliders, drop-down menus, and type in boxes to change the values in the views.
Parameters can be used to change values in a filter, a calculation or even a reference line! In this video, we'll look at the most important things you need to know to work well with parameters.
Parameters in Tableau are powerful inputs which allow the user to customize visuals in a number of ways. They can change variables in a calculation, modify a filter or even move a reference line!
For some parameters (like dates), it makes sense to have the value update whenever the workbook is opened. For example, you might want the parameter to default to 'This Year', 'Today' or 'Last Week'.
If you have a scenario where it would be handy to have the default parameter selection update automatically, check out this video to learn how you can create dynamic parameters!
If you're looking to turn your static Tableau dashboards into interactive powerhouses, buttons are a fantastic way to do that! In today's tutorial, we're diving into one of Tableau's most underutilised secrets: using buttons to control parameters. This isn't just about making dashboards look sleek (though they absolutely will), it's about creating an experience so intuitive that your users will actually want to explore your data.
Text tables can be overwhelming for users. It's hard to know where to focus your attention!
Where are the highest and lowest values in the data? What patterns are there? Upgrading a text table to a highlight table can often do wonders, but a highlight table doesn't provide a singular focus. It will likely highlight high, and maybe low values too.
That's where a custom highlighter can be so handy. Why not let you user control which values they want to call attention to?
Normally, when using a parameter to swap between measures, you're limited to using a single number format in a text table. But what happens when using the same number format makes no sense?
In our example, we're swapping between Total Cost (reported in $) and Visits (a count). We don't want to report Visits as a dollar-denominated amount, and we don't want Total Cost to be reported without a dollar symbol! So what can we do?
Have you ever been asked to include a table of data that’s way too detailed for the dashboard you’re working on? Sometimes we really just want to see all the numbers. But we might not necessarily want to display all that information at once.
That’s where a Show/Hide option could be effective. Using a parameter, we can enable our end-users to select whether they want to see all the data in the underlying table, or just some summary data (like some total columns).
A reference line is a useful worksheet element. It’s a simple tool - just a line based on a single value that we want to reference in our views.
But, did you know that you can change the value of a reference line using a parameter?
An adjustable reference line turns your static reference line into an interactive tool that you and the end-users of your dashboards can use in a variety of ways. You might run basic forecasts, explore outcomes using 'what if" scenarios, or change a comparison threshold.
Does your data set have multiple date fields? For instance, maybe you have both an "Order Date" and a "Delivery Date". Or maybe you have both a "Hire Date" and a "Termination Date".
Sometimes, you need to filter on both date fields at once to answer questions like, "How many people were hired and how many people were terminated in the Marketing Department this year?"
Users love filtering and sorting options in Tableau dashboards, right?
Odds are, you know you can use a parameter to change the top number of values displaying in a worksheet. However, did you know you can also use a parameter to change whether it's the Top 10 or Bottom 10 values displaying? Did you know that same parameter can control whether the sort order is ascending or descending? It's true!
In the past, swapping worksheets in a Tableau dashboard has been possible but frustrating. Using a parameter, we could swap out worksheets, but it was really difficult to also swap out any filters, parameters, or legends attached to those worksheets.
Now, with Tableau’s Dynamic Zone Visibility, that’s all changed! Dynamic Zone Visibility allows us to switch between multiple connected elements on a dashboard, from single worksheets, to multiple worksheets; from a certain set of parameters to another; or from one worksheet with its legends, filters, and parameters, to another.
Parameters are a powerful tool in Tableau. They allow your end user to customize the view that they're seeing by selecting your pre-defined parameter values.
But where do we begin when using parameters? Well, the "Swap-A-Field" Parameter is the perfect place!
