Displaying Repeated Row Labels for Each Row in a View

Published: 01 Apr 2014
Last Modified Date: 03 Jan 2024

Question

How to repeat row headers on each row of a view, instead of using grouped row headers.

For example, view with grouped row headers:

View with repeating row headers:

Environment

Tableau Desktop

Answer

Both options start from the "Original" worksheet in the workbook downloadable from the right-hand pane of this article. Directions for creating the "Original" worksheet are included in the workbook.

CLICK TO EXPAND STEPS

Option 1: Use INDEX()

To view the above steps in action, see the video below.
Note: the video has no sound. To view the video in higher quality, click the YouTube icon below to watch it on YouTube directly.

CLICK TO EXPAND STEPS

Option 2 - Use Combined Field / Calculation

To view the above steps in action, see the video below.
Note: the video has no sound. To view the video in higher quality, click the YouTube icon below to watch it on YouTube directly.

Additional Information

Hierarchical headers provides additional information about the relationship of data to the end user. At a glance, the end user can see what values are grouped together. Less text on the screen also improves readability.

Repeated headers tend to be better when the data is exported so that there are no blank values in the export.

Notes:

Using option 2 will disable the ad-hoc sort option for the first column; However sorting the combined field will allow rows to be individually sorted.
Fields hidden in the view will still be included when exporting the data.
To voice your support for the inclusion of this feature in a future product release, add your vote to the following Community Idea: Ability to choose to Repeat or Suppress cell value.