Showing Top N Subcategories Within Each Top N Categories

When multiple Top N filters are used in a view, the results are not as expected.

Tableau Desktop

To control the order in which the Top N filters are executed, you can make use of:

The below example is based on Superstore sample data.

Step 1: Create the View

Step 2: Create Calculated Fields

Select Analysis > Create Calculated Field. Name the field Rank of Sales, enter the following calculation, then click OK:
RANK( SUM( [Sales] ) )
Select Analysis > Create Calculated Field. Name the field Rank of Sales excluding Sub-Category, enter the following calculation, then click OK:
RANK_DENSE( SUM( { EXCLUDE [Sub-Category] : SUM( [Sales] ) } ) )

Step 3: Set up Filters

Drag Rank of Sales excluding Sub-Category to Filters and click OK.
Right-click Rank of Sales excluding Sub-Category on Filters and select Edit Table Calculation…
- In the Table Calculation dialog, select Compute Using > Specific Dimensions.
- Arrange Region, Category and Sub-Category in descending order, then select the check boxes next to all three fields.
- Under Restarting every, select Region.
Right-click Rank of Sales Excluding Sub Category on the Filters shelf and select Edit Filter...
In the Filter dialog, enter the desired limits. For example, enter a range of 1 to 2 to display the top two Categories in each Region.
Drag Rank of Sales to Filters, and click OK.
Right-click Rank of Sales on Filters and select Edit Table Calculation…
- In the Table Calculation dialog, select Compute Using > Specific Dimensions.
- Arrange Region, Category and Sub-Category in descending order, then select the check boxes next to all three fields.
- Under Restarting every, select Category.
Right-click Rank of Sales on Filters, and select Edit Filter.
Enter the desired limits.