Unable to Pass Multiple Values in an Action from a Single Mark

Issue

When a view is filtered by a more granular dimension, and that dimension is not included in the view, then an Action will not pass the filter values of the more granular dimension.

For example, the source view may be something like a bar chart by segment, and the target worksheet could be a details crosstab listing each customer. After filtering the bar chart to a smaller group of customers, the user clicks a segment bar to trigger the Filter Action, but the target worksheet is only filtered by segment and not by the list of selected customers.

Environment

Tableau Desktop
Filter Actions
URL Actions

Resolution

CLICK TO EXPAND SOLUTION

Option 1: Filter Actions

For Filter Actions, it is possible to create a view where the end user clicks the header to pass multiple dimension member values. The attached example workbook uses the sample data set Superstore to demonstrate the following directions:
Step 1: Create the Source Sheet

Select Analysis > Create Calculated Field
In the Calculated Field dialog box that opens, do the following, and then click OK: and Name the calculated field. In this example, the calculated field is named "Click Here".
- In the formula field, create a calculation similar to the following:
- "Click this text to navigate to 'Target Sheet' >"
Drag [Click Here] to the Rows shelf.
Drag [Customer Name] to Detail on the Marks card.
In the dropdown on the Marks card, select Polygon.
Navigate to Format > Borders…
In the left-hand Format Borders pane, under Row Divider, for Pane, select None and close the Format Borders pane.
Navigate to Analysis > Table Layout > uncheck Show Field Labels for Rows.

Step 2: Create the Dashboard

Drag "Sheet 1" and "Source Sheet (filter)" onto a dashboard.
Right-click the Customer Name filter and select Apply to Worksheets > Selected Worksheets…
In the Apply Filter to Worksheets dialog, check Source Sheet and click OK.
Navigate to Dashboard > Actions…
In the Actions dialog click Add Action > Filter…
In the Add Filter Action dialog, do the following:
- For Source Sheets, check only Source Sheet (filter).
- For Run action on, choose Select.
In the dropdown menu under Target Sheets, select Target Sheet (filter).
Click OK in each open dialog to close them

CLICK TO EXPAND SOLUTION

Option 2: URL Actions

For URL Actions, it is possible to share filters with the source worksheet and pass those filter values to the URL. The attached example workbook uses the sample data set Superstore to demonstrate the following directions:
Step 1: Create the Source Sheet

Select Analysis > Create Calculated Field
In the Calculated Field dialog box that opens, do the following, and then click OK:
1. Name the calculated field. In this example, the calculated field is named "Click Here"
2. In the formula field, create a calculation similar to the following: "Navigate to published target sheet"
Drag [Click Here] to the Rows shelf
Navigate to Format > Borders…
In the left-hand Format Borders pane, under Column Divider, for Pane, select None and close the Format Borders pane
Navigate to Analysis > Table Layout > uncheck Show Field Labels for Rows

Step 2: Create the Dashboard

Drag "Sheet 2" and "Source Sheet (url)" onto a dashboard
Right-click the Customer Name filter and select Apply to Worksheets > Selected Worksheets…
In the Apply Filter to Worksheets dialog, check Source Sheet and click OK
Navigate to Dashboard > Actions…
In the Actions dialog click Add Action > URL…
In the Add Filter Action dialog, do the following:
1. For Source Sheets, check only Source Sheet (url)
2. For Run action on, choose Select
3. For the URL, enter something like: {URL of published view}?Customer Name=<FILTERVALUES(Customer Name (copy))>
Click OK in each open dialog to close them

Cause

The ability to pass filter values through a Filter Action, or to assign multiple dimension member values to a single Mark in the view is not yet built into Tableau Desktop. To voice your support for the inclusion of this feature request in a future product release, add your vote to the following Community Idea: Single-click-single-select in multiple values filter.