Interactivity: Using Parameter Actions to Highlight Selected Fields in Tableau

In Tableau you can set up parameter actions in order to highlight fields selected by the user.
In this blog we will cover the steps required to do so.

Step 1:

Create the chart that you want to highlight.

Step 2:

Create the parameter with your preferred settings, in this case we will use the string option.

Step 3:

Show the parameter,  as it is generally to show your parameter once it has been created.

Step 4:

Once you have created and showed your parameter you must now create a calculated field that returns in a true or a false if the sub-category is selected.

Step 5:

Add the calculated field to the color in the marks tab.

Step 5:
Then create the change parameter action.

Step 6:

Configure the parameter action, your target parameter is the one you created.

Step 7:

Next we have to create a "dummy" calculated field and add it to a highlight action.

Step 8:

Add the dummy field as a highlight action.

Once done, you should be able to select a field and it should be highlighted. You can further change the colors to your preference and edit the tooltip as well.

Author:
Afnan Foyez
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