Parameters are one of the most useful tools that Tableau has. They allow the user to input their own values, which allow us to create self-served dashboards and dynamic dashboards that won’t require a constant update. In this blog post I will guide you through the steps of two different uses of parameters. In the first part, I will show you how to create dynamic axis that allow the user to select a different measure. In the second part, I will show you a small trick to create an ascending/descending parameter for a better user experience.
Why this is useful?
- Multiple measures allow for a deeper exploration of the data.
- Allowing the user to change the measures in a single view can save space in the dashboard.
- Having different measures can help the dashboard to serve different audiences
- The sorting option is hard to find and if a user is not used to Tableau it will probably won’t find the option.
If you already know how to create a dynamic axis, you can go directly here to see how to create a parameter to sort between ascending/descending.
Dynamic Axis:
Step 1: Create the parameter as a list with your selected measures.
Step 2: Parameters by themselves don’t have any functionality. Therefore, to be able to use them you will have to create a calculated field that will go in your view using your parameter.
Step 3: Drag your calculated field to the view and show your parameter control to be able to swap between the different measures.
Step 4 (Optional): If you want the title of your axis to change according to your selected parameter, you will have to add your parameter to your view (in this case the row shelf) and format the label according to your preferences.
Now you can change dynamically the measures in your view! However, if you want to be able to create a parameter to be able to sort between ascending/descending, you can learn how to do it here.
If you have any doubts or comments, feel free to use the box below or contact me in Twitter @DiegoTParker