Sets & Parameters in Tableau: A Road to Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification

Author(s): Daksh Trehan

Originally published on Towards AI.

Chapter 9: A comprehensive guide on Sets & Parameters in Tableau with Sample Certification Questions and free Udemy Dumps.

Welcome to the ninth chapter, In this piece, we are going to learn about sets and parameters in

Tableau.

If you want to navigate through other chapters, visit: Tableau: What it is? Why it is the best?; A road to Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification.

If you want to directly go on Tableau Desktop Specialist notes, access them here → https://dakshtrehan.notion.site/Tableau-Notes-c13fceda97b94bda940edbf6751cf30

Use the link to get access to free Tableau certification dumps (Valid till 6 July 2022):

https://www.udemy.com/course/tableau-desktop-specialist-certification-dumps-2022/?couponCode=E3F08189FA4BAFAE72BC

Table of Content

• Sets
  – Dynamic Sets
  – Static Sets
  – Adding/Removing data points from Sets
  – Combining Sets
  – Using Sets in viz
  – Groups vs Sets
  – Filters vs Sets
  – Set Actions
• Parameters
  – Using Parameters in Filters
  – Using Parameters in Calculations
  – Showing Parameters control in Viz
  – Parameters vs Filters
• Sample Certification Questions from this Topic

Sets

Sets could be used to compare the subsets of the data. In simple words, these are useful in highlighting a subset of data specifying certain criteria. Sets are also known as pre-computed filters as they subset the data.

Sets could only be created on dimensions.

A set is itself a dimension.

A set is defined by a ‘Venn-diagram’ type of icon:

Sets can be created in two ways:

Dynamic Sets

The dynamic sets as the name suggests, are dynamic i.e. change when the underlying data is modified. These can be only based on a singular dimension.

To create a dynamic set:

Step1 → Right-click on a dimension, and choose “Set”

Step2 → A dynamic set will give you three options to choose from General, Condition, Top.

General — Choose required data points manually.

Condition — You can add/create conditions based on fields on manual formulas.

Top — Using this option, we can define the range for which we can get values based on different fields/formulas.

The new set will be added to our data pane as a dimension.

Static Sets

The static sets, as the name suggests, are static i.e. don’t change even if the underlying data changes. These could be created either on singular or multiple dimensions.

To create a fixed set:

Step1 → Choose one or more marks in viz and choose the ‘Create Set’ option.

Step2 → Give a name to the set.

We can also use the “Exclude” option if we want to exclude all the selected data points.

A set will be added to the Data pane under the Dimension pane.

Adding/Removing data points from Sets

We can add/remove data points from sets in two ways:

1. From the Data Pane.

Simply right-click on the set and choose “Edit Set”.

We can then add/remove data points in the dialog box.

2. From the view.

Simply choose the desired points from the view.

Click on “Add to Set” or “Remove from Set” as per desired results.

Combining Sets

We can combine two sets in Tableau.

To combine two sets, they must be based on the same dimension.

When we combine various sets, a new set is created that contains a combination of all the members or the members that exist in both or members that exist only in one set.

To combine various sets:

Step1 → Right-click on any set and choose “Create Combined Set”.

Step2 → Choose the set to combine and how to combine both sets.

Using sets in Viz

Sets are separate dimensions and could be dragged and dropped like any other field in Tableau.

When we drag a set to a row/column shelf, by default Tableau will show IN/OUT notation.

IN means the members present in the set. OUT refers to the member excluded from the set.

We can rename IN/OUT by either using aliases or calculated fields(if-else blocks)

We can either choose “Show Members in Set” or “Show In/Out of Set”.

If we choose “Show Members in Set”, we’ll only get output for the members present in the set.

Groups vs Sets

So basically, whatever Sets does we can also make it happen using Groups. But, then why do we use Sets?

Groups are only made on Static data and can’t be changed automatically based on changes in underlying data. But Sets can be used as both static or dynamic.

We can create unlimited Groups but for Sets, there could be only IN/OUT. Either the member would be in Set or not.

Sets can be used in calculated fields but we can’t use groups there.

Filters vs Sets

Sets are used to compare, whereas Filters are used to filter the data.

Sets can also be used as Filters, just drag them to the Filters shelf.

Filters and Sets are the same to an extent, but Sets are more of permanent filters as they could be re-used for the entire workbook whereas Filters can only be used for a single worksheet(by default).

Sets become metadata and hence could be used if a worksheet is using .tds files.

Filters change the view, but Sets add a dimension to the view.

Sets Actions

We know that when we use dynamic sets, the view change when underlying data is changed. But if users want to change the data, we can use Set actions to generate results as required by users.

Set actions update the value in the set.

To create a set action, choose Worksheet>Actions.

We can choose the action either for “The workbook” or “The worksheet”.

Choose “Change Set Values” to update the sets based on user preferences.

Give a meaningful name to your action and choose the Source sheet and Target Set.

The action could be provoked in three ways:

1. Hover → This will change the set, once the user hovers over any mark in the view.
2. Select → This will trigger the action when the user will click on any mark in the view.
3. Menu → This will trigger the action when the user will right-click on the mark and select an option on the context menu.

Choose how to run the action and what would happen when the view is cleared.

Parameters

Parameters are interactive tools to control the value of a variable. e.g. for a viz we might require the top 10 data points for a view but later might require the top 20, the users won’t be going to change it manually, so we can simply put a parameter and users can tweak them to get desired values.

Creating a Parameter

Step1 → In the drop-down arrow in Data Pane, choose “Create Parameter”.

Step2 → Choose the name, data type and by default value for our parameter.

All — The parameter control would simply allow a text field.

List — The control would let you choose an option from the list.

Range — The control would let you choose an option within the specified range.

The availability of these options depends on the selection of datatype.

Step3 — Find the parameter in the Data pane.

Using Parameters in Filter

Parameters can help change the values for the top N filter. Users rather than changing the values manually can use Parameters.

To use a Parameter in Filter:

Step1 — Open the Filter dialog box and in the “Top” option choose your parameter.

Step2 — Change the view by entering the number of titles you want.

Note: To show a parameter control in view. Right-click on Parameter and choose “Show Parameter”.

Using Parameters in Calculation

Parameters can be used in calculations to modify the values and thus change the calculation dynamically.

To add parameters in calculations, simply drag and drop parameter in calculation dialog box.

Parameters Card

We can format our Parameters card, simply click on drop-down in parameter card in view.

Edit Parameter — It let you edit your parameter.

Show Title — It let you show the title of the Parameter.

Edit Title — It let you edit the title of your Parameter.

Format Parameters — It let you change the font, and color for your Parameters.

Type In — It let you change the way you enter the parameters, it could be a text box, slider, drop-down, etc. It depends on the data type of parameter.

Hide Card — It let you hide the parameters card.

Parameter Actions

We can add a parameter action to allow users to directly change the view by either hovering, clicking, or selecting the menu.

Step1 — To create a Parameter Action, go to Worksheet<Actions.

Step2 — Chose “Change Parameter”.

Step3 — Choose Source Sheets, Target Parameter and how to trigger a Parameter.

The action could be provoked in three ways:

1. Hover → This will change the set, once the user hovers over any mark in the view.
2. Select → This will trigger the action when the user will click on any mark in the view.
3. Menu → This will trigger the action when the user will right-click on the mark and select an option on the context menu.

Choose how to run the action and what would happen when the view is cleared.

Parameters vs Filters

Parameters aren’t as same as Filters, but they can be used to customize the filters.

Sample Exam Questions from this Topic

Sets can also be used as filters?

a. True
b. False

Solution: True

To create variable-sized bins, we use:

a. Sets
b. Groups
c. Histogram
d. Calculated Fields

Solution: Calculated Fields

Which of the following supports multiple data types?

a. Parameters
b. Filters
c. Sets
d. Groups

Solution: Parameters

Sets can be only created on dimensions?
a. True
b. False

Solution: True

Can we combine two sets together?
a. True
b. False

Solution: True

Use the link to get access to free Tableau certification dumps (Valid till 6 July 2022):

https://www.udemy.com/course/tableau-desktop-specialist-certification-dumps-2022/?couponCode=E3F08189FA4BAFAE72BC

References:

[1] Tableau Help U+007C Tableau Software

[2] Personal Notes

[3]Tableau Desktop Specialist Exam (New Pattern — 2021) — Apisero

Thanks for Reading!

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