Tableau Desktop Cookbook

Chapter 15. Parameters

Parameters are user-generated values at the worksheet or dashboard level. In some cases, they allow the user to compare against a selected value without filtering the data. Parameters have many use cases. This chapter will cover some of those uses. The benefit of using a parameter is it is independent of a data source and is relevant to the whole workbook, because until you tell Tableau what to do with the parameter, it stays independent of the data set(s).

Tableau has several types of parameters; some have already been mentioned throughout this book.

15.1 Float/Integer Parameter

Problem

You want to give the user the ability to select a value to show subcategories above and below the value.

Solution

1. 

   Click the drop-down menu and select Create Parameter:

2. In the pop-up box, choose either Float, which includes decimals, or Integer, which is whole numbers:

   

3. 

   Add in a current value, which means what the parameter value will start on:

4. If you want to change the display format to include a dollar sign, click “Display format” and change to Currency:

   

5. Then click ...