Tableau Filters

Tableau Filters are used to restrict the data as per the client’s requirements. For example, we can exclude a region from the display, or we can display the top 10 performing records or low performing records using Filters.

Before we start our example, It is essential to understand the Order of the Operations in which Tableau will execute the filters in our workbook.

Type of Filters in Tableau

The following is the list of available filter types in Tableau, and they are.

  1. Conditional Filters
  2. Context Filters
  3. Data Source Filters
  4. Extract Filters
  5. Filters on Dimensions
  6. Filters on Measures
  7. Quick Filters
  8. Keep and Exclude filter options
  9. Selection Filter
  10. Slicing Filters
  11. Top and Bottom Filters

In this article, we will show you how to create basic Tableau filters with examples. For this demo, we created two Hierarchies representing the Country and Products. The screenshot below will show you the dimensions and measures preview.

Sample Sheet With Dimensions and Measures 1

Creating Tableau Filters

To demonstrate Tableau filters, first, Drag and Drop the City Name from Dimension Region to Rows Shelf and Sales Amount Measures region to Columns Shelf. By default, it will generate the Bar Chart, as shown below. Please remember that we have 269 Rows in our Report.

Also, visit the Hierarchies and Data Labels in Reports article to understand the Tableau Data Source of a Report.

Bar Chart with City as Y-axis and Sales as X-axis value  2

Create Filters in Tableau using tooltip Keep Only

The Desktop allows you to select individual data points or a group of data points from the report. Once you pick the data points, you will get the Keep Only and Exclude options. Selecting either of the two means you are using the Tableau Filters indeed.

For example, if you see the screenshot below, we are selecting 16 random cities from the bar chart. Next, we are using the Keep only option. It means we are using the filter stating that Cities with the selected names should be displayed.

Keep Only Option to remove the remaining bars from the chart 3

As you can see, the report displays the records that we selected in the previous step. And most importantly, the City dimension appeared on Tableau Filters Shelf.

Basic Tableau Filters 4

Create Tableau Filters using tooltip Exclude option

In this Filters example, We will use the Exclude Option. Here, we are selecting the first 96 Cities from the bar chart. Next, we are using the Exclude option. It means we are using the filter stating that Cities with the selected names should restrict from the display.

Tableau Filters Exclude Option to remove those records from bar chart 5

You can observe that the Filter report displays the cities starting with E.

Basic Tableau Filters 6

Though the above examples are enough to understand the basic filters. I want to provide two more samples using the Maps. It might be useful for further reference.

Creating Filters in Tableau Maps

Drag and Drop the Sales Amount Measures region to Columns Shelf and City Name from Dimension Region to Rows Shelf. By default, the desktop will generate the Bar Chart. So, please change it to Map using Show Me Shelf. As you can see, the Map is stating that there are 128 Unknown regions.

Basic Tableau Filters on Maps 7

Double click on it, will open the following window with multiple options. It is an entirely different topic; we will discuss the possibilities in the Maps section. For now, we are choosing the second option. It means we are applying the filters on the Map and insisting the Map not show those 128 regions.

Basic Tableau Filters on Google maps 8

Now you can see the Map that excluded those 128 regions. It is also called filtering map data.

View Map 9

Create Tableau Map Filters using Exclude Option

We are selecting the data points from the Europe Region from the Map. Next, we are using the Exclude option to create filters. It means we are using the condition stating that the Sales Amount with that Region should restrict from the display.

Basic Tableau Filters using Exclude 10

Now you can see the map without the European data.

Basic Tableau Filters using Exclude option on maps 11

Create Map Filters using the Keep Only Option

We are selecting the data points from the United States Region from the Map. Next, we are using the Keep Only option. It means we are using the Tableau conditional filter stating that the Sales Amount with the United States Region should only display.

Basic Tableau Filters using keep only option 12

The below screenshot will show the Tableau filter Map.

Using keep only on maps 13