Tableau Filter Introduction

Filtering is an essential aspect of analyzing data. It is the process of eliminating values from a range of result set. Tableau provides a filtering feature to filter data from your view for the advanced calculation. Filtering describes how you can represent interactive filters in the view, and format filters in the view. There are three types of basic filters in Tableau which are as follows:

• You can apply the filters to the dimension fields.
• Filter Measures can be used to the measure fields.
• Basics Filters can also be applied on the date fields.

Filter Dimensions

These filters are applied on the dimension fields. In this, the filtering is based on categories of text or numeric values. The steps of Filter Dimensions are given below:

1. Open the Tableau Desktop and connect to your data source (the Excel file). Under the Dimension, drag the Month field to the columns shelf. Drag and drop the Sales field to the Rows shelf. You will see the following bar chart. Let’s distinguish the bar charts by dragging the direction with the color tab under Marks Card.

2. Now we will apply the dimension filters on the Sales of the data. For it, drag the dimension Direction to the Filters tab. A dialogue box will appear as shown below:

3. You can choose any direction from this menu and click on Ok. Here we have chosen the west direction.

4. You will see Tableau has automatically created the filter and has eliminated all the data of other directions. You will have the following screenshot which shows only the bar charts of west directions.

Filter Measures

These filters are applied to the measure fields. In this, the filtering is based on the calculations applied to the measure fields. The steps of Filter Dimensions are given below:

1. Open the Tableau Desktop and connect to your data source (the Excel file). Under the Dimension, drag the Categories field to the columns shelf. Drag and drop the Sales field to the Rows shelf. You will find the following bar chart.

2. To apply the measure filters, drag the Quantity measure. A dialogue box will appear and asking for the specified filter as shown below:

3. Now add filter on the Quantity as per your requirement. Click on Next and select further options and Click on OK. You will find the following screenshot.