Tableau Dynamic Linked Parameters

//

The first thing to tell you is this isn’t possible, one of the few weaknesses in Tableau.

I wanted to set up two parameters in Tableau, a start date and an end date.

What I wanted to do should be simple; to base the available end dates on the start date parameter selection.

This means the first available date in the end date parameter is the same as the chosen start date.

I started by creating a calculated field to return values based on the result of the start date parameter – i.e. If  Date >= Start Date parameter Then Date End.

I used this calculated field to set the min and max date range in the parameter and thought that would be parameter set up complete.

I displayed the 2 linked parameters on the sheet and tested it.

Next, I altered the values in the Start Date parameter expecting the values available in the End Date parameter to alter…but nothing happened.

This was surprising so I spent an hour or so going through the calculated field, checking if it was working correctly, trying to work out what I’d done wrong but couldn’t find anything incorrect in my workings.

My next stop was Google…and I eventually came across this post on the Tableau forums where it says:

“> to be able to restrict the available dates of one parameters according to the other
Not currently possible, another very nice idea for a feature request.”

Disappointing as I assumed this would be – and it should be – standard for a software as powerful as Tableau.

3 thoughts on “Tableau Dynamic Linked Parameters”

  1. I completely agree — Parameters are so close yet so far..

    One of my pet peeves is the lack of capability of extending the tool-tips – I think it is another powerful feature that is not fully utilized

    Regards,
    Ujval

    Reply
    • Agree with you on the tooltips although I heard Tableau 7 will have improvements in this area. I guess it’s a case of watch this space for when it’s released.

      Reply
  2. I looked @ the 7.0 build – Nothing major in the terms of the tool-tips. The only ‘extension’ is in the Keep/Exclude feature, I was really hoping to see “insert images”, support for html, etc in the tool-tips.

    Reply

Leave a Comment