3 Ways to Enhance Tableau Dashboard Interactiveness using Set Actions
Using Tableau Set Actions in Your Work
You may have previously used sets in Tableau to create a subset of your data or to group your data based on some predefined conditions. At the row level, individual records are either in or out of the set. There are two types of sets: fixed and dynamic. In fixed sets, changes in data do not affect the in/out condition of your set. When you select a dimension and use Create > Set, you are essentially creating a fixed set. In a dynamic set, when the data changes, the set may change based on whatever conditions or calculations affect the set.
[Tableau Hacks] How to Save Dashboard Space With Hidden Containers? >>
In this article, we are going to look at examples of set actions in Tableau and discover ways of using this feature to improve interactivity on our everyday Tableau dashboards.
What are Set Actions
Set actions are a feature in Tableau that provide Tableau users more control over interactivity in their dashboard design. This control over interactivity makes it easy to coordinate different actions across multiple views with a single click or selection.
Using Sets to Show a Part to a Whole Relationship
One useful way to use Set Actions is to show a part to whole relationship. If we want to see how a specific Region contributes to Sales in our various Product Sub-Categories, we can use set actions to highlight the contribution.
Steps:
- In Tableau, connect to the Superstore Sample data Source
- Drag the Region dimension to the Row Shelf and then Sales to Columns
[Whitepaper] Connecting Tableau to OBIEE Without Oracle ODBC Driver >>




Tableau Row Level Security (RLS) Setup – Simplified Guide >>



5 Quick Ways to Export Data From Tableau to Excel >>

Using Set actions to swap sheets
Sheet swapping is a useful way to save space on your dashboard. This method of cycling through sheets view can be achieved using a parameter. However, if you are thinking of a more dynamic approach, you can use Set Actions. In the example below we’re going to use the various Segments (i.e. Consumer, Corporate & Home Office) to cycle between various charts.
Tableau Certified Connector for OBIEE, OAC & OAS – Try it Now >>
Steps:
- Build a chart that shows the overall Sales segmented by product Sub-Categories. Name this chart as Consumer Sub-Category
- Build a second chart that shows a map of Sales. Name this Corporate Map
- Create a third view that shows the trend of sales based on the month of the year. Name this chart Home Office Trend
How to Use Graph Analytics for Big Data? >>



Tableau vs OBIEE – H2H Comparison [eBook] >>



[Open Secret] How to Securely Connect Tableau to OBIEE and OAC? >>

5 Stages of Data Analytics >>

Using Set Actions to Drill Down
When working with views that involve a hierarchy or several levels of detail, you can use Set Actions to achieve. In the tutorial below, we will build a hierarchy involving Category, Sub-Category and Product Name.
Steps:
- Create a hierarchy using Segment, Category and Sub-Category
- Right-click the Segment field and create a set. Leave the values empty
5 Must-haves of Tableau OBIEE/OAC/OAS Connectors >>






Subscribe to BI Connector blog to learn more on Tableau tips and tricks. Want to visualize OBIEE data in Tableau? Try BI Connector for Tableau free!