Parameters and sets

1. Parameters and sets

Nice job with groups! To cap off the course, we will learn about parameters and sets, starting with parameters.

2. Parameters

Tableau defines a parameter as a global placeholder value such as a number, date, or string that can replace a constant value in a calculation, filter, or reference line. This enables you to submit values into your viz to dynamically change what's being shown. For example, changing the view from the top 15 stations to the top 50 instead. The key is a parameter's ability to pass a value into the worksheet using the Parameter Control. This will become clear in the following exercises when we create a Parameter and partner it with a Calculated field and filter. After creation, you will see that Parameters reside in its own section of the Data pane. Let's go through some examples.

3. Examples

You could create a budget parameter to test out different budget amounts on a visualization of department breakdowns. Or if you have a visualization with a range of dates, you can create a date parameter that allows users to specify which dates they want to see. And finally, if you have a list of top customers, a parameter can allow users to input how many top customers they want listed in a visualization.

4. Sets

Sets allow you to define a subset of the data. Whenever there is a need to show division or segmentation between two parts of a whole, creating a Set is a quick and easy solution that can be reused throughout your workbook. As you select members of a data column to be "IN" a set, the others are labeled "OUT" by definition.

5. Sets

There are many use cases for Sets from creating a subset of products with more than X amount of sales or a subset of dates that are public holidays. In both these examples, there is a clear divide, so by selecting the "IN" members, the "OUT" members are defined. However, when the criteria for segmenting or summarizing includes more than 2 groups, you will need to use another method such as creating a Group or applying a Calculated Field, which can implement a wide range of Functions and Formulas to shape and refine your source data.

6. Let's practice!

Let's create some parameters and sets to better understand their potential for creating insights!

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