# Filter, highlight and URL dashboard actions

*Tableau Data Analyst Study Guide · Create Content · Last updated October 29, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-data-analyst/create-content/filter-highlight-and-url-dashboard-actions*

Diagnose and configure dashboard filter, highlight and URL actions: keep controlling views unfiltered with Ignore Actions, restrict runs with Single-select only, map differently named fields across data sources, match highlights on dates or chosen fields, and get field values and web pages into URL actions.

- Certification: Salesforce Tableau Data Analyst
- Exam section: Create Content
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-data-analyst

**Official exam objective:**

> Add interactivity to dashboards: Use filter in a dashboard; Add filter, URL, and highlight actions; Create interactivity using dynamic zone visibility; Add navigation buttons; Create interactivity using set and parameter actions; Create show/hide buttons for dashboard objects.

## What the exam expects

- Use views as dashboard filters with Use as Filter, and stop several controlling views from filtering each other.
- Configure a filter action's run option, Single-select only, clearing behaviour and target fields, including across relational data sources with differently named fields.
- Choose the highlight action's matching option (All Fields, Dates and Times, Selected Fields) from the requirement.
- Build Go to URL actions that insert field values, send aggregated values, and open in a Web Page object.
- Know where dynamic zone visibility, navigation and Show/Hide buttons, and set and parameter actions are taught.

The setup basics (Dashboard > Actions, the three triggers, the URL prefix rules) are in the Desktop Foundations unit Dashboard filter, highlight and URL actions; this unit works at the diagnosis level.

Key terms:
- **Use as Filter:** a sheet menu option that creates a "generated" filter action.
- **Ignore Actions:** a sheet menu option that stops other filter actions from changing that view.
- **Single-select only:** a Select-trigger option that skips the action when several marks are selected.
- **Clearing the selection:** what target sheets show once the source selection is cleared.
- **URL Target:** where a Go to URL link opens.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Use as Filter | Creates a filter action with "generated" in its name | [Filter Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_filter.htm) |
| Ignore Actions | Stops other filter actions from affecting that view | [Actions and Dashboards](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_dashboards.htm) |
| Single-select only | Select option; skips the action for multi-mark selections | [Filter Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_filter.htm) |
| Leave the filter | Keeps filtered results; web authoring label Keep filtered values | [Filter Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_filter.htm) |
| Target Field list | Limited to the source field's data type | [Filter Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_filter.htm) |
| Different field names | Allowed for relational sources; cube sources need matching names | [Filter Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_filter.htm) |
| Dates and Times highlight | One date field per sheet; names may differ | [Advanced highlight actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_highlight_advanced.htm) |
| URL Insert menu | Non-aggregated fields only; referenced fields must be in the view | [URL Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_url.htm) |
| Action order | Parameter, Set, Filter, Go to Sheet, Highlight, Go to URL | [Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions.htm) |

## Check yourself

- When several action types fire, in what order does Tableau run them?
- When must a filter action across data sources use matching field names?
- What does a New Tab if No Web Page Object Exists action do after its first run?
- What does Encode Data Values that URLs Do Not Support do?

## Sources

- [Filter Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_filter.htm)
- [Actions and Dashboards](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_dashboards.htm)
- [Create Advanced Highlight Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_highlight_advanced.htm)
- [URL Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_url.htm)
- [Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions.htm)
- [Use Dynamic Zone Visibility](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dynamic_zone_visibility.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 9 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Data Analyst pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams