# Sets, groups, bins and hierarchies

*Tableau Data Analyst Study Guide · Explore and Analyze Data · Last updated October 29, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-data-analyst/explore-and-analyze-data/sets-groups-bins-and-hierarchies*

Choose between fixed, dynamic and combined sets and use In/Out mode, edit set membership from the view, size and read bins (and replace them with a FLOOR calculation), build and reorder hierarchies, and group members for corrections and what-if comparisons.

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

**Official exam objective:**

> Structure the data: Sets; Bins; Hierarchies; Groups.

## What the exam expects

- Choose a fixed, dynamic or combined set, and add or remove fixed-set members from the view.
- Show a set as In/Out or as members, and know the web authoring and set control limits.
- Create bins of a given size, place a boundary value, and replace a bin with a calculation.
- Build, reorder and drill hierarchies, including date hierarchies and fields inside folders.
- Group members from the view or Data pane, and edit, rename and ungroup them with Include 'Other'.

The basics are in the Desktop Foundations units Fixed, dynamic and combined sets and Groups and hierarchies for organizing dimensions.

Key terms:
- **Fixed set:** members never change; can span several dimensions.
- **Dynamic set:** one dimension; members recomputed from a General, Condition or Top rule.
- **In/Out mode:** a set shown as members (In) versus everything else (Out).
- **Bin:** an equal-sized range of a measure, stored as a new dimension.
- **Group:** a field that combines selected dimension members into one member.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic vs fixed set | Dynamic: one dimension, recomputes; fixed: several dimensions, static | [Create Sets](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/sortgroup_sets_create.htm) |
| Sets on the web | Only In/Out on Tableau Server and Tableau Cloud | [Create Sets](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/sortgroup_sets_create.htm) |
| Set control | Dynamic sets only, in play in the view | [Create Sets](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/sortgroup_sets_create.htm) |
| Bin label | Inclusive lower limit of the range | [Create Bins](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/calculations_bins.htm) |
| Default Size of bins | 10 when Tableau cannot optimize quickly | [Create Bins](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/calculations_bins.htm) |
| Bin restrictions | Relational sources only; not usable in calculations | [Create Bins](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/calculations_bins.htm) |
| Hierarchy from a folder field | Right-click > Create Hierarchy | [Create Hierarchies](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/qs_hierarchies.htm) |
| Ungroup with Other on | Members join the Other group | [Group Your Data](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/sortgroup_groups_creating.htm) |

## Check yourself

- Why can a set built from selected marks not get a set control?
- Why does Out disappear when you choose Show Members in Set?
- What does Use all on a dynamic set's General tab do?
- Which data sources support bins?

## Sources

- [Create Sets](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/sortgroup_sets_create.htm)
- [Create Bins from a Continuous Measure](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/calculations_bins.htm)
- [Create Hierarchies](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/qs_hierarchies.htm)
- [Change Date Levels](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dates_levels.htm)
- [Group Your Data](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/sortgroup_groups_creating.htm)
- [Correct Data Errors or Combine Dimension Members by Grouping Your Data](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/sortgroup_groups.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 16 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Data Analyst pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams