# Dimension filters, filter cards and date filters

*Tableau Desktop Foundations Study Guide · Exploring and Analyzing Data · Last updated October 29, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-desktop-foundations/exploring-and-analyzing-data/dimension-filters-filter-cards-and-date-filters*

Filter a view with Keep Only and Exclude on marks and headers, the Filters shelf dialog and filter cards (modes, Include or Exclude Values), and pick the right date filter: relative dates, a range of dates or a discrete date level such as one quarter of every year.

- Certification: Salesforce Tableau Desktop Foundations
- Exam section: Exploring and Analyzing Data
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-desktop-foundations

**Official exam objective:**

> Organize data and apply filters: Create groups by using marks, headers, and the data pane; Create sets by using marks and the data pane; Organize dimensions into a hierarchy; Add a filter to a view; Add a date filter.

## What the exam expects

- Remove or isolate marks and headers with Exclude and Keep Only, and predict what a header selection inside a hierarchy removes.
- Add a dimension to the Filters shelf and use the General, Wildcard, Condition and Top tabs.
- Show a filter card, choose a card mode that fits the field, and switch between Include Values and Exclude Values.
- Pick a date filter: Relative dates for a rolling window, Range of dates for a fixed period, a discrete level for the same part of every year.
- Explain why Relative to Now and Browse Periods appear only for continuous date filters.

Key terms:
- **Keep Only / Exclude:** tooltip commands that filter the selected marks or headers in or out of the view.
- **Filters shelf:** the shelf that holds every filter on the worksheet; dropping a field there opens the Filter dialog.
- **Filter card:** the interactive filter shown in the view; its mode sets how values are picked.
- **Relative date filter:** a date range that updates based on when the view is opened.
- **Discrete date filter:** a filter on a whole date level, such as Quarters or Months, regardless of the year.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Keep Only / Exclude | Tooltip commands on selected marks or headers | [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm) |
| Header in a hierarchy | All next-level headers are selected too | [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm) |
| Dimension Filter dialog tabs | General, Wildcard, Condition, Top; additive left to right | [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm) |
| Filter order | Extract, data source, context, dimension, then measure filters | [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm) |
| Exclude Values | Selections in the card are excluded from the view | [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm) |
| Hide Card | Hides the card; filter stays on the Filters shelf | [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm) |
| Wildcard Match | Asterisk wildcard, not case sensitive | [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm) |
| Relative dates | Range updates based on when the view is opened | [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm) |
| Discrete date filter | Whole date levels, such as quarters, regardless of year | [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm) |
| Relative to Now, Browse Periods | Continuous date fields only | [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm) |
| Date part | Aggregates to one part of a date, such as May of any year | [Change Date Levels](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dates_levels.htm) |

## Check yourself

- Why might Keep Only and Exclude be missing after you select marks?
- Why can a dimension filter change the rows a measure filter evaluates?
- Which card option lists only the values that pass the other filters?
- What happens to the filter when you choose Hide Card?

## Sources

- [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm)
- [Change Date Levels](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dates_levels.htm)
- [Dimensions and Measures, Blue and Green](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/datafields_typesandroles.htm)
- [Create Sets](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/sortgroup_sets_create.htm)
- [Group Your Data](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/sortgroup_groups_creating.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 7 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Desktop Foundations pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams