# Filter cards, highlighters, tooltips and parameter controls

*Tableau Desktop Foundations Study Guide · Sharing Insights · Last updated October 29, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-desktop-foundations/sharing-insights/filter-cards-highlighters-tooltips-and-parameter-controls*

The four controls a viewer uses without any action set up: Show Filter cards that remove data, highlighters that dim non-matching marks while keeping context, tooltip behavior (Responsive or On Hover) and command buttons, and Show Parameter controls that change a value on the dashboard.

- Certification: Salesforce Tableau Desktop Foundations
- Exam section: Sharing Insights
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-desktop-foundations

**Official exam objective:**

> Create and modify a dashboard: Add worksheets to a dashboard; Add interactive elements for consumers (for example, show filters, data highlighter, tooltips); Add dashboard actions (for example, filter action, highlight action, parameter control, URL action); Configure a dashboard layout and create device-specific dashboards; Create a story and a story point.

## What the exam expects

- Show a filter card for consumers with Show Filter, including for a field that is not yet used in the view.
- Turn on a data highlighter for a discrete field, and predict how it behaves on a dashboard with several sheets.
- Configure tooltips in the Edit Tooltip dialog: Responsive versus On Hover behavior, command buttons, Allow selection by category and All Fields.
- Show a parameter control so viewers can type, pick or slide a new parameter value on a worksheet or dashboard.
- Tell these consumer controls apart from dashboard actions (filter, highlight, URL), which need marks to be clicked or hovered.

Key terms:
- **Filter card:** an interactive card in the view that includes or excludes data for a field on the Filters shelf.
- **Highlighter:** a search card for a discrete field that highlights matching marks and dims the rest.
- **Command buttons:** the Keep Only, Exclude, Group Members, Create Set and View Data buttons at the top of a tooltip.
- **Parameter control:** a worksheet card that lets the viewer change a parameter's value.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Show Filter on a field not in the view | Tableau Desktop allows it from the field's drop-down in the Data pane | [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm) |
| Highlighter field requirement | Discrete, included in the view, affects the level of detail | [Highlight Data Points in Context](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_highlight_highlighter.htm) |
| Highlighter value sets | One value set at a time; with several highlighters, the last used is active | [Highlight Data Points in Context](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_highlight_highlighter.htm) |
| Highlighter on a sheet without the field | No match is found and that sheet's values are dimmed | [Highlight Data Points in Context](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_highlight_highlighter.htm) |
| Highlighter after a data update | Its values update automatically | [Highlight Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_highlight.htm) |
| Default tooltip behavior | Responsive: instant, command buttons only after a click | [Control the Appearance of Marks in the View](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/viewparts_marks_markproperties.htm) |
| On Hover tooltip | Shows after the cursor rests; command buttons appear without a click | [Control the Appearance of Marks in the View](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/viewparts_marks_markproperties.htm) |
| Open a parameter control | Right-click the parameter in the Data pane, Show Parameter | [Create Parameters](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/parameters_create.htm) |
| Parameter control display | Radio buttons, compact list, slider or type-in field, by data type and allowable values | [Create Parameters](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/parameters_create.htm) |

## Check yourself

- Why does Hide Card not undo a filter?
- Why can't a string parameter use the Range option?
- When would you use Format > Highlighter?
- How do you label only the highlighted marks?

## Sources

- [Filter Data from Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm)
- [Highlight Data Points in Context](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_highlight_highlighter.htm)
- [Control the Appearance of Marks in the View](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/viewparts_marks_markproperties.htm)
- [Create Parameters](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/parameters_create.htm)
- [Highlight Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_highlight.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 5 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Desktop Foundations pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams