Design and Troubleshoot Calculations and Workbooks40% of the exam
Troubleshooting filter order and table calculation filters
Diagnose wrong or blank results by finding where each filter runs, then fix them by moving the filter: extract and data source filters that remove data too early, a latest date filter set before context, table calculation filters built with LOOKUP to run last, regular filters to run earlier, and Apply to totals.
Troubleshoot issues caused by the Tableau order of operations.
~7 min read · 6 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Trace a wrong, low or blank result to the filter that runs too early or too late in the order of operations.
- Recognize extract and data source filters as the cause when even FIXED expressions miss data, and the latest date filter as the cause of blank worksheets with context filters.
- Move a filter later by turning it into a table calculation filter, or earlier by replacing a table calculation filter with a regular dimension filter.
- Control whether a table calculation filter also filters totals.
Key terms:
- Extract filter: a filter that limits which rows are pulled into an extract.
- Data source filter: a filter on the whole data source, applied to every query against it.
- Latest date preset: a date filter option that selects the most recent date when the workbook is opened.
- Table calculation filter: a calculated field containing a table calculation, placed on Filters, applied last.
- Apply to totals: a table calculation filter option that applies the filter to totals as well.
Key facts
Extract filters
- Detail
- Limit the data pulled into the extract
Existing data source filters
- Detail
- Recommended as extract filters when you extract; removable
Data source filters on published sources
- Detail
- Users can't see or modify them; all queries apply them
FIXED respects
- Detail
- Context, data source and extract filters only
Latest date
- Detail
- Set after data source filters, before context filters; used as a dimension filter
Presets on Server and Cloud
- Detail
- Applied at first load, not on browser or data refresh
LOOKUP target missing
- Detail
- Returns NULL
Table calculation filter
- Detail
- Applied last; underlying data not filtered out
Apply to totals
- Detail
- Offered when totals are shown with a table calculation filter
- Why does a table calculation ignore months a regular filter removed?
- When does Tableau Cloud apply a latest date preset in the browser?
- What does LOOKUP return when its target row can't be determined?
- Can people using a published data source see its data source filters?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
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