In this section, we will explore how to add interactivity to your Tableau dashboards using dashboard actions. Dashboard actions allow users to interact with the data visualizations, making the dashboards more dynamic and insightful.

1. Types of Dashboard Actions:

   • Filter Actions: Allow users to filter data across multiple sheets.
   • Highlight Actions: Highlight specific data points across multiple sheets.
   • URL Actions: Navigate to a web page or another Tableau dashboard.
   • Go to Sheet Actions: Navigate to a different sheet within the workbook.

2. Creating Dashboard Actions:

   • How to create and configure different types of actions.
   • Understanding the scope and impact of each action.

3. Practical Examples:

   • Step-by-step examples of creating and using dashboard actions.

4. Best Practices:

   • Tips for effectively using dashboard actions to enhance user experience.

Filter actions allow users to filter data across multiple sheets by selecting data points in one sheet.

Steps to Create a Filter Action:

1. Open the Dashboard:

   • Open the dashboard where you want to add the filter action.

2. Go to Dashboard Menu:

   • Click on the Dashboard menu and select Actions.

3. Add Action:

   • Click on Add Action and select Filter.

4. Configure the Action:

   • Source Sheets: Select the sheet(s) that will trigger the action.
   • Target Sheets: Select the sheet(s) that will be affected by the action.
   • Run Action On: Choose when the action should run (Hover, Select, or Menu).
   • Clearing the Selection: Decide what happens when the selection is cleared (Show all values, Keep filtered values, or Exclude all values).

5. Save and Test:

   • Click OK to save the action and test it by interacting with the source sheet.

Highlight actions emphasize specific data points across multiple sheets.

Steps to Create a Highlight Action:

1. Open the Dashboard:

   • Open the dashboard where you want to add the highlight action.

2. Go to Dashboard Menu:

   • Click on the Dashboard menu and select Actions.

3. Add Action:

   • Click on Add Action and select Highlight.

4. Configure the Action:

   • Source Sheets: Select the sheet(s) that will trigger the action.
   • Target Sheets: Select the sheet(s) that will be affected by the action.
   • Run Action On: Choose when the action should run (Hover, Select, or Menu).

5. Save and Test:

   • Click OK to save the action and test it by interacting with the source sheet.

URL actions allow users to navigate to a web page or another Tableau dashboard.

Steps to Create a URL Action:

1. Open the Dashboard:

   • Open the dashboard where you want to add the URL action.

2. Go to Dashboard Menu:

   • Click on the Dashboard menu and select Actions.

3. Add Action:

   • Click on Add Action and select URL.

4. Configure the Action:

   • Source Sheets: Select the sheet(s) that will trigger the action.
   • URL: Enter the URL you want to navigate to. You can use field values to dynamically construct the URL.
   • Run Action On: Choose when the action should run (Hover, Select, or Menu).

5. Save and Test:

   • Click OK to save the action and test it by interacting with the source sheet.

Go to Sheet actions allow users to navigate to a different sheet within the workbook.

Steps to Create a Go to Sheet Action:

1. Open the Dashboard:

   • Open the dashboard where you want to add the Go to Sheet action.

2. Go to Dashboard Menu:

   • Click on the Dashboard menu and select Actions.

3. Add Action:

   • Click on Add Action and select Go to Sheet.

4. Configure the Action:

   • Source Sheets: Select the sheet(s) that will trigger the action.
   • Target Sheet: Select the sheet you want to navigate to.
   • Run Action On: Choose when the action should run (Hover, Select, or Menu).

5. Save and Test:

   • Click OK to save the action and test it by interacting with the source sheet.

Let's create a practical example where we use a filter action to filter sales data by region.

1. Create a Sales Map:

   • Create a map visualization showing sales by region.

2. Create a Sales Details Sheet:

   • Create a detailed table showing sales data.

3. Add Both Sheets to a Dashboard:

   • Add the "Sales Map" and "Sales Details" sheets to a dashboard.

4. Create a Filter Action:

   • Go to Dashboard > Actions.
   • Click Add Action > Filter.
   • Name the action "Filter Sales by Region".
   • Select "Sales Map" as the source sheet.
   • Select "Sales Details" as the target sheet.
   • Choose Run action on: Select.
   • Set Clearing the selection will: Show all values.
   • Click OK to save the action.

5. Test the Action:

   • Select a region on the "Sales Map" sheet and observe the "Sales Details" sheet updating to show only the data for the selected region.

• Keep It Simple: Avoid overloading your dashboard with too many actions, as it can confuse users.
• Clear Instructions: Provide clear instructions or tooltips to guide users on how to interact with the dashboard.
• Test Thoroughly: Always test your actions to ensure they work as expected and provide the desired interactivity.
• Consistent Behavior: Ensure that similar actions behave consistently across different sheets and dashboards.

Dashboard actions are a powerful feature in Tableau that can significantly enhance the interactivity and usability of your dashboards. By using filter, highlight, URL, and Go to Sheet actions, you can create dynamic and engaging visualizations that provide deeper insights into your data. Practice creating different types of actions and experiment with their configurations to fully leverage their potential in your Tableau projects.