6 Replies Latest reply on Aug 2, 2018 7:04 PM by MICHAEL GOGGIN

How to set up default views -- filters, essentially -- in dashboards?

Dan Armstrong Sep 14, 2016 1:44 PM

Hi,

This seems like it should be easy, and my clients (who know nothing about Tableau) certainly assume it is. But after searching the forums and other likely locations, I haven't been able to find a solution.

I'll be rolling out five dashboards shortly and need to ensure that users all start at the same place, seeing the same thing, with the same filters applied and the hierarchies collapsed to the same level. Every time they start up Tableau they should see the same thing, unless of course the data has changed, but it should still be set up in the same way.

I've found answers to more complex questions, but I don't see anything addressing this simple question.

Is it possible? How would I do it?

Thanks very much for any insight into this.

Dan

1. Re: How to set up default views -- filters, essentially -- in dashboards?

Matt Hong Sep 14, 2016 1:51 PM (in response to Dan Armstrong)

Everything is the same by default. Once you publish a dashboard with a filter on, it stays on when any viewer opens it on Online or Server.

If for some reason it isn't for you, check out query string parameters: Filtering Views using URL Parameters | Tableau Software

With query strings, you can specify which filters and parameters are on with a change to the URL.
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2. Re: How to set up default views -- filters, essentially -- in dashboards?

Dan Armstrong Sep 15, 2016 7:59 AM (in response to Matt Hong)

Hey. Chicago. I'll be there next week. In Hyde Park, down south.

The link to the parameters URL article looks useful. Basically, I need to create parameters to set the filters and hierarchies and give this URL to the users so that they always go to the default view. I guess this means that they won't be able to set up their own default views. That's OK.

Let me look into this and see if it works for me. Thanks, Matt. Go Cubs.

Dan
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3. Re: How to set up default views -- filters, essentially -- in dashboards?

Matt Hong Sep 15, 2016 12:19 PM (in response to Dan Armstrong)

Top! Glad I could help.

Yeah I heard Cubs are doing well! Have a fun trip!
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4. Re: How to set up default views -- filters, essentially -- in dashboards?

Mark Holtz Sep 15, 2016 1:28 PM (in response to Dan Armstrong)

Dan,
Not sure if you got enough information or not, but I'll stick this here at least for posterity.

Your original post didn't specify, but if you are using Tableau Server as Matt has assumed, then the state in which you upload the Tableau workbook to Server will be the "default" state of the workbook.
Perhaps aggravatingly, this state won't even change if the data changes (unless you are using "Use All" for your filters."
A common complaint is that date filters do not automatically update to reflect the latest date available in the data, after a refresh.

Also, Server Users can create custom views to quickly navigate to their bundle of filter and parameter changes as described in this help article: Save Custom Views

If you are distributing using Tableau Reader, I assume Reader views the workbook in the state it is saved.
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5. Re: How to set up default views -- filters, essentially -- in dashboards?

Dan Armstrong Oct 12, 2016 7:19 AM (in response to Mark Holtz)

Mark, sorry I didn't acknowledge your response. Just saw it now. I ended up addressing the problem in exactly the way you described: saving the worksheets in exactly the way I wanted them to appear when users opened them. Yes, I'm using server. Thanks for your answer.

Dan
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6. Re: How to set up default views -- filters, essentially -- in dashboards?

MICHAEL GOGGIN Aug 2, 2018 7:04 PM (in response to Matt Hong)

Can you update the link, please?
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