Two Server Data Sources - One Filter? A solution without Data Blending

What if you have a dashboard that has worksheets pointing to two data sources on the server? The issue is that you want to filter both using only one filter. Maybe you have a Date value in both and you don't want to display two different Date filters on your dashboard. How can you solve for this?

You could perform data blending, however, this has some downsides such as performance issues, and you can't use some calculations such as COUNTD, MEDIAN etc.

I suggest using a parameter!

I will show you how to do this with a string field. The concept will be the same for pulling a date field.

First, ensure your workbook is pointing to both data sources on the server.

Then create your parameter using a sheet for one of the data sources.

In the example below, I created a string list parameter based on Region.

Quick Tip: Select Add Values from and select the column to bring in values! This saves you time typing!

I created the following calculated field;

Region Filter

IF [Region Parameter]='All' then

TRUE

ELSE

[Region Parameter]=[Region]

END

This calculated field created a Boolean or True/False filter.

It allowed Tableau to have all of the values displayed with the first part of the IF formula with the 'All' statement. Then it pointed to the Region column.

I then placed this calculated field on the Filters shelf and checked the box for True.

It displayed on the shelf as below;

I then went to a worksheet that pointed at the other data source and created this Region Filter again. (Calculated fields are specific to data sources.)

Quick Tip: You can right-click on a Parameter and select Create calculated field. It will automatically have the Parameter in the pop-up menu!

After I created the calculated field again, I added it to the Filters marks card for this sheet pointing to the OTHER data source. I repeated the steps where I checked the box for True.

Now the final step was to display the Region Parameter on the dashboard. As you see below, it filtered both worksheets at the same time.