From the course: Tableau 10 for Data Scientists

Cross-database filtering - Tableau Tutorial

From the course: Tableau 10 for Data Scientists

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Cross-database filtering

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- [Instructor] A new feature in Tableau 10 is the ability to filer across two sheets that are using data from two different data sources but that data hasn't been connected in any way. In this example, we have a dashboard with two sheets, one showing the population of each state and another showing the sales split down by region and subcategory. These sheets are using two different data sources for their data. The Sales sheet is using the Sample Superstore data, whereas the population is using the Population US Census file. If we wanted to filter this dashboard and only show one single state at a time, previously we'd have to produce a parameter then a calculated field in order for this to happen. In Tableau 10, the cross databases filtering allows us to do this quickly and easily. We have one filter on this dashboard. This filter is currently linked to the Population sheet. It's currently set to showing all. If we change this, it only affects the map. It doesn't affect the right-hand side. The two databases are not linked, remember, so there's no common link between the two. If we go back, and from the drop-down we can tell Tableau to apply this filter to different worksheets. Currently, it's only selected to use this worksheet. The new feature is all using related data sources. What Tableau now does is relate the two data sources together on a common field. In this case, State exists in both the Population data and the Sales data, so now if we change our filter, it filters both the left and the right-hand side. Even though there's no physical link between the two data sources, we haven't got to join. We've just got a common field between the two that Tableau knows how to join together for the purposes of filtering.

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