Assortive dimensions

Because our client project with Virgin Atlantic at Data School was really successful, I wanted to share a little trick we used for improving dashboard user interactivity. I highly recommend the ‘Sort by dimension’ technique to be applied to an overview dashboard, for example one with a set of Key Performance Indicators (dimensions) organizing measures.  Here I am using the Sample Superstore data that comes with Tableau.

1. Build a view with 3 or more dimensions (optional: separate dimensions onto different worksheets) for a single measure:

 

2. Create a string parameter with the names of the dimensions above:

 

3. Create a calculated field based on a conditional statement of the Sort by dimension parameter (purple) and respective dimension (orange):


 

4. Edit sort on each dimension by choosing the ‘Sort by’ calculated field:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Show parameter control and test:

Sort by dimension

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What dimensions are you sorting? Let me know on Twitter how this technique has come in handy.

Author:
Alexandra Hanna
Powered by The Information Lab
1st Floor, 25 Watling Street, London, EC4M 9BR
Subscribe
to our Newsletter
Get the lastest news about The Data School and application tips
Subscribe now
© 2025 The Information Lab