Create Hierarchies

When you connect to a data source, Tableau automatically separates date fields into hierarchies so you can easily break down the viz. You can also create your own custom hierarchies. For example, if you have a set of fields named Region, State, and County, you can create a hierarchy from these fields so that you can quickly drill down between levels in the viz.

Create a hierarchy

To create a hierarchy:

  1. In the Data pane, drag a field and drop it directly on top of another field.

    Note: When you want to create a hierarchy from a field inside a folder, right-click (control-click on a Mac) the field and then select Create Hierarchy.

  2. When prompted, enter a name for the hierarchy and click OK.

  3. Drag additional fields into the hierarchy as needed. You can also re-order fields in the hierarchy by dragging them to a new position.

    Drill up or down in a hierarchy

    When you add a field from a hierarchy to the visualisation, you can quickly drill up or down in the hierarchy to add or subtract more levels of detail.

    To drill up or down in a hierarchy in Tableau Desktop or in web authoring:

    • In the visualisation, click the + or - icon on the hierarchy field.

      When you are editing or viewing the visualisation on the web, you have the option of clicking the + or - icon next to a field label.

       

    Remove a hierarchy

    To remove a hierarchy:

    • In the Data pane, right-click (control-click on a Mac) the hierarchy and select Remove Hierarchy.

      The fields in the hierarchy are removed from the hierarchy and the hierarchy disappears from the Data pane.

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