Tableau How-To: Show/Hide Views Using Dynamic Zone Visibility (DZV)

Dynamic Zone Visibility (DZV) allows you to show or hide objects on your Tableau dashboard based on user interaction or data-driven logic. Unlike traditional methods like sheet swapping or Show/Hide buttons, DZV gives you more flexibility — and doesn’t require dashboard actions to function.

In this tutorial, we’ll walk through how to create a parameter-based toggle that lets users switch between multiple dashboard views using Tableau’s built-in Superstore dataset.

What You'll Build

We’ll create a dashboard with three views:

• Overview
• Regional
• Map

Users will be able to switch between them using a parameter control. Each view will appear conditionally, depending on the selected parameter value.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Create the Parameter

1. In Tableau, right-click in the Data pane and select Create Parameter.
2. Name it: Dynamic View Parameter.
3. Set the Data Type to String.
4. Under Allowable values, select List.
5. Add the following values:
   • Overview
   • Regional
   • Map
6. Click OK.
7. Right-click the parameter in the Data pane and choose Show Parameter.

This parameter will control which view is visible.

Step 2: Create a Boolean Field for Each View

Next, we’ll create a calculated field for each worksheet we want to show/hide. These fields will return TRUE when the selected parameter matches the view.

1. For the Overview worksheet, create a calculated field:
   • Name: Show Overview
   • Formula:[Dynamic View Parameter] = "Overview"
     
2. For the Regional worksheet, create:
   • Name: Show Regional
   • Formula:[Dynamic View Parameter] = "Regional"
     
3. For the Map worksheet, create:
   • Name: Show Map
   • Formula:[Dynamic View Parameter] = "Map"
     

Each of these fields returns TRUE only when the matching view is selected.

Step 3: Build the Worksheets

Now, build each of your views as separate worksheets.

• Overview: Any general summary — e.g., KPIs or charts by category.
• Regional: Sales or profit broken down by Region.
• Map: A filled map showing Sales by State.

Add your desired visuals in each sheet, as you normally would.

Then, drag the corresponding “Show [X]” Boolean field to the Detail shelf on each sheet. For example:

• On the Overview sheet, drag Show Overview to Detail.
• On the Regional sheet, drag Show Regional to Detail.
• On the Map sheet, drag Show Map to Detail.

This step ensures Tableau can use these fields for visibility logic.

Step 4: Add Views to the Dashboard

1. Create a new dashboard.
2. Drag a Vertical or Horizontal container onto the canvas.
3. Add each of the three sheets (Overview, Regional, Map) into the container.

Tip: You can hide the titles for each sheet to keep the layout cleaner.

Step 5: Apply Dynamic Zone Visibility

1. Select one of the sheets in the dashboard.
2. In the Layout pane, find the Control Visibility using Value section.
3. Click Add Field.
4. Choose the corresponding Show [X] Boolean field.

Repeat this process for the other two sheets:

• Map → Show Map
• Regional → Show Regional

Now, when you change the parameter value, Tableau will show only the matching worksheet and hide the others — without needing sheet swapping or dashboard actions.

You’re Done!

You’ve now built a clean, dynamic dashboard with show/hide functionality using Dynamic Zone Visibility. This method is scalable, reusable, and flexible — great for toggling between views, showing extra detail, or simplifying dashboards based on user input.