# Tableau Prep Parameters: New in Tableau 2021.4

> This is content from just-tim, the data-and-analytics channel by Tim Ngwena (formerly 'Tableau Tim'). Tim has 12+ years of hands-on BI experience and covers Tableau most of all, plus Power BI, Looker, Hex, SQL and data modelling, the analytics industry, and the craft of doing the job — always tool-agnostic and honest about the trade-offs.

- **Author:** Tim Ngwena (just-tim, https://just-tim.com/about)
- **Published:** 2021-12-08
- **Format:** Video · 10 min watch · transcript available
- **Topics:** Data prep
- **Tools:** Tableau (calculated fields, parameters, prep)
- **Canonical:** https://just-tim.com/posts/tableau-prep-parameters-new-in-tableau-2021-4
- **Watch:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1unEg5skU3E

I walk through the new parameter capability added to Tableau Prep in version 2021.4. I show how to create a parameter, use it to filter a dataset via a calculated field, parameterise output file names and locations, and prompt for values at runtime.

## Key takeaways

- Parameters in Tableau Prep work anywhere you see the abacus icon, including calculation windows and output steps, and exist throughout the entire flow.
- To filter with a parameter, create a calculated field that returns a Boolean (e.g. segment = segment parameter), then keep only the values that are true.
- Editing a parameter opens a modal window so you can view your data while changing values, and you can click back to previous steps to inspect data without undoing work.
- Output steps let you parameterise both the file name and location, for example appending the segment value to the file name.
- Enabling 'prompt for value at runtime' makes the flow ask for the parameter each time it runs, even on server, which is ideal for scenario modelling.

## Chapters

- 0:35 Creating a parameter in Prep
- 2:36 Filtering data with a Boolean calculation
- 3:50 Editing parameters and building a value list
- 5:29 Scenario modelling use cases
- 6:37 Parameterising output file names
- 8:17 Prompting for values at runtime

Watch the full video, read the transcript and use chapter deep-links on the page: https://just-tim.com/posts/tableau-prep-parameters-new-in-tableau-2021-4

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just-tim — Data and analytics, with a point of view. · https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HYxRWmaNlJux-X7rNLZyw · https://twitter.com/TableauTim · https://www.linkedin.com/in/timngwena