Depending on the desired results, the best solution will vary. Below are some common Tableau use cases, but you can review the Tableau behavior for all action configurations in the Cause section of this article to help build a solution for other use cases.

Scenario 1: Target Worksheet should be filtered to all sub-categories being totaled when clicking on subtotal

Option 1: Use Parameter Actions

Create a calculation that returns the sub-category the user selected, or the name of the category when the subtotal row is clicked. This value can be fed into a parameter because it is not the field being totaled, which will allow us to see which total(s) were selected. 

The attached example workbook uses the sample data set Superstore to demonstrate the following directions. These directions start from "Original Dashboard." Directions to make "Original Dashboard" are embedded in the workbook.

1. Select Analysis > Create Calculated Field
2. In the Calculated Field dialog box that opens, do the following, and then click OK:
   1. Name the calculated field. In this example, the calculated field is named "Click History Calc"
   2. In the formula field, create a calculation similar to the following:

      IF MIN([Category]) != MAX([Category])
      THEN 'all'
      ELSEIF MIN([Sub-Category]) != MAX([Sub-Category])
      THEN MIN([Category])
      ELSE MIN([Sub-Category])
      END
      

3. Drag [Click History Calc] onto Detail on the Marks card
4. Click the down carrot next to the search bar in the left-hand data pane and select Create Parameter...
5. In the Create Parameter dialog, do the following and click OK:
   1. Name the parameter "Click History Parameter"
   2. For Data type, select String
   3. For Allowable values, select All
6. Navigate to Worksheet > Actions...
7. In the Actions dialog, click Add Action > Change Parameter...
8. In the Add Parameter Action dialog, do the following and click OK:
   1. Name the action "which rows the user clicked on"
   2. For Source Sheets, select Sample - Superstore from the dropdown menu and check only Scn 1, opt 1: Source Sheets
   3. For Run action on, choose Select
   4. For Target Parameter, select Click History Parameter
   5. For Source Field, select Click History Calc
   6. For Aggregation, select Concatenate
   7. For Clearing selection will, select Set value to and type in none
9. Create a new worksheet named "Scn 1, opt 1: Target Sheet"
10. Drag [Sales] onto Text
11. Create a calculated field with a name like "Scn 1 Opt 1 Filter" with a calculation similar to the following:

    CONTAINS([Click History Parameter], [Sub-Category])
    OR CONTAINS([Click History Parameter], [Category])
    OR CONTAINS([Click History Parameter], 'all')
    OR [Click History Parameter] = 'none'
    
    

12. Drag [Scn 1 Opt 1 Filter] to the Filters shelf
13. In the Filter dialog, check True, and click OK

Option 2: Replace totals with discrete measure

Clicking on a header has the expected behavior, but teaching users to not click on totals is not a reliable solution. Instead we can replace the subtotal row with a column that contains the subtotal value.

The attached example workbook uses the sample data set Superstore to demonstrate the following directions. These directions start from "Original Dashboard." Directions to make "Original Dashboard" are embedded in the workbook.

1. Select Analysis > Create Calculated Field
2. In the Calculated Field dialog box that opens, do the following, and then click OK:
   1. Name the calculated field. In this example, the calculated field is named "Category Subtotal"
   2. In the formula field, create a calculation similar to the following:
   3. { FIXED [Category] : SUM( [Sales] ) }
3. Right-click [Category Subtotal] in the data pane and select Default Properties >  Number Format...
4. In the Default Number Format dialog, do the following and click OK:
   1. Select Number (Custom)
   2. For Decimal places, type in 0
5. Right-click [Category Subtotal] in the data pane and select Convert to Discrete
6. Drag [Category Subtotal] to the Rows shelf after [Category]
7. Navigate to Analysis > Totals > Remove All Subtotals
8. Navigate to Analysis > Totals > uncheck Show Column Grand Totals
9. Add "Scn 1, opt 2: Source Sheet" and "Scn 1, opt 2: Target Sheet" to a dashboard
10. Click the highlight table viz on the dashboard to select it, and then click the filter icon on the gray outline of the viz

Scenario 2: Action should not trigger at all when clicking on subtotal

If the desired behavior is to have nothing happen when the user clicks a total, then feeding sub-category values into a parameter action will work consistently.

The attached example workbook uses the sample data set Superstore to demonstrate the following directions. These directions start from "Original Dashboard." Directions to make "Original Dashboard" are embedded in the workbook.

1. Click the down carrot next to the search bar in the left-hand data pane and select Create Parameter...
2. In the Create Parameter dialog, do the following and click OK:
   1. Name the parameter "Sub-Category Parameter"
   2. For Data type, select String
   3. For Allowable values, select All
3. Navigate to Worksheet > Actions...
4. In the Actions dialog, click Add Action > Change Parameter...
5. In the Add Parameter Action dialog, do the following and click OK:
   1. Name the action "which sub-categories the user clicked on"
   2. For Source Sheets, select Sample - Superstore from the dropdown menu and check only Scn 2: Source Sheet
   3. For Run action on, choose Select
   4. For Target Parameter, select Sub-Category Parameter
   5. For Source Field, select Sub-Category
   6. For Aggregation, select Concatenate
   7. For Clearing selection will, select Set value to and type in none
6. Create a new worksheet named "Scn 2: Target Sheet"
7. Drag [Sales] onto Text
8. Create a calculated field with a name like "Scn 2 Filter" with a calculation similar to the following:

   CONTAINS([Sub-Category Parameter], [Sub-Category])
   OR [Sub-Category Parameter] = 'none'

9. Drag [Scn 2 Filter] to the Filters shelf
10. In the Filter dialog, check True, and click OK