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Different Chart types in tableau with real-time examples
Introduction :
In this modern era, there are lots and lots of data recorded around us. Some of the data are recorded and analyzed to improve the results. This analysis of data can be done easily by visualizing it. This process is known as "Data visualization".It is a way of converting our data and information into graphs and charts by visual tools. By this, we can identify and improve the areas which need improvement and we can also predict the sales. There are many visuals tool used, one of the familiar tools is "tableau".Tableau is a tool that generates data into "reports" and "dashboards" in the form of "charts".The dashboard includes all the information in a single view. There are many types of charts available in tableau, that can be seen one by one in this blog.
Here in this blog, we are going to see how the superstore uses tableau as a data visualization tool to analyze and improve business growth. Below we can see different types of charts and their uses. In the superstore data, we have information on orders, people, and products.
Source of data: superstore data. In super store sales data we have three tables such as Order table, People table, and return table. Under the order table, we have the Order ID, Order date, Ship date, Ship mode, Customer ID, Customer name, Segment, Region, City, State, Postal code, Country, Category, Subcategory, Product name, Sales, Profit, Order(count), Quantity, Discounts. In the people table, we have Region(people), Manager, and People(count). In the return table, we have Order ID(returns), Returned, and Return(count). We will be forming tables with these parameters.
Charts :
Charts are very interactive and cover all the important information required to view. For making charts in tableau we need either dimension or measure or a combination of both (i.e., 1 dimension 2 measure,1 dimension 1 measure, etc). Dimensions are qualitative values such as names, months, and geographical data. Measure are quantitative values such as numeric data, which can be measured. There are many different types of charts used in tableau according to the data used. Let us see the most used types of charts. Note: Always have “entire view” for the graphs than “standard view”.
Area chart :
Area charts are used for quantitative information that is happening periodically i.e, it happens daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. To create an area chart we need one date, zero or more dimensions, and one or more dimensions. Now the superstore wants their month-wise sales using shipment modes. so we take order date month-wise in columns, and sales in rows now how to add another dimension i.e, "ship mode". This third dimension can be given in the color of the marks. By this, the various ship mode can be colored differently according to their sales. For this area chart visualization will be great.
steps to create an area chart :
Order date(Dimension) is given in column:
Sales(measure) is given in row:
when we give the dimension and measures in the row and column the automated graph will be created according to the data given.
The automated graph is created by the given data:
we can change this automated graph into an area by selecting "area graph" from the marks on the left:
An area chart is created successfully. The above graph represents the month-wise sales area chart we need to add the "shipment" method. For calculating it we just drag and drop ship mode in the color of marks.
steps to create month-wise sales with ship mode area chart :
We used 2 measures (ship date and sales) and included the ship mode(1st class, same day, second class, and standard class).In area charts, the area under the line in the graph will be covered. Maximum coverage in the graph has maximum records or values. In this graph we can see the standard class has the highest sales then comes the second class then the first class. Same-day ship mode class has a minimum area covered so it has minimum sales. Now the super stores can find the standard mode of shipping gives more profit than same-day in-store sales. superstore tries to improve the in-store sales in need to gain more profit.
Line chart :
Line charts as the name say it displays the data in the form of lines which is the connection of a series of points. The creation of a line chart requirement is the same as an area chart , it needs one date ,zero or more dimensions, and one or more measures.
steps to create a line chart :
when we give the dimension and measure tableau creates the automated chart. To get line chart just select the "line" in the marks .
We can see phones and chairs has the largest sales than others . Superstore wants the subcategory-wise sales using ship mode.After adding the colors to ship mode a colorful line chart giving about the sales details will be created.
superstore has fewer sales on art,book cover, envelops, fasteners, labels and supplies than others can be observed from this line graph and also same day sales are also low than other ship modes. It will try to improve the sales of these items to yield more profit.
Bar charts :
Bar charts visualize the chart by using measures against dimensions in the form of bars between two axis. we have three types of bar charts in tableau. They are :
horizontal bar chart
stacked bar chart
side by side bar chart
steps to create a simple bar chart :
When we drag and drop the order date and sales in columns and rows an automated chart according to the dimension and measure will be created. To convert this chart into bar charts select the option "bar" charts from the marks on the left.
A simple bar graph was created between the order date and sales. From this chart, super store can able to see that the year 2021 has maximum sales than all other years. By this superstore can view last four year sales and can compare each other. This is also known as a vertical bar chart.
Types of Bar chart :
Horizontal Bar chart :
As the name says the bar in the bar chart will be horizontally placed. These horizontal graphs will be often used in butterfly charts .where we combine two bar graphs to attain the butterfly charts. It needs zero or more dimensions and one or more measures.
Requirement: sub-category wise sales.
steps to create a Horizontal bar chart :
Let's create a sub-category wise sales horizontal bar chart. After creating a bar graph of sub-category wise sales, right side of the tableau we can find the show me icon.
Show me icon suggest some of the graphs which will suitable for the dimension and measure given. From there we have to select "horizontal bars".after selecting it our graph will turn from vertical bars to horizontal bars.
This graph is very useful when we used to determine profit:
Let us have subcategory(dimension) and profit(measure). When we give the dimension and measure the automated graph created then select "horizontal" bars.
The horizontal bar graph of sub-category wise profit will appear but the super store data has some negative values.
To highlight the positive values drag and drop the profit values into colors of marks.
Now we can able to observe positive and negative values clearly from the horizontal graph.
Stacked Bar chart:
A stacked bar in Tableau is a type of bar chart that represents values in the form of "segmented bars". Here, each bar is divided into different segments, which provide further details about the field and regions. With this, not only can you compare the main data variables, but also have the distribution of smaller variables in every bar.
Requirements: month-wise profit representation according to category-wise segmented.
Steps to create stacked bar chart :
Here stacked chart is created by placing the order date in the column and the Profit in rows and adding the category to colors in the mark to find the category-wise profit for the past four years. Then when we select the stacked bar graph option we can obtain the graph easily. From this graph, the superstore can see that all the year technology sales are higher than all others and in the years 2019 and 2021 furniture sales are less than other two years. Office supply sales are more or less same in the all four years. It can clearly see the sales portion according to category.
Side by Side bar graph :
Side by side bar graph is very useful we want to compare two measures with one dimension. For example, if we want to compare category-wise sales and profit at the same time we can use side by side bar graph for a better visual experience.
Requirement: compare profit and sales.
when we place our dimension in column and measures in rows these bar chart will be available. For obtaining side by side bar graph we just select that option from show me . After selecting side by side bar chart our graph will turn into :
From this super store easily compare sales and profit with category accordingly.
Dual axis chart :
A dual axis is useful for analyzing two measures with different scales. It is created between two measures and one dimension.
Requirement: compare profit and sales according to every month and wants better visualization than stacked bar charts.
steps to create dual axis chart :
After giving the superstore order date ( dimension ) in a column and sales( measure), and profit( measure) in a row we obtain two graphs in the tableau as seen above. Change the order date from year to month and we can find separate profit graph marks and sales graph marks. In marks, we can change our graphs separately for profit and sales.
when we click the drop-down button of the second measure in row(profit) we can find the dual axis option. When we select the dual-axis option both graphs will be merged to get the dual-axis.
Now we can see that our both graphs merged but when we see the axis variation profit and sales are not the same.
When we right on any one of the axis we can find the " synchronize axis" option. Select it . After selecting the "synchronize axis" option superstore graph will turn into :
synchronized dual axis chart is obtained now both profit and sales are in line graph representation. for a better view, we can choose different graphs for profit and sales separately.
Here we have a Bar chart for sales and a line chart for profit. we can select colors and size and we can label them separately in their respective marks given. As a result, we can provide better visualization of profit, sales, and order date for superstore to look at their growth.
Here we have given a bar chart to both the measure and we added label to both of the measures to see their exact number and sales and profit for a better visualization experience. Like this, we can any kind of graph for the measures to visualize them differently.
Pie chart :
Pie charts are useful when we visualize the proportion of contribution. It needs one or more dimensions and one or two measure. Pie charts require at least one or more dimensions and one or two measures.
we can use pie on aggregated fields such as percentage ratio, and sales ratio. There are two ways to create a pie chart. For creating a pie we need one or more dimension and one or two measure.
Requirement: want to see sub category wise sales.
steps to create a pie chart :
When we give the category(dimension) in columns and sales( measure) the below automated graph is created. The pie chart is selected from the show me icon.
After selecting the pie chart option our automated bar chart will be converted into a pie chart :
we can see that our columns and rows disappeared and we can find the category in colors and sales in size and angles in marks.
while creating pie charts we put our measures in angles and dimensions in colors to differentiate. In the above pie chart are looking more or less the same in its portion.
In this, we gave the labels to category and sales from marks so that we can view the pie portions exactly.
Another method of creating a pie chart :
Another method of creating a pie chart is just directly drag and drop the category (dimension) into colors and sales (measure) in size and angle into the marks .so by directly dropping our dimensions and measures we can able to create a pie chart.
Donut chart :
A Donut chart is a combination of a pie chart and a circle chart. It is a good representation of the pie chart.
Let's create a subcategory-wise sales and profit donut chart.
Steps for creating a donut chart :
For creating a donut chart the first step will be creating a dummy measure. The dummy measure given is avg(0). After giving dummy measures we can find two graphs appeared separately and we can also find separate marks for both.
In the first dummy marks, we create a pie chart by selecting the circle option from 1st marks.
Then drag and drop the subcategory into the colors of the pie chart.
After giving the subcategory into colors we can notice that the pie is equally divided. Now let's give the sales into angles.
Now after giving the sales to angles the pie will be divided into subcategories according to sales. we can also add labels for subcategory and sales for better understanding.
After giving labels the perfect pie chart of the donut chart is shown below.
For the second dummy measure marks we create a circle chart where the color of the chart should be white and the size of this chart should be less than the pie chart created for the first dummy measure.
The next step is to give the label for profit then the profit will be appeared under the circle chart which we should place in the middle of the circle chart.
To create a donut chart just merge this pie and circle chart using the dual axis option.
Donut chart final output. It is a colorful representation by combining both pie and circle charts which results in a donut chart. As this looks like a donut it is named a "donut chart".
Regional wise chart :
when our data is geographic data, such as state and city names there we use this regional-wise chart. For this, we need one geographical field and zero or one measure.
Requirement: superstore wants state-wise sales.
Steps to create a regional wise chart :
Give the state in columns and sales ( measure) in rows. Then the automated graph as shown below will appear.
After giving state and sales we can notice that the map graph is highlighted in the "show me" icon.
After selecting one of the graphs suggested by show me our chart will be converted into a regional chart and the state and sales will be moved to marks, columns, and rows to become longitude and latitude. Here dark blue represents the highest sales and light blue represents the lowest sales and in between, we can't able to differentiate the sales.
,
For better and exact differentiation of sales between states, we just add the labels to sales and state. As we see the sales they look non-realistic in the real world. Because sales can be in billion and trillion not in thousands.