Interesting Tips and Tricks in Tableau

Introduction :

In this blog, let's see some interesting tips and tricks, and shortcuts to create some more interesting charts in tableau. Here superstore data is used.

Trick 1 :

Profit Calender

Do you know that you can create a profit calendar in tableau? Let's see the step to create it.

Let's find the profit for November and December for the year 2018 and provide it as a calendar.

The first step is to drag and drop the order date in the filter and then select the year option from the order date then choose the year "2018".

Then again drag and drop the order date in the filter now a select the month option from the order date and then choose "November and December"

Let's start creating a calendar chart. Importantly right-click the order date then drag and drop it column. Then the drop field window will pop up and select "WEEKDAY".

For the row repeat the same and select "WEEK" in the drop field .

Our rows and column are prepared for the calendar chart.

To observe Profit let's drag and drop it in colors.

Now Let's add the date to the calendar chart. For that drag and drop the order date on the label.

There change the order date year to "DAY".Immediately the calender chart with the day colored according to profit will appear with an automated chart will appear.

Now change this automated chart into "square".Then our exact calendar chart will be created as shown below.

Finally, the profit calendar for November and December 2018 is created. Each date will represent the order date, weekday, which week, and profit.

Trick 2 :

Let's create a "Bar Inside Bar " chart.

The first step is to take sales into rows.

Now add regions into the filter and select "central" and "east region and also region into colors to differentiate them.

Now the central and east region-wise sales chart will be generated as shown below.

To change this into a bar inside bar chart just select the "analysis" option in the header and set stack marks to "off".

Now the graph just looks like an overlapping bar chart.

For better viewing and to create a bar inside the bar chart just drag and drop the region into size.

we can also add dimension to it. Let's add a sub-category to it . Now the bar inside bar chart region-wise subcategory sales is created as shown.

This is another example of the bar inside bar chart it is representing region-wise sales and profit.

Trick 3 :

Axis Formatting

Axis formatting is nothing but changing my boring months sales from this to that. In the first graph, we can notice the month name is given below in the axis and larger names of the months became clumsy. Axis formatted graph looks clear than the first graph.

There are two methods available. The first method of formatting.

In this method, we just select "Analysis" from the header and choose "Table Layout" then select "Advanced".

An Advanced window will pop up . There deselect the option as shown below.

Then the tableau itself provides the names of the month in the above axis.

Another method :

There is another method available to format the axis. The first step is to duplicate the order date as shown.

Then move the "duplicated order date" to columns.

Now the "names of the month" will be visible on both sides of the axis.

Now just deselect the "show header" option from one of the order date.

For formatting, the names of months just right-click on any one of the month's names and select "format".

A format window will appear there in the Dates click the drop-down button and select the " abbreviation " option.

After selecting it the "axis formatted " graph will appear as shown below. By this, our chart will look clean and clear.

Trick 4:

2 pills on color.

Did you try adding two dimensions or measure in the colors of marks? we can't able to add two parameters to colors at the same time, let's see the trick to add them at the same time.

Let's take the below graph and add ship mode and category to colors at the same time.

To select the category and ship mode at the same time, click "ctrl" and select category and ship mode.

Then drag them and drop them into the color of the marks.

After we can see random colors are assigned to the graph. Let's arrange them according to the ship mode.

To sort them according to ship mode just drag and place the category under ship mode. Now our graphs are colored differently according to ship mode.

Tip :

Adding quick colors to the chart.

Adding color can be done quickly giving in marks. Here we want to give a category to colors. For that just drag and drop the category directly into the graph.

Trick 5 :

Assigning the color palette and its uses.

Let's take the below-given chart. Here we have different colors for each month.

Now the client wants this graph in shades of blue. For creating it select the drop-down button as shown below and choose "edit colors".

A pop-up window will appear there change a "automatic "option to change color according to the requirement.

And select the "assign Palette" option.

Now the graph will change into shades of blue.

Now we want to indicate the particular month in different colors. Select the edit colors and select the month in which you want to change the color. Here January wanted to be changed.

select the color and choose the "ok" option. Then the month of January will be colored differently as shown below. By this, we can highlight particular months according to the requirements.

Tip :

one easy way of finding dimension or measure is to type the required dimension or measure in the search bar.

Another way is to just double-click and type the required dimension or measure.

Trick 6 :

Multi-color Area chart

Usually, an area chart is created with a single color. Let's create it in double color.

Two area charts are created using sub-categories and profits.

The first step is to right-click on the profit axis and select the "edit axis " option.

The edit axis window will pop up. In that select the "fixed" option. Then set Fixed start to "0(zero)".

Now first area graph shows only values from zero to positive values.

Similarly, change the values for the axis of the second area chart of "fixed end" to "0(zero)".

After the changes, the two area graphs will be displayed as shown below.

Now change the color of the first graph as per requirement. Here "green " is selected for the first area graph.

Similarly selected "red color" for the second area graph.

This is how we can create a multi-color area chart as per requirement.

Tips

Making area chart to be more attractive

Create an area chart using order date(day) and profit as shown below.

Now add another SUM(profit) in rows and create a "line" graph.

Now add "profit" to the colors. Then merge two charts using the "dual axis" option.

The final output of the area chart is shown below.

Trick 7

Lollipop chart :

A lollipop chart is also created by choosing two different charts and merging them using a dual axis.

Create sub-category-wise sales as shown below.

In the first mark change the size of the bars and in the second mark select shapes and choose the filled circle shape as shown below.

After giving all the options our chart will be created by bar charts for the first graph and circle shape graph for the second marks.

Now merge them using a dual axis.

To make it more attractive we can give subcategories in colors as shown below. The colorful lollipop chart is

created.

Trick 8

Labeling only top N parameters.

Let's take this sub-category-wise sales chart

Now create a "TOP N" parameter by using the "create parameter" option and create it as shown below.

The "TOP N" parameter will be now visible .click the drop-down button and select the "show parameter " option.

Parameter will be displayed as shown below and sort the bar graph as shown.

Then create a calculated field formula as shown below.

Now drag and drop the "TOP N TO COLOR" calculated field into the color of marks.

Then only the top option will be colored as per the parameter number given. when we give "3" it displayed the top 3 bars as colored bars. Likewise, we can highlight the bars as per requirement.

Conclusion :

Hope you find useful tips and tricks for creating more colorful and different charts. Please follow for similar content.

Thank you for Reading!