Tableau is a knowledge visualization device used to create knowledge visualizations, dashboards, and tales. Once I first began utilizing this device, I usually used the Present Me function to create knowledge visualizations. This function permits customers to create widespread visualization sorts, corresponding to bar charts and line graphs.

Whereas the usual visualizations are nice, there are occasions when a complicated approach is required. Lately I created a dashboard visualizing offers made on the present Shark Tank. Beneath are some superior visualization strategies utilized in that dashboard, with step-by-step steerage on find out how to recreate the visuals — both with the identical dataset or a unique one! This listing may also be a good way to study totally different visualization sorts and brainstorm find out how to incorporate them in different instruments!

This put up goes by the next 6 knowledge visualization strategies.

1. Donut Charts
2. Sankey Diagrams
3. Phrase Clouds
4. Lollipop Charts
5. Radial Charts
6. Nested Bar Chart

The ultimate dashboard will be seen right here. Further data concerning the dataset will be discovered right here.

Observe: A number of of the visualizations make the most of a area, Variety of Data. Earlier than creating any visualizations, create a brand new area, Variety of Data, and set the worth equal to 1. To view the dataset with all calculated fields, obtain the dataset from the dashboard linked above, or obtain the dataset right here.

Donut charts, like pie charts, present components to an entire relationship. They’re totally different in that there’s a gap within the heart of the circle, like a donut.

The donut chart within the Shark Tank dashboard reveals the whole pitches made, segmented based mostly on Deal or No Deal.

To create this donut chart, begin by making a pie chart in a brand new worksheet.

From the Knowledge Pane, add the Variety of Data (i.e. Variety of Pitches) to the Columns shelf, and Obtained Deal to the Rows shelf.

Observe: Be sure to transform the Obtained Deal measure to a dimension, as proven within the picture under.

Choose the pie chart visualization kind from the Present Me tab. This can generate the bottom visualization for the donut chart.

On the Rows shelf, add two new measures. Sort AVG(0) on the Rows shelf twice. (i.e. AVG(0) AVG(0)). As soon as added to the Rows shelf, you will notice two pie charts.

Choose Twin Axis on the second measure on the Rows shelf to overlap the 2 pie charts.

The 2 pie charts will now overlap each other. Regulate the dimensions of every pie chart to create the donut form. Below the Marks card, choose Measurement and enhance the dimensions of the pie charts by shifting the slider to the fitting.

To create the interior donut, modify the second, or backside pie chart. On the Marks card, navigate to the cardboard for the second measure, and take away all fields. On this case, there are 4 fields to take away.

Eradicating these fields will lead to a grey circle within the heart. That is the middle of the donut chart. Regulate the dimensions on the Marks card to regulate the dimensions of the donut.

Use the Marks card to regulate the colour of the middle of the donut chart.

Use the primary pie chart, the second tile beneath the Marks card, to regulate the labels and colours of the donut chart.

Add textual content to the middle of the donut chart by shifting a measure to Label on the All Marks card.

Proper click on on the headers, and uncheck Present Header to take away axis headers.

Proper click on anyplace on the worksheet and choose Format to open the Format pane. Use the Format pane to cover gridlines, modify the border, change the background shade, and extra.

The next picture reveals the ultimate donut chart, after formatting with the Marks card and Format pane.

Sankey diagrams show flows from one entity to a different. The sankey diagram within the Shark Tank dashboard shows the stream of offers from pitchers gender (i.e. workforce composition) to trade.

Step 1: Self-Union

To create a Sankey diagram, add the dataset, after which create a self-union of the info supply. The next picture reveals the dataset loaded, with a complete of 1274 data and 50 fields.

To create a self-union, transfer Shark Tank US dataset from Sheets, onto the Shark Tank US dataset on the canvas. Discover the variety of rows doubles from 1274 to 2548.

The self-union creates two fields — the Desk Title area will likely be used later on this train.

Step 2: Create New Fields & Bins

To develop this Sankey diagram, create seven calculated fields and one bin. Open a brand new worksheet and create the next calculations. Observe: Area names listed in daring under, adopted by the respective calculation.

1. ToPad: if [Table Name] = ‘Shark Tank US dataset’ then 1 else 49 finish
2. Padded: Proper click on on the ToPad area and choose Create → Bins to create a brand new Bin known as Padded. Set the Measurement of bins equal to 1.
3. t: (INDEX() — 25) / 4
4. Rank 1: RUNNING_SUM(SUM([Number of Records]))/TOTAL(SUM([Number of Records]))
5. Rank 2: RUNNING_SUM(SUM([Number of Records]))/TOTAL(SUM([Number of Records]))
6. Sigmoid: 1 / (1 + exp(1)^-[t])
7. Curve: [Rank 1] + (([Rank 2]-[Rank 1])*[Sigmoid])
8. Deal Sizing: WINDOW_AVG(SUM([Number of Records]))

Observe: Rank 2 is a replica of Rank 1

The next picture reveals an instance of find out how to create the calculated area, ToPad, in Tableau.

The next picture reveals find out how to create a bin on ToPad known as Padded, with a bin dimension of 1.

Step 3: Develop Sankey Visualization

Transfer t to the Columns shelf, Curve to the Rows shelf, and Padded to Element on the Marks card.

Transfer Trade, Pitchers Gender, and Desk Title to Particulars on the Marks Card.

Choose Edit Desk Calculation on the Curve measure, on the Rows shelf.

For Rank 1, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: Pitchers Gender, Trade, Padded, Desk Title
• Guarantee Pitchers Gender is on the high, as this will likely be on the left of the Sankey diagram

For Rank 2, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: Trade, Pitchers Gender, Padded, Desk Title
• Guarantee Trade is on the high, as this will likely be on the fitting of the Sankey diagram

For t, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: Padded

Now, choose Edit desk calculation from the drop-down choices on the t measure, on the Columns shelf. For t, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: Padded

The sankey diagram will take begin to take form on the worksheet.

Add shade to the Sankey Diagram by altering the Mark kind of the Trade and Pitchers Gender fields on the Marks card, as seen within the picture under. Add Obtained Deal and Pitchers Gender to the Filters card, to filter the dataset to point out the variety of offers.

Edit the X & Y axis vary. To edit an axis, right-click on the axis and choose Edit Axis.

For the Y axis (Curve) change the vary to start out at 0.

For the X axis (t) change the vary to -5 to five.

Conceal the headers on every axis for a cleaner visible. (Observe: To do that, proper click on on the header, and uncheck Present Header)

Transfer Deal Sizing to Measurement on the Marks card and enhance the dimensions to extend thickness of the traces on the diagram. The thickness of those traces displays the variety of offers flowing from Pitchers Gender to Trade. On Deal Sizing, choose Compute utilizing Padded, as seen within the following picture.

Step 4: Create Ends of Sankey Diagram

The sankey diagram requires two bar charts, one for every finish (Pitchers Gender and Trade). Open a brand new worksheet, and create a bar chart. The under picture reveals a bar chart for Pitchers Gender. Observe: the colour scheme used for Pitchers Gender was utilized in the principle portion of the Sankey diagram.

Repeat for the Trade area, however this time choose the Grey shade palette.

Now it’s time to place all of it collectively! Create a brand new dashboard and add the three worksheets collectively, as seen under. Regulate the background shade and borders utilizing the Format pane.

Step 5: Add dashboard actions

Add the next dashboard actions to allow hovering capabilities for the Sankey Diagram.

So as to add a dashboard motion, from the principle menu, choose Dashboard → Actions → Add Motion → Spotlight.

For Pitchers Gender, add the next Spotlight Motion.

This can permit the person to hover over the chart on the left and see the place the offers are shifting to on the fitting.

Create one other spotlight motion for Trade. Once more, choose Dashboard → Actions → Add Motion → Spotlight.

Enter the next data to create the Hover Spotlight Motion for Trade.

The person can now hover over Trade, and see the proportion of Pitchers Genders making offers.

Phrase clouds show the most typical phrases in a textual content, with probably the most frequent phrases showing the biggest. The phrases are organized within the form of a “cloud”, therefore the title of the visualization kind, phrase cloud. Phrase clouds are helpful in some instances, corresponding to visualizing phrase frequency inside a textual content column.

To create a phrase cloud, one dimension (categorical variable) and one measure (numerical variable) is required. This part reveals find out how to recreate the phrase cloud from the Shark Tank Offers dashboard. This phrase cloud shows the variety of offers inside every trade.

To start out, open a brand new worksheet. Transfer Trade onto Textual content on the Marks card, and Variety of Data (i.e. Variety of Pitches) onto Measurement. Moreover, transfer Trade to Shade.

This can lead to a warmth map as seen under. To rework this visible right into a phrase cloud, on the Marks card, change the visualization kind to Textual content.

This leads to a phrase cloud. Use the Marks card to make modifications to the format.

Lollipop charts are just like bar charts. They show frequency throughout totally different classes. The place lollipop charts differ from bar charts is within the visible show. Whereas bar charts use rectangles to show values for every class, lollipop charts add a circle to the highest of every bar. Such a visualization will be helpful when making a infographic or dashboard.

The lollipop chart within the Shark Tank dashboard shows the variety of offers by shark.

To start, add Obtained Deal and Measure Names to the Columns shelf. Convert Obtained Deal to a discrete dimension by choosing the choices on the sphere.

Add Measure Values to the Rows shelf twice. Don’t fear, in just a few extra steps the lollipop chart will begin to take form!

On the second Measure Values area, choose Twin Axis.

Proper click on on one of many y axes, and choose Synchronize Axis.

On the Measure Values card, add the next fields: Barbara Invested, Daymond Invested, Kevin Invested, Lori Invested, Mark Invested, Robert Invested. Change every of those fields to Measure (Sum), as seen within the following picture. Take away every other fields from the Measure Values card not on this listing.

Add Obtained Deal to the Filters card. Filter for Obtained Deal = 1, equal to “Obtained Deal”.

On the Marks card, change the chart kind on the Measure Values card to Bar, and modify the dimensions.

On the second Measure Values card, change the kind to Circle, and modify the dimensions utilizing the Measurement tile.

Transfer the Measure Values capsule to Textual content tile on the Measure Values Marks card, so as to add labels to the circles on the chart.

Proper click on on the y-axis, and uncheck Present Header, to take away the extra header. Use the Format pane to alter the background shade, format axes, and modify the textual content labels. To open the Format pane, proper click on on the worksheet and choose Format.

The next picture reveals the ultimate lollipop chart.

Radial charts are one other solution to show categorical data. Radial charts is usually a nice various to bar charts.

Within the Shark Tank dashboard, the radial chart shows offers by the variety of Sharks within the deal. To create a radial chart in Tableau, one dimension and one measure is required. Moreover, 9 calculated fields and 1 bin will likely be created within the course of. The next steps outlines find out how to recreate this chart.

Step 1: Self-Union

To create a radial chart, add the dataset, after which create a self-union of the info supply. The next picture reveals the dataset loaded, with a complete of 1274 data and 50 fields.

To create a self-union, transfer Shark Tank US dataset from Sheets, onto the Shark Tank US dataset on the canvas. Discover the variety of rows doubles from 1274 to 2548.

The self-union creates two fields — the Desk Title area will likely be used later on this train.

Step 2: Create New Fields & Bins

9 calculated fields and 1 bin is required to create this radial chart. Open a brand new worksheet and create the next calculations so as. Observe: Area names listed in daring under, adopted by the respective calculation.

1. Path: IIF([Table Name] = ‘Shark Tank US dataset’, 0, 270)
2. Path (Bin): — Proper click on on the Path area and choose Create → Bins to create a brand new Bin known as Path (Bin). Set the Measurement of bins equal to 1.
3. Index-1: INDEX()-1
4. Whole Cat. Offers: WINDOW_SUM(SUM([Number of Records]))/2
5. Whole Offers: WINDOW_SUM(SUM([Number of Records]))/2
6. P.c Calc: [Total Cat. Deals]/[Total Deals]
7. Rank Calc: RANK_UNIQUE([Total Cat. Deals], ‘asc’)
8. Measurement Calc: [Percent calc]/WINDOW_MAX([Percent calc])
9. X: SIN(RADIANS([Index-1])*[Size calc]) * [Rank calc]
10. Y: COS(RADIANS([Index-1])* [Size calc]) * [Rank calc]

The next picture reveals an instance of find out how to create the calculated area, PATH, in Tableau.

The next picture reveals find out how to create a bin on PATH known as Path (bin), with a bin dimension of 1.

Step 3: Create Visualization

Transfer Variety of Sharks in Deal to the Colours tile on the Marks card, and Path(bin) to the Rows shelf. Test Present Lacking Worths on the Path(bin) area.

On the Marks card, change the mark kind to Line. Transfer Path(Bin) from the Rows shelf to Path on the Marks Card. Make positive Variety of Sharks is a dimension and never displaying the sum.

Transfer X to the Columns shelf, and Y to Rows shelf.

Choose Edit Desk Calculation on Y.

For Index-1, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: PATH(bin)

For Measurement calc, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: Variety of sharks in deal, PATH(bin)
• Guarantee Variety of sharks in deal is on the high

For Whole Cat. Offers, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: PATH(bin)

For Whole Offers, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: Variety of sharks in deal, PATH(bin)
• Guarantee Variety of sharks in deal is on the high

For Rank calc, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: Variety of sharks in deal

Choose Edit Desk Calculation on X.

For Index-1, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: PATH(bin)

For Measurement calc, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: Variety of sharks in deal, PATH(bin)
• Guarantee Variety of sharks in deal is on the high

For Whole Cat. Offers, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: PATH(bin)

For Whole Offers, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: Variety of sharks in deal, PATH(bin)
• Guarantee Variety of sharks in deal is on the high

For Rank calc, replace the desk calculation as follows:

• Choose Compute Utilizing Particular Dimensions
• Test the next fields: Variety of sharks in deal

As soon as the desk calculations are up to date, the bottom of the radial chart begins to take form.

Step 4: Further Formatting

Use the Marks card to format the visible — adjusting line thickness, shade, and labels. The under picture reveals labels added to the start of every line, and a brand new shade palette assigned. Use the Format pane on the left to take away borders and modify the background as effectively.

The next picture reveals the ultimate radial chart.

One other superior visualization approach in Tableau is the nested bar chart. A nested bar chart is a means of stacking bar charts that means that you can examine two numerical values for a class. Whereas this visualization kind didn’t make it to the ultimate dashboard, the next instance reveals find out how to create a nested bar chart utilizing this knowledge. The next nested bar chart shows the variety of offers and variety of pitches by trade.

Begin by creating two bar charts on a worksheet. Transfer Trade to the Rows shelf, and Variety of Data (i.e. whole pitches) and Obtained Deal to the Columns shelf.

From the drop-down choices on Obtained Deal, choose Twin Axis.

Proper click on one of many x-axes, and choose Synchronize Axis.

On the All Marks card, change the kind to Bar.

Regulate the dimensions of the bars with the Variety of Data and Obtained Deal Marks card. Make the Obtained Offers bar (navy blue) smaller than the Variety of Data bar (mild blue), as seen within the following picture.

Use the Marks card so as to add labels and format the visible as wanted. The next picture reveals the ultimate nested bar chart.

And that covers 6 superior visualizations in Tableau! Whereas these examples are in Tableau, take into account these visualizations will be created in different instruments as effectively — so use them as inspiration as you develop your subsequent knowledge visualization!

The ultimate dashboard is on the market right here for viewing or downloading supply supplies.