How to enhance your Tables in Tableau Software – Skill Pill Video

Tableau Software offers us many possibilities to represent our data, and this is no longer a surprise. Starting with analyzes built with a single table and up to complex dashboards, Tableau features allow us to visualize and explore data down to the smallest detail. Of course, they can be covered and understood regardless of the user’s knowledge. But sometimes there are situations in which, to represent and explore our data, we need simple analyzes and visualizations that will immediately expose the information we need. For this, we may need classic methods of data analytics, or more simply, tables. In today’s post we will discuss how we can enhance tables in Tableau, using data highlighting methods.

Tables in Tableau are used in countless situations, both by more advanced users and by those with less knowledge in terms of data analytics tools. On the other hand, tables are an accessible alternative in circumstances where data analyzes are explored in various departments. Those who do not work in the field of data analytics, but who need them to make the right decisions, often prefer to display key information in a simple table. And there is nothing wrong with that, after all, the goal is to observe important information and make the right decisions in the moments that matter. But let’s see how we can enhance tables in Tableau, by highlighting data that interests us.

Enhanced Tables in Tableau

One of the most common methods to enhance tables in Tableau is to highlight columns or rows. People usually choose for tables because they quickly display the information they need. But given that Tableau is not a classic tool for data analytics, but more for visualizing and exploring them, a table cannot be built simply by dragging and dropping dimensions and measures on rows and columns. Therefore, to build a visual experience on our analysis, we can improve tables by highlighting important data.

Highlighting data enhance tables by simply bringing to user’s attention the data they are looking for. For example, finance departments often choose for table-type analyzes. And for financial specialists, enhancing tables by highlighting certain information is a quick way to observe important figures.

In the video below you can see an example of enhancing tables by highlighting data. Also, all the steps you need to go through are mentioned below.

Step 1: Connect to data

→ In Tableau Desktop, connect to Superstore sample data provided by  Tableau.

Step 2: Create the visualization

→ Create a calculated field named MIN(0) with the formula:
MIN(0.0)

→ Create a calculated field named Recent Full Month with the formula:
[Order Date] >= DATEADD(“month”, -1, DATETRUNC(“month”, {MAX([Order Date])}))
AND
[Order Date] < DATETRUNC(“month”, {MAX([Order Date])})

→ Create a calculated field named Sales Full Month with the formula:
IF [Recent Full Month]
THEN [Sales]
END

→ Create a calculated field named Profit Full Month with the formula:
IF [Recent Full Month]
THEN [Profit]
END

→ Create a calculated field named Profit Ratio Full Month with the formula:
SUM(IF [Recent Full Month]
THEN [Profit]
END)
/
SUM(IF [Recent Full Month]
THEN [Sales]
END)

→ Create a calculated field named SUM(-1) with the formula:
SUM(-1)

→ Create a calculated field named Customers Full Month with the formula:
COUNTD(IF [Recent Full Month]
THEN [Customer Name]
END)

→ Drag the MIN(0) field to Rows 5 times.

→ Right click on Axis and change the range to Fixed with the Fixed Start -1 and Fixed end to 0.1

→ Change the visualization type for all axis to Gantt Bar.

→ On the first axis drag the Sales Full Month on Labels.

→ On the second axis drag the Profit Full Month on Labels.

→On the third axis drag the Profit Full Month on Color and SUM(-1) on Size.

→ On the fourth axis drag the Profit Ratio Full Month on Labels and on Color.

→ On the fifth axis drag the Customers Full Month on Labels.

→ Right click on the fourth axis and select Dual Axis.

→ Drag the field Order Date on Filters Area and select Range of Dates. 

By Adelina Popescu

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