How to visualize your data from an area of interest – Expanding Label and Size of Mark

Expanding Label and Size of Mark

We always want to have a centralized situation of data and information about our company. For example, depending on the field of activity and the areas in which the company operates, we’ll need analyzes that allows to see real-time information about the profitability of the business or the cost situation. The profit rate, the costs generated by the delivery of products or the sales situation are among the most requested information when it comes to data analysis regarding to the way in which the activity is carried out in a company.

Also, in order to make strategic decisions in time, we need reports with data that can be analyzed from several points of view. For example, there are situations where we need to look at how certain costs impact the profitability rate of the business. At the same time, we need relevant and concise information regarding the correlation between certain indicators that can influence the results of our organization.

Expanding Label and Size of Mark

The Expanding Label and Size of Mark data analysis from Tableau Software helps users create and analyze data generated by certain indicators, from different regions in which the company operates. The expanding label and size of mark analysis helps the user to understand the business from the point of view of the key parameters analyzed.

This perspective for data analysis offered by Tableau Software provides additional answers to questions related to the impact of the analyzed indicators on the efficiency of the activity carried out and the profitability of the business.

Expanding Label and Size of Mark offers users the opportunity to analyze the necessary information in depth and to view the data only from a certain area of interest. All other data will remain in the background, without crowding the built analysis. This way of visualizing data will allow users to evaluate the profitability of the business, to anticipate the impact of some decisions and to have control over the figures generated by the company’s activity.

Below you can find a step by step guide which shows you how to create an Expanding Label and Size of Mark in Tableau Software:

Step 1: Connect to data

→ In Tableau Desktop, connect to a data set that contains information regarding the population divided by gender.

Step 2: Create the visualization

→ First we have to calculate the Profit Ratio. For this, we have to create a calculated field, named Profit Ration with the formula:
SUM([Profit])/SUM([Sales])

→ We want to show the Profit Ratio as percentage, and for this we have to right click on it and select Default Proprieties -> Number format -> Percentage -> OK.

→ Drag the Shipping Cost on Columns and the Profit Ratio on Rows.

→ We have to create a parameter named State parameter. From the Data type select String and from the Allowable values select List. Now, from the Add values from tab select State.

→ We have to create a calculated field named State Size with the formula:
IF [State]=[State Parameter] then 10 else 0 end

→ We have to create a new calculated field named State Label with the formula:
IF [State]=[State Parameter] then [State] else null end

→ We have to create a new calculated field named State Profit Ratio with the formula:
SUM(IF [State]=[State Parameter] then [Profit] else null end)
/
SUM(IF [State]=[State Parameter] then [Sales] else null end)

→ We want to show the State Profit Ratio as percentage, and for this we have to right click on it and select Default Proprieties -> Number format -> Percentage -> OK.

→ Let’s assume that we have to see the data from the US Market. For this, drag the Market on Filters and select US.

→ Now, we have to drag the calculated fields on the Marks area. Firstly, drag the State Size on Color, then drag the State Size also on Size. Drag the State Label on Label and also we have to drag on Label the State Profit Ratio. Last thing to do is to drag the State on Detail.

→ Rename the sheet States Scatter.

→ We have created the visualization but now we want to expand the label and size of the mark. For this, we have to create a dashboard and to drag on it the States scatter sheet.

→ Go to Dashboard -> Actions -> Add Action -> Change Parameter. Select the current Dashboard and the current sheet. From the Target Parameter area select State Parameter and from the Field area select the State field.

→ This is the final result, when we click on a State it will be expanding and we can easily highlight it. Also, we can see here the results relating to the Profit Ration and Sales. Also, this Scatter Plot visualization helps us to see if there is any correlation between the Profit Ration and the Shipping Cost.

By Adelina Popescu

Download Tableau Software