A Marimekko or Mekko chart is a type of chart that works such as a stacked bar plus a tree map, or for a better understanding, a stacked bar horizontally and vertically. The usability is that it will give us the possibility to display another variable to look at, so let’s learn how to create a Marimekko Chart.
→ In Tableau Desktop, connect to Global Superstore data provided by Tableau.
→ Create a calculated field called “Region Sales”
{FIXED [Region]: sum([Sales])}
→ Create a calculated field called “Running Total Region”
IF FIRST()=0 THEN MIN([Region Sales])
ELSEIF MIN([Region])<> LOOKUP(MIN([Region]),-1) THEN PREVIOUS_VALUE(0)+MIN([Region Sales])
ELSE PREVIOUS_VALUE(0)
END
→ Create a table from Region and Category as dimensions and the Sales for measures:
Drag “Region” to Rows
Drag “Category” to Rows
Bring Sales to the Text Mark
→ We should find out the % of each Category by Region so we’ll apply a table calculation:
Right-click Sum(Sales) and apply a Table Calculation for a % of Total with the Specific Dimensions ticked for Category. This will drive our vertical stack.
→ Bring Measure Values in order to add the Sales again so that we can reference it and the Region Sales and Running Total Region calculations we did:
The Region Sales calculation will help us determine the width of each bar and the horizontal stack. We will do that by fixing the sales cumulated in every region with a lod.
The Running Total Regions calculation basically does a running total by making sure to keep the values the same for each region: if it’s the first row then we will get the Region Sales value, otherwise, add the new region sales to the previous one.
→ Let’s duplicate the worksheet and start building our chart :
Right-click on the worksheet and “Duplicate”
Rename the newly created worksheet as Mekko Chart
→ Follow the next steps in order to build the viz:
Bring “Measure Values” pill from Text to Detail
Remove the “Measure names” pill
Starting from the right side, in this order, add “Category” then “Region” to Detail
Add the “SUM(Sales)” table calculation to rows
Add “Running Total Region” to columns
Change the marks to bar
Add region Sales on Size and fix the size starting on the right side, this will consider the right edge of the column as a starting point
Bring Category also to Color Mark
Bring Region also to text Mark
→ Format the Marks as desired…great work, you’ve successfully built a Mekko chart! 🙂
Watch the video tutorial here:
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