How to create Three Map Layers in Tableau

Today prepare for the next tutorial signed by btProvider, where we will teach you How to create Three Map Layers in Tableau.

The advantages of multiple map layers are:

→very useful when you want to point locations on the same map

→less time for preparing spatial data sheets

→more time for analyzing the data

→you can encode each layer’s data by size, shape, and colour…

This feature is available in Tableau Desktop since the 2020.4 version and helps you to see more layers of information on the same map: sales, cities, profits, countries, ROI, etc.

Before this version, in the past, data analysts could create a dual-axis in order to visualize multiple map layers at the same time.

You can add as many layers as you want, important is to have a clear visualization in Tableau.

Are you ready to start? Follow the next instructions, step by step:

Step 1: Connect to data

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

Step 2: Layer 1- State using a Map mark type

→ Double – click on the State Field for it to appear in the view and a map is automatically created

→ Change the mark type to Map and add the Sales measure to colour.

Step 3: Layer 2 – City using a Shape mark type

→ Drag the City field onto the view to show the new Add a Marks Layer drop zone

→ Change the mark type to Shape and select a diamond from the Shape shelf.

→ Add the Quantity measure to the Size shelf and adjust the size and transparency

Step 4: Layer 3 – Postal Code using a Circle mark type

→ Drag the Postcode into the view and onto the add marks layer drop zone

→ Change the mark type to Circle and add the Profit measure to Colour.

→ Format with a diverging stepped colour palette with just two colours to highlight whether profits are positive (blue) or negative (pink):

The map now shows the layers, each at a different level of granularity, showing three separate measures and using different encodings.

A really useful feature is that you can switch the visibility of any map layer on or off simply by clicking the eye icon to the left of its name. Clicking the eye turns the visibility off and the icon is updated to show a line through it.

If you like video tutorials, we recorded for you the entire process as you can see in the #skillpill video below, created by our colleague Andreea Chiriac, Data Analyst.

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