Too long lists? Learn how to split a long bar chart in Tableau

Whether you are the Operational Manager in your company, a CFO, CTO, the CEO or the Data Analyst, probably you are handling big amounts of data every day. Maybe they are long lists of clients, lists of products and units, prospects, employees and so forth. What do you do with these long lists when you need to make certain comparisons? Will you split a long bar chart? 

Analysing your data with Tableau is the best option, but before you start the process of analysing, the preparation of your sheets or databases is essential. Be sure you format your information in similar tables, with similar rows and columns and containing correct values and data types.

If you want to compare the data from your sheets, but you have too many categories displayed and you need a single view, then the solution will be to split a long bar chart into smaller bar charts. Tableau can help you see the bigger picture of your listed information, more simply.

Just follow the steps below:

Step 1: Connect to data

→ În Tableau Desktop, connect to Tableau: Sample Superstore

Step 2: Create View

→ Create a parameter: Number of rows

Data type: Float

→ Create a calculated field: Column split

INT((INDEX()-1)/[Number of rows])

→ Create a calculated field: Rows split

(INDEX()-1)%[Number of rows]

→ Drag Column split on Columns

→ Drag Rows split on Rows

→ Drag State on Text and Detail

→ From Column split select Compute Using, State

→ From Rows split select Compute Using, State

→ Sort descending from SUM(Sales)

→ In ‘Number of rows’ parameter, insert value 10

How does your list look now? We guess it is much easier now to visualize your list with maybe thousands of items, now organized in a few separate columns. Tableau has many amazing features to help you analyse the most complex data.

Tableau helps all organizations regardless of their field of activity to become more empowered when looking at their data. Businesses find new opportunities, see their numbers from different perspectives and discover new technologies.

By Eduard Arhire

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