How can we visualize and understand the information that data provides us when we have the necessary tools to analyze it? But most importantly, how do we identify and build the right analytics to visualize the information we want? These are the questions we need to follow when looking for the right analysis.
Tableau Software data analysis tool offers countless possibilities for building a chart or a dashboard depending on the information we want to follow. In today’s article we will discuss setting benchmarks or reference points in relation with data generated by our activities. Regardless of whether we want to analyze the targets set at the level of sales or profit over a period, the references help us observe the moment in which we find ourselves considering our objectives.
In Tableau Software, reference lines or constant lines are defined as horizontal or vertical lines fixed in a specific region in a graph. These have the role of setting certain goals define by the user and to display if the results so far are in line with the respective objectives.
The difference between the reference lines and the constant ones is given by the fact that the constant lines contains fixed values that are set and do not depend on other values in the graph. Constant lines are often used in analyzes in which we aim to reach a fixed target. With the help of constant lines, we can track the progress made so far.
In contrast, reference lines can be the result of a calculated value from the graph on which they are located. The reference lines can represent the average of the values in the graph. Thus, it can be easily observing how the results obtained over a period are compared to the established average. Reference lines built in Tableau Software help users to identify the differences more easily between the obtained results and the set objectives.
Below you can find a step by step guide which shows you how to create Reference Lines and Constant Lines in Tableau:
→ In Tableau Desktop, connect to Superstore data source.
→ Drag the Order Date on Columns at month level.
→ Drag the Sales measure on Rows.
→ From Analytics drag and drop constant line.
→ Set manual the value.
→ Click on Sales axe to edit the reference line for the constant value.
→ From Analytics drag and drop the reference line. (by default it’s on average)
→ Drag Segment on Columns to split sales by segment.
→ Edit the reference line and select to change from table to pane.
→ Select in edit reference line window from label custom to show the text and value of interest.
By Ciprian Nastasiu
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