---
title: "Tableau: Visualize Dashboards"
---

# The Data

A Sales dashboard is presented here, using the Tableau superstore data, which lists sales by customers over a range of products from 2021 through (at least on my version) 2024. The previously constructed Tableau items that will compose the dashboard each have their own worksheet. So, first we construct a new item we have not previously encountered, a header worksheet that displays numbers: overall profitability and sales and the number of customers. Then, we repeat types of visualizations we have already accomplished, a choropleth map of sales by state, a bar chart of sales by product, and the time series chart of sales over months.

When these four worksheets are complete, we are ready for the dashboard.

Data: Tableau Superstore

# The Worksheets

The link to the video of constructing these four worksheets follows.

[Video]{.vid}: [Four Worksheets](https://media.pdx.edu/media/t/1_pgs7gcg3). \[7:47\]

<hr>

## Sales Statistics

Here, we pursue a new form of a worksheet, a data summary without a visualization.

### Construct

1.  Drag Sales to the Sheet

2.  Drag Profit on top of Sales and release when you see `Show Me`

3.  Orient the table horizontally:\
    Drag `Measure Names` to the columns shelf

4.  List Sales before Profit:\
    Drag SUM(Sales) on the `Measure` values card ahead Profit

5.  Compute and display the number of unique customers:\
    Customer Name --\> Create --\> Calculated Field\
    Name: \# Customers\
    Formula: `COUNTD([Customer Name])`\
    Drag: \# Customers to the Measure Values card

### Format

Any formatting is optional, and, of course, many more possibilities exist than what is shown.

1.  Center headings:\
    Click on `Text` mark\
    `Alignment`: Choose Center

2.  Increase headings font size:\
    Right-click on a heading\
    Choose Font the left margin, 14 pt

3.  Increase text font size:\
    Right-click on the `Text` mark\
    Select <Measure values>\
    Choose 18 point font size

4.  Remove horizontal lines:\
    Select the `Border` option\
    Under `Row Divider` choose `None`

## Sales by State Map

Create a choropleth sales map. The data cover the states of the United States and the provinces of Canada.

### Construct

1.  Show the hierarchy locations to identify our geographic regions by which to show Sales:\
    Click on the arrow at points to the location under Location

2.  Double click on State/Province

3.  Drag Sales to the `Color` mark

### Format

1.  Remove other countries from the map:\
    Right-click on the map\
    Choose `Background Layers`\
    Drag the `Washout` slider to 100 percent

2.  Get rid of the header borders:\
    Right-click on the map\
    Choose `Format`\
    In the left margin, choose `Borders`\
    Choose `Row Divider`\
    Set `Pane` to `none`

## Sales by Month Time Series

### Construct

1.  Set the time unit:\
    Drag Order Date to the Column shelf\
    Right-click Month\
    Month is aggregated by Year, can leave as is or choose Month/Year to see each individual month\

2.  Drag Sales to the Rows shelf

### Format

1.  Abbreviate month labels:\
    Right click on any month\
    Select `Format Months` in the left margin\
    Select`Dates`, then `Abbreviation`

2.  Remove Order Date header:\
    Right-click on Order Date\
    Select Hide Field Labels for Columns

## Sales by Product

### Construct

1.  Click on the arrow for the product hierarchy to reveal the sub-category

2.  Drag subcategory to the `Rows` shelf

3.  Drag Sales to the `Columns` shelf

### Format

1.  Sort descending from the toolbar

2.  Remove header:\
    Right-click on the sub-category label for the columns\
    Select `Hide Field Labels for Rows`

3.  Remove the Sales horizontal axis label:\
    Right-click\
    Select `Format` and remove the label Sales

# The Dashboard

The link to the video of constructing the dashboard follows.

[Video]{.vid}: [Four Worksheets](https://media.pdx.edu/media/t/1_96cuukxo). \[6:08\]

<hr>

## Construct

1.  Begin by clicking on the New Dashboard icon at the bottom of the Tableau window.

2.  If needed, adjust the size of the dashboard in the left margin under `Size`:\
    Set to a size in which the entire dashboard is visible, here, `Width`: 1050 `Height`: 625

To place the individual worksheets on the dashboard, use the Tableau concept of horizontal and vertical containers. The container provides control for aligning the individual worksheets horizontally and vertically on the dashboard. We group related items together into their shared container so that their sizes can be adjusted separately from other items outside the container. Moreover, containers can be nested within each other.

::: {.callout-tip title="Horizontal container"}
Arrange the items placed within it side-by-side in a row. Can adjust width.
:::

::: {.callout-tip title="Vertical container"}
Stack the items within it on top of each other in a column. Can adjust height.
:::

1.  Vertical container to cover entire dashboard:\
    Drag under `Objects`, the `Vertical Container` to the top of the worksheet\
    Click the `Layout` tab\
    `Position`: x=0, y=0 \`Size\`\`: w=1050, h=625

2.  Add dashboard title:\
    Drag the Text Object to the worksheet, call Sales Analysis\
    Increase font size

3.  Add the map to the extreme right side:\
    Drag Sales by State to the top right corner\
    Edit width by the down pointing arrow at top right of map

4.  Create a new vertical container:\
    Drag a `Vertical Container` to the left of the Title in that container\
    Drag the Title by the handle into that container

5.  Drag Stats underneath the Title

6.  Drag a `Horizontal Container` object under the Stats to allow Time Series and Bar Chart to be next to each other:\
    Drag the Time Series to the left of the container Drag the Bar Chart to the right of the container

## Format

1.  Sizes:\
    Set Title height to 85\
    Set Stats to fit entire view and height\
    Set width of bar chart to 350

2.  Borders and padding:\
    Select `Dashboard` on the main menu, choose `Format` `Dashboard Shading`: Light Gray Remove the `Dashboard Format` menu

3.  Each item, Title and the four worksheets:\
    Select the item\
    Right-click `Format`\
    Set `Outer Padding` and `Inner Padding` to 10\
    Set `Background` to White `Border` to Light Gray\

## Filters

In addition to the simultaneous display, another advantage of Tableau dashboards is that all items are linked in terms of filtering. Filter one item by choosing a specific value and all the other items on the dashboard update accordingly. For example, to see monthly sales and sales by product for California, select that state in the map display.

Filter:\
Click on any item\
Select the `Filter` icon\
Select a specific value, such as a Month, Product, or State/Province depending on the item