Tableau Strategies

Chapter 9. Constructing Dynamic Analyses

Up to this point, we’ve been focused on identifying the correct visualizations to answer key questions. You’ve learned when it is appropriate to use pie charts, how to make effective and varied bar charts, and many ways to work with different data types. Each chapter has been foundational to your understanding of good data visualization and has given you the tools necessary to build the right charts. But now, you’re going to take that knowledge one step further with the introduction of dynamic elements.

We named this chapter “Constructing Dynamic Analyses” because you will be using a variety of features within Tableau to manipulate visualizations, changing the way data is displayed, providing user input, and creating charts that are customized to the audience’s interests. Unlike the other strategies in this book, everything discussed in this chapter will result in several (sometimes infinite) permutations of a visual. We’ll be providing you baseline ideas and the building blocks for incorporating dynamic elements into your own data projects. We hope your takeaway from this chapter is how to effectively add interactivity and customization for your audience and use case.

In the first case study, you will explore how to build several chart variations to satisfy your audience with parameters. In the second case study, you will work with parameter actions to create dynamic charts that change based on user interaction. Finally, you will use set ...