Data Visualization and Dashboards
Building the view
Mapping fields to Mark types and shelves is the core skill: Rows/Columns for position, Color, Size, Label, Detail, and Tooltip for encoding. Bars compare magnitudes, lines show change over time, heatmaps and highlight tables use color on a grid, Gantt bars need a duration measure, and maps need geographic roles (assign them in the data pane). Know dual axis (two separate axes combined, which you can Synchronize) versus a blended/combined axis (one shared axis, e.g., two measures side by side). Reference lines, bands, distribution bands, trend lines, and box plots are all in the Analytics pane.
Assembling the dashboard
Dashboards use tiled (auto-arranging) and floating (absolutely positioned, overlapping) objects inside horizontal and vertical containers. Sizing can be Automatic, Range, or Fixed; device layouts adapt for phone and tablet. Actions are heavily tested: Filter, Highlight (emphasizes without removing marks), Go to Sheet, URL, Parameter, and Set actions. Filter cards have a scope - this worksheet, all worksheets using this data source, or selected worksheets.
Traps to watch
- A highlight action is not a filter action - nothing is removed from the view.
- Filter actions clear when the user deselects unless the target setting keeps values.
- A dual axis without Synchronize Axis makes two different scales look comparable when they are not.
- Floating objects can sit on top of tiled ones and hide content.
Worked example
A bar chart of sales by category and a line chart of monthly sales do not share a scale. Put both on the same worksheet with Dual Axis, then right-click the second axis and choose Synchronize Axis; the shapes then reflect true relative magnitude.