Antichaos
Data Visualisation, Tableau & Data Services
Sometime you want to make a dramatic statement – and sometimes you just need a little nudge to help users understand a dashboard.
Tableau makes it really easy to create a minimalist dashboard – and tooltips are a great way to unlock the data behind a mark. Emphasizing the datapoint of the tooltip will make the visualization just a little better. And this is even more important on charts with multiple lines.
[Read more…] about Change marks on HoverAn old but very efficient way to point the attention to a row in a table is to add a small text-based icon in front of it. A subtle dot in front of a bar can help you tell the story of data.
But you might want to use less-subtle ways to highlight data?
Animation is such a way – and can even add some more fun to a dashboard. In Tableau, this is really easy to accomplish using Image Roles.
[Read more…] about Animated icons in TableauGetting data from external APIs into Tableau often involves several workarounds —manual extracts, middle-ware scripts, or writing to a database. This isn’t bad per se, but if you just want real time data from an API, Table Extensions are a clean and direct solution.
Table Extensions allow you to connect Tableau directly to external data sources like APIs using Python, R, or other analytics engines. This means you can fetch live data—whether it’s weather updates, currency exchange rates, or stock prices—and use it as if it were a regular data source in Tableau.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to set up your first Table Extension, use Python to pull live data (without storing anything), and explore the benefits and best practices of using this approach—especially when working with real-time or short-lived data.
[Read more…] about API to Tableau, the Smart Way: A Guide to Table ExtensionsFormatting matters.
Inconsistent formatting in your Tableau visualizations can will confuse your audience and make your dashboard look unpolished.
A well-structured dashboard is not just about the right data—it’s about making that data easy to read and interpret. Inconsistent date formats, poorly formatted numbers, percentages, and currency values can make your insights less clear. Especially in tables.
In this post, I’ll walk you through essential but simple formatting techniques in Tableau, from setting a default date format to custom number formats. You’ll learn how to hide unnecessary zero values, align text for better readability, and use custom formatting to create intuitive and informative visualizations.
[Read more…] about Easy Custom Formatting in TableauTableau is packed with small but powerful features that can make your workflow smoother and more efficient. However, some of these tricks aren’t immediately obvious—even for experienced users.
Whether you’re troubleshooting a calculation, improving collaboration, or just trying to reset your workspace, these tips will help you work smarter in Tableau.
Here are five tips for using Tableau Desktop:
[Read more…] about 5 Tableau Desktop Tips