Explore and Analyze Data41% of the exam
Symbol, density and filled maps with layers
Pick a proportional symbol, density or filled map from the data and the question, tune size, color, opacity, intensity and aggregation so the map does not mislead, and add marks layers with the right order, selection and zoom extent.
Map data geographically: Create symbol maps; Create density maps; Create choropleth maps (filled maps); Create mark layers.
~7 min read · 15 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Choose a proportional symbol, density or filled (choropleth) map from the data and the question.
- Encode one or two measures on a symbol map, and fix symbols that look alike, overlap or read as ground area.
- Build a density map from points, and adjust its color palette, intensity and size.
- Build a filled map that uses the right aggregation, level of detail and ratio rather than a raw count.
- Add marks layers and control their order, selection, visibility and zoom extent.
Building a first map and assigning geographic roles are in the Desktop Foundations units Symbol, filled and density maps and Geographic roles and default field properties.
Key terms:
- Proportional symbol map: one mark per location, sized (and optionally colored) by a measure.
- Density map: overlapping marks grouped and colored by how many marks are in each group.
- Choropleth (filled) map: polygons shaded by a ratio or aggregated value.
- Marks layer: an independent overlay on the Marks card with its own mark type and color.
- Zoom extent: the area Tableau fits the map to, based on the marks of included layers.
Key facts
Symbol map encodings
- Detail
- One value on Size and, if necessary, another on Color
Symbols look the same size
- Detail
- Data needs a large variation of values
Overlapping symbols
- Detail
- Opacity 70% and a Border under Effects
Density map data
- Detail
- Point geometry, latitude/longitude, or recognized names
Density palettes
- Detail
- Ten, tailored to light or dark base maps
Filled map data
- Detail
- Quantitative or qualitative values; names or custom polygons
Precomputed percentage on Color
- Detail
- Change SUM to Attribute
Marks layers
- Detail
- Geographic data only; shared-field filters hit all layers
Layer draw order
- Detail
- Top of the Marks card list draws on top
- How large are the underlying marks of a density map, and what color?
- When does the order of the Longitude fields on the Columns shelf matter?
- Which Maps menu option lets viewers hide marks layers after publishing?
- Why does removing the unique ID from Detail leave a density map with nothing to show?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
Keep reading with the Tableau Data Analyst pack
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- All 30 lessons of the Tableau Data Analyst guide, with reading progress
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