Exploring and Analyzing Data37% of the exam

Combined axis and dual axis charts

Three ways to show two measures together: separate axes, a combined (blended) axis built from Measure Names and Measure Values, or a dual axis with two independent scales in one pane. Covers where to drop the measure, Synchronize Axis, and per-measure Marks cards for bar-and-line combo charts.

Official exam objective
Create basic charts: Create a bar chart; Create a line chart; Create a scatterplot; Create a map using geographic data; Create a combined axis chart; Create a dual axis chart; Create a stacked bar; Create a density map; Create a chart to show specific values (crosstab, highlight table).

~7 min read · 4 practice questions ·

What the exam expects

  • Choose between individual axes, a combined (blended) axis and a dual axis from the measures' scales and units.
  • Create a combined axis by dropping a measure onto an existing axis, and name the changes Tableau makes with Measure Names and Measure Values.
  • Create a dual axis by dropping a measure on the right side of the view, or with Dual Axis on the shelf field.
  • Synchronize the two axes of a dual axis chart when they should share a scale.
  • Build a combo chart, such as bars with a line, by changing the mark type on one measure's Marks card.

Key terms:

  • Combined (blended) axis: one shared continuous axis for several measures, all marks in a single pane.
  • Dual axis: two independent axes layered on top of each other in the same pane.
  • Measure Values / Measure Names: generated fields holding all measure values (continuous) and all measure names (discrete).
  • Combo chart: a view whose measures use customized marks, such as different mark types.

Key facts

Combined (blended) axis
Detail
Drop a measure or axis onto an existing axis
Blended axis field
Detail
Measure Values creates the shared axis
Measure Names when blending
Detail
On Color, and filtered to the blended measures
When to blend
Detail
Similar scale and units
Dual axis
Detail
Drop on the right side at the black dashed line, or Dual Axis on the field
Layered axes limit
Detail
Up to four: two on Columns and two on Rows
Synchronize Axis
Detail
Right-click the secondary axis; aligns it to the primary scale
Marks cards with several measures
Detail
One per measure, plus All
Measure Values / Measure Names
Detail
Continuous values / discrete names of all measures
Sources for this section (2)
  • Why do Show Me's dual lines not share one value range like a blended axis?
  • When does a measure dropped on the canvas create dual axes instead of a blended axis?
  • How many layered axes can one view hold?

The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.

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