Exploring and Analyzing Data37% of the exam
Symbol, filled and density maps
Double-click a geographic field to start a map, then turn it into a proportional symbol map (measure on Size), a filled map (Map mark type, measure on Color) or a density map (Density mark type over many overlapping points), and know which data each one suits.
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).
~8 min read · 5 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Explain why double-clicking a field with a geographic role creates a map view automatically.
- Build a proportional symbol (point) map by putting a measure on Size.
- Build a filled (polygon) map by choosing the Map mark type and putting a measure on Color.
- Build a density map from precise point locations with many overlapping marks, and predict how it behaves when you zoom or filter.
- Pick the map type that fits the data: individual locations, areas, or dense clusters of points.
Key terms:
- Geographic role: a setting that tells Tableau a field holds locations, so Tableau geocodes it and can build a map view.
- Proportional symbol map: a point map whose symbols are sized, and optionally colored, by a quantitative value per location.
- Filled (choropleth) map: a map whose polygons, such as states or counties, are shaded by ratio or aggregated data.
- Density map: a map that groups overlapping marks and color-codes them by how many marks are in each group; the map page calls it a heatmap, not to be confused with the heat map in Crosstabs and highlight tables.
Key facts
Double-click a geographic field
- Detail
- A map view is created automatically
Geographic role assigned
- Detail
- Tableau geocodes the field and adds Latitude (generated) and Longitude (generated)
Proportional symbol map
- Detail
- Measure on Size; optional second measure on Color
Filled (polygon) map
- Detail
- Mark Type Map, measure on Color
Filled map data
- Detail
- Ratio or aggregated data for polygons
Density map recipe
- Detail
- Lat/long on the shelves, many-point field on Detail, mark type Density
Density on zoom or filter
- Detail
- The surface recomputes on the remaining marks
Density with small multiples
- Detail
- Computed across the full domain of the data
Density underlying marks
- Detail
- Size and color not adjustable
Sources for this section (5)
- Build a Simple Maphelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- Format Geographic Fields in Tableauhelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- Create Maps that Show Quantitative Values in Tableauhelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- Create Maps that Show Ratio or Aggregated Data in Tableauhelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- Create Heatmaps that Show Trends or Density in Tableauhelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- Why should a measure that already holds a percentage not be summed on a filled map?
- Why can a filled map of raw counts mislead readers?
- When does a latitude and longitude view collapse into a single mark?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
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