Preparation time : 5 minutes
Level : Easy
Objective: Create a Packed Bubble Chart
The Packed Bubble Chart is often used to compare values and highlight categories that have important proportions. This type of graph can illustrate volumes or amounts in a visually appealing and intuitive way. In this tutorial, I'll take you step-by-step through building your own bubble chart in Tableau Desktop.
Required Data
- 1 data table, Hypermarket (at the bottom of the Tableau Desktop login page),
- 1 measure, for example Sales,
- 2 dimensions, such as Segment and Product Name.
Instructions:
- Slide the dimension Segment That the tab colour of the landmark,
- Slide the dimension Product name That the tab Detail of the landmark,
- Change the coordinate system type to Cercle,
- Swipe the measurement sales That the tab Size of the landmark.
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Advice
Here are some key things to keep in mind when creating a Packed Bubble Chart to ensure clear and effective visualization:
- When too many bubbles are shown, they can overlap and make it difficult to read. Limit the number of categories or apply filters to show only the most relevant items.
- The size of the bubbles can be confusing, especially if the differences in values are small. Make sure that the size differences really reflect the variation in underlying values to avoid misleading interpretations.
- Use consistent colors to differentiate categories without creating visual overload. Colors that are too bright or poorly chosen can distract the user or make reading uncomfortable.
- Les Packed Bubble Charts are especially useful for Comparing proportions, but they don't show a specific timeline or relationship between bubbles. Use this chart for simple value comparisons rather than complex analyses.
