How do I use animations in Tableau?

Preparation time : 5 minutes

Level of difficulty: Easy

Objective: Use Tableau animations

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Animations in Tableau Desktop make it possible to create smooth transitions between changes in views, making data more understandable and engaging. Used wisely, they allow users to better follow data changes over time or through different filters. In this article, we'll look at how to enable and use animations in Tableau Desktop to enrich your dashboards.

Why Use Animations?

Animations can help:

1. Facilitate the understanding of changes and data comparisons;
2. Maintain users' attention by making visualizations more dynamic;
3. Illustrate subtle changes more effectively.

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Data required

• 1 data set, such as the accelerator Hypermarket offered by Tableau Desktop,
• 1 existing dashboard.

Instructions

• Go to the tab Help,
• Select Settings and Performances, then Activate animations,
• Then go to the menu Format and click on Animations,
• Choose the timeframe And the style the animation you want.

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Tips:

• As with good visualization, simplicity is key. Animations should enrich the reading of the data, without stealing the limelight from the main information. Use them to highlight changes or highlight transitions without visual overload.
• Adjust the speed to your audience : A well-calibrated duration can make all the difference. For familiar users, faster animation ensures dynamic flow; for novice users, slower animation gives them time to incorporate variations into the data.
• Use animations only where they are used for clear objective. Avoid applying them everywhere to keep the user experience clear.

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