Bar chart with round edge(s) in Tableau
What can we do differently with bar charts so that we enjoy using it frequently and it looks appealing at the same time? In short, how do we handle bar fatigue? Here, in this article we will discuss how to make bar charts with round edges on both sides, and flat on one side and round on the other. I personally do hope that the example I will be using here will be close to your context.
To give you a little bit of background, I wanted a bar chart with round edges, including all countries along with the power generation by each country. Detail of the dimensions & measure I have used in this example are as follows:-
1. Variable — this lists the energy sources for power generation. I will restrict my case to Coal here. This is case specific and it is not related to or will affect the end result.
2. Area — Country names
3. Generation (TWh) — this is the measure field exacting the power generation by each country
Let’s begin.
Step 1: You can skip this step as it totally depends on your case. Place Variable field in the filter pane and select one value. In my scenario, it will be ‘Coal’.
Step 2: Place ‘Area’ field in the Rows and ‘Generation (TWh)’ in the columns. You will notice that Tableau will automatically generate a bar chart. (Refer Image 1)
Step 3: Then double-click on side of this field and type MIN(0). This will add another column. (Refer Image 2)
Step 4: Now click on ‘Show Me’ and select ‘Text Table’. This will result in a text table with 2 columns but more importantly, the ‘Measure Values’ will appear below the Marks Card. (Refer Image 3)
Step 5: Change the drop down in the Marks Card to Line. Drag the ‘Measure Names’ from the Columns to Path in the Marks Card. Drag the ‘Measure Values in the Text Marks Card to the Columns. (Refer Image 4)
Now all the steps are for making the graph more presentable.
Step 6: Click on the sort descending on the bar above.
Step 7: Drag the ‘Area’ (the dimension field) to the color marks card. And increase the size in the marks card. And voila! a bar chart with round edges on both sides is ready. (Refer Image 5)
Except for increasing the size, all the steps for making the graph presentable are case-specific and totally depends on your requirement. For example, if you don’t want the MIN(0) measure name and measure value in the tooltip, remove the ‘measure names’ and ‘measure values’ from the tooltip and just place ‘Generation (TWh)’ in the tooltip. What I observed, simply right clicking on ‘AGG(MIN(0))’ and de-selecting the option ‘Include in the Tooltip’ was not enough to remove it from the tooltip.
But what if I want a flat base?
Then let’s continue with the same example.
Step 8: Next to the Measure Values in the Columns, double click and type MIN(0) again. (Refer Image 6)
Step 9: Right click on the AGG(MIN(0)) and click on ‘Dual Axis’. (Refer Image 7)
Step 10: Right click on the MIN(0) axis and select ‘Synchronize Axis’. (Refer Image 8)
Step 11: In the Marks Card of AGG(MIN(0)), change the line to Square. (Refer Image 9)
My suggestion is, after you have decided whether you need a horizontal or vertical bar chart and the place of the chart on the dashboard, then adjust the size of the line as well as the square and not before that.
Step 12: We have the option to leave the size of the square a tad bigger than the size of the line and make it appear as a pellet. (Refer Image 10)
You can even select Shape from the drop down and select square shape. Try using other shapes and see what you get. If you use |> (triangle), then you get a look of an inverted funnel. If you use a filled PLUS sign and adjust the size then you will get the look similar to a fence (Refer the image above the title). Of course, I will not recommend this if the visual context is formal. But one can have fun with shapes, sometimes.
To summarize, all you need is a dimension and a measure field to have fun with bar charts.
Want to know what else you can do with Bar charts? Read this article by Isha Garg.
Click on Link to the visual where I have used round bar charts.
