![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newdatalabs.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1-1.png\")
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If you want to enhance the visual message, you can highlight data points with separate markers. This way you will focus users\u2019 attention on data points, and by joining data points you highlight their continuity. You can achieve this effect in Tableau in two ways \u2013 by adding data markers or creating a dual-axis line and a point chart. Let\u2019s start with data markers \u2013 you set this in the Color field and select Markers. The result will be as follows: <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, this approach is problematic \u2013 markers are rather small; you need to change their size, and also thickness of the line at the same time to keep a sense of proportion. If you want to separately control the size of a line and marker, it\u2019s best to use a dual-axis for the same measure \u2013 a separate line chart and a separate point chart. It allows you to increase the size of markers and decrease the line thickness, directing users\u2019 attention to data points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n A line chart is a helpful solution for visualizing several categories in one graph. The easiest way to do that is to place the categories in the Color field. In our example, these are years \u2013 we are able to compare the size of a specific indicator in the same months over various years: <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n You need to be careful, as your chart might become illegible when you add many categories, and as a result you will get a \u201cspaghetti chart.\u201d What to do in this case? The best solution is to separate the charts either horizontally or vertically: <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n An extremely popular solution in the business dashboards is to use Spark lines \u2013 small graphs of trend lines that enhance visualizing KPIs. In the below case we also emphasize the most current value by adding a marker and a label. It\u2019s worthwhile to remove all distracting elements on the charts (axes, grid lines, frames). <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n In most cases, a line chart is the best choice, however there are other alternatives. One of the most commonly used is the area chart \u2013 in addition to the line, there is also a color area between the zero axis and the data line. When analyzing the data that can be aggregated by a sum (e.g. sales value, quantity) \u2013 it is a good idea when the area represents the size of the data. However, if you analyze indicators (e.g., prices), a line chart will be a better choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you combine a line chart with an area chart, you will get a visually attractive alternative of a bar chart, with reduced transparency of the area below the line. This way you can focus users\u2019 attention mainly on the line, and the area indicates that the data is aggregated: <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n A drawback of the area chart is its limited use when you have more than one set of data \u2013 then the data categories overlap each other and it\u2019s hard to read the trends for the categories situated above, as they don\u2019t have a common reference point. In this case it\u2019s quite easy to analyze only the category on the X-axis: <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Column charts are widely used to visualize time data. A column chart is a vertically-oriented bar chart. Bar chart is a perfect choice when you want to visualize category data. For this reason, column charts (vertically aligned bar charts) are not a good option for visualizing timelines \u2013 there are no links between data points. Their advantage is that it\u2019s easy to compare values. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n A column chart can be used to visualize two different indicators \u2013 you can display one indicator as bars (e.g., sales) and the other as a line (e.g., price). <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s recommended to separate series of data to ensure the transparency of both charts. In this situation you treat one information as the main input (in the below example the profit as a line-chart), and the second as the supplementary data input (sales as columns). <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n When visualizing business data, it\u2019s not only good to use tried-and-tested solutions, but also the simplest ones. In terms of categories, the best option is usually to go for a bar chart, whereas for showing time trends \u2013 a line chart is recommended. It\u2019s easy to interpret, it\u2019s intuitive and provides a historical context. This is essential in analyzing performance indicators \u2013 by looking at the historical data, you are able to evaluate the actual condition of your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mateusz Karmalski, Tableau Author <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the previous post I described how to visualize category data and a bar chart was the best choice then. However, when you want to illustrate data variables over time, the solution would be different, but very straightforward \u2013 mainly line charts. Why are they so popular? A major reason is that by linking data […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2971,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"content-sidebar","footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2957","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-blog","8":"category-tableau","9":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newdatalabs.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newdatalabs.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/3-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA line chart and several categories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newdatalabs.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/4-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newdatalabs.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/5-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newdatalabs.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/6-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlternatives for Line Charts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newdatalabs.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/7-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newdatalabs.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/8-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newdatalabs.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/9-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat about columns?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newdatalabs.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/10.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newdatalabs.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/11-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newdatalabs.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/12-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCategories \u2013 Bar Chart, Time \u2013 Line Chart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n