How to Create a Pareto Chart in Tableau

TL;DR

A Pareto chart is built by creating two separate calculated fields for 2021 and 2022 sales and then layering them with a dual axis. The view uses circles for the start and end points and a line to show the distance between them, finally merging into a single chart with a dual axis. This helps compare two years across subcategories easily.

Transcript

all right so now we're going to go more advanced on building visualizations in Tableau we can learn how to create parle charts in Tableau parle charts are really amazing in order to compare two data points and find the differences between them it's like before and after and it works perfectly if you have categories so now we would like to compare t... Read More

Key Insights

• Sales by year are isolated using calculated fields to show 2021 only when the year equals 2021 and 2022 when the year equals 2022.
• Pareto charts use two measures and a line to indicate the distance between two data points across categories.
• Circles represent the start and end points while a line connects them to show the change between years.
• Dual axis merging combines two visual layers into a single coherent chart.
• Measure names control color and path to differentiate the two years in the chart.
• Adjusting the axis order determines which layer sits on top, improving readability.
• Changing marker type and size helps emphasize the distance between points without clutter.
• Duplicating measure values allows constructing both the circle and line visuals from the same data set.

Questions & Answers

Q: How to create a Pareto chart in Tableau step by step?

To create a Pareto chart in Tableau, start by creating two calculated fields named sales 2021 and sales 2022. Use an if condition on the year of the order date to return sales for the respective year and null otherwise. Then place sales 2021 on columns and add sales 2022 as a second measure to generate a second axis. Convert the marks to circles for the 2021 data and use measure values to drive the path for the 2022 data. Duplicate measure values to create a second chart with a line, assign colors by measure name, and then use dual axis to merge both visuals. Finally adjust sizes and the axis order so the line sits behind the circles, yielding a clean Pareto visualization across subcategories.

Q: What role do calculated fields play in comparing years?

Calculated fields isolate data by year so you can compare two separate periods side by side. By defining sales 2021 and sales 2022 with year-based conditions, Tableau returns precise values for each year while keeping rendering simple. This separation enables building the dual axis chart where two layers represent different years and one line illustrates the distance between them.

Q: Why use dual axis for Pareto charts in Tableau?

Dual axis is used to merge two distinct chart types into a single visual. In Pareto charts, one axis hosts circles representing the start and end values while the other axis hosts a line that visualizes the distance between those two values. This setup keeps the chart compact and makes year-to-year differences immediately obvious across categories.

Q: How can you emphasize differences between years in the chart?

Emphasis comes from using different mark types and adjusting sizes. Circles mark the data points for each year, and a line connects them to show the distance. Making the circles larger improves visibility, and orientation of the dual axes ensures the line sits behind or in front as needed to prevent overlap that obscures the data.

Q: What steps ensure the line shows the distance correctly?

To show the distance correctly, duplicate the measure values to create a second visual layer, change the second layer to a line, and map the colors to measure names. Then place the right axis data on the left by reordering the dual axes so the line reflects the distance properly between 2021 and 2022 points.

Q: How do you adjust the chart so the line is behind the circles?

Access the dual axis controls and reorder the axes so the axis containing the line is placed behind the axis with the circles. This stacking order makes the circles remain prominent while the line runs underneath, resulting in a clear separation between the two yearly data points and a cleaner overall visualization.

Q: What categories are highlighted as examples in the video?

The video uses subcategories to illustrate differences, with examples mentioning envelopes and phones. It shows that some categories have no change between years while others experience a large shift, emphasizing how the Pareto chart visualizes yearly changes across multiple categories in a compact form.

Q: What final adjustments improve readability of the Pareto chart?

Final readability is improved by resizing the circles, ensuring the line is not on top of the circles, and fixing the order of the dual axes. These tweaks prevent overlap and clutter, making the start and end points stand out while the connecting line clearly represents the distance between years.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Pareto charts compare two data points by displaying a start point and an end point for the difference between two values across categories. The tutorial shows step by step how to create 2021 and 2022 sales fields, copy calculations, and shape the marks as circles and lines. It ends with a dual axis merge to reveal the distance between years.

• The process begins in the data pane by creating two calculated fields named sales 2021 and sales 2022, using a year filter on the order date. The user then drags these fields into the view, converts marks to circles and lines, and uses measure values and path to form the Pa re chart.

• A final adjustment is made to layer the charts with a dual axis and reorder the axes so the line sits behind the circles, producing a clear visual of the differences between sales for 2021 and 2022 across subcategories like envelopes and phones.