Data Analysis at its Finest with Tableau Combined Axis Charts
Combined axis charts, also known as combo charts, are a type of visualization in Tableau that allows you to plot multiple measures on the same chart using different axis scales. This can be very useful when you want to compare two or more measures that have different ranges or units of measurement, or when you want to show how two or more measures are related to each other.
To create a combined axis chart in Tableau, you will need to have your data organized in a way that includes at least two fields representing the measures you want to compare. Here’s a general outline of the steps you can follow:
- Connect to your data source in Tableau and select the fields you want to use for your combined axis chart.
- Drag one of the fields onto the Columns shelf and the other field onto the Rows shelf.
- Select a bar chart or line chart as the visualization type. Tableau will automatically create a chart using the fields you have placed on the shelves.
- To create a combined axis chart, right-click on the second field in the Rows shelf and select “Dual Axis” from the context menu. This will create a second axis on the right side of the chart.
- Right-click on the second axis and select “Synchronize Axis” from the context menu. This will ensure that both axes use the same scale.
- To customize the appearance and behavior of your combined axis chart, you can use the options in the “Format” and “Analyze” menus. For example, you can change the colors of the bars or lines, add data labels, and customize the axes.
Combined axis charts can be a useful tool for comparing multiple measures in Tableau, and they can be especially helpful for showing how two or more measures are related to each other. However, it is to make sure that the combined axis charts can be sensitive to small changes in the data, and they may not always provide an accurate representation of the underlying trends.
With a dual axis chart, you may plot two different measures on two distinct axes that you can synchronise within the same chart.
You can plot as many measures as you wish on a single axis by using a composite axis to combine two or more measures into one axis.