Formatting Individual Columns in Tableau (Dual-Axis Crosstabs)

Today, we will look at a special type of graph in Tableau, the "Dual-Axis Crosstab."  The inspiration for this method comes from Conditional Formatting, which I know was at least partly developed by Jonathan Drummey.

In it's basic form, Tableau can only format based off one value.  For example, you can have a chart that displays Sales and Profit, but you can only color based on one of them.

Profit and Sales by Region (Colored by Profit)

Now we have an individual color for each row, when we really want one for each cell.  We can work around this by dragging "Measure Values" to the color shelf.  While this gives us an individual color for each cell, it puts them all on one scale, which is foolish in this case.

Profit and Sales by Region (Colored by Measure Values)

What we really need is to be able to apply an individual formatting to each column.  This is where the "Dual-Axis Crosstab" comes in.

Step 1: 

• Create a meaningless calculated field

Calculated Field

This field will be used as the base for our columns.

Step 2: 

• Drag the Calculated Field onto the "Columns" Shelf
• Change the "Mark" Type to "Text"
• Right-Click inside the Column -> Select "Format" -> Click the Icon that looks like a Pen, -> Remove "Zero Lines"
• Right-Click on the Axis Header (which is ironically at the bottom) -> Select "Edit Axis" -> Change the Title to something reasonable
• Still in the "Edit Axis" Window, open the "Tick Marks" Tab -> Select "None" and "None"
• Drag the Desired Measure onto the "Text" Shelf
• Resize the Column

Single-Column (Dual-Axis?) Crosstab

Now, you've created a "Single-Column Dual-Axis Crosstab."  Realistically, we aren't going to use the "Dual-Axis" component in this post; however, I'm not sure what else to call it.

Step 3:

• Drag the "Field" Calculated Field to the "Columns" Shelf and place it beside the previous one
• Next to the Word "Marks" above the "Marks" Shelf, Select the "Down Arrow" -> Select "Multiple Mark Types"
• Now, you can cycle between your different fields
• Drag another measure to the "Text" Shelf for the new field
• Repeat "Step 2" to clean this column up as well

Dual-Axis Crosstab

Now, you can apply individual formatting to each column by cycling through them on the "Marks" Card.  For example, you can color the "Profit" Column by "Profit" and color "Sales" by "Sales."

Step 4:

• Repeat the above process for adding any more measures you want
• Add any dimensions you would like to the "Rows" Shelf

Completed Dual-Axis Crosstab

Now, you can see that all "Orange" values should be looked into.  While this is a very simple representation, there is so much more that can be done here.  Feel free to experiment.  There's much more information to be found in the link at the beginning of the post.  Thanks for reading.

EDIT:  Some readers have been asking for a workbook illustrating this concept.  Zen Master Jonathan Drummey has a very good workbook illustrating this technique posted here.

Brad Llewellyn

Associate Consultant

Mariner, LLC

llewellyn.wb@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradllewellyn