Mastering Tableau: Create Multiple Donut Charts

Creating multiple donut charts in Tableau can be a powerful way to visualize your data and gain insights. Donut charts, also known as ring charts, are a variation of pie charts that can help you compare parts of a whole. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create and customize multiple donut charts in Tableau.

Before we dive in, ensure you have Tableau installed and a dataset ready for analysis. For this guide, let's assume you're using the 'Superstore Sales' sample dataset that comes with Tableau.

Preparing Your Data

To create donut charts, your data should be in a format where you can easily compare parts of a whole. In our 'Superstore Sales' dataset, we'll use the 'Category' field to create donut charts showing the sales distribution across different product categories.

First, drag the 'Category' field to the 'Columns' shelf. Then, drag the 'Sales' field to the 'Rows' shelf. This will create a bar chart. To turn this into a donut chart, we'll need to make some adjustments.

Creating the First Donut Chart

Right-click on the 'Sales' field in the 'Rows' shelf and select 'Compute Using' > 'Tabulate'. This will calculate the total sales for each category.

Next, right-click on the 'Category' field in the 'Columns' shelf and select 'Show Mark Labels'. This will display the sales amount for each category. To make this a donut chart, we need to remove the center bar. Right-click on the 'Sales' field in the 'Rows' shelf again and uncheck 'Show Header'. Then, right-click on the 'Category' field in the 'Columns' shelf and uncheck 'Show Header'. This should give you your first donut chart.

Creating Multiple Donut Charts

To create multiple donut charts, you can use the 'Pages' shelf. Drag the 'Sub-Category' field to the 'Pages' shelf. This will create a new page for each sub-category, allowing you to create a donut chart for each one.

Repeat the steps from the previous sub-topic for each new page. You should now have a donut chart for each sub-category. To navigate between the donut charts, use the arrows at the bottom of the 'Pages' shelf.

Customizing Your Donut Charts

Tableau offers a variety of customization options to make your donut charts more engaging and informative.

For instance, you can change the color of each slice by right-clicking on the color legend and selecting 'Edit Colors'. You can also add a title to your chart by right-clicking in the empty space on the worksheet and selecting 'Add Title'.

Adding Data Labels

To add data labels to your donut charts, right-click on the 'Sales' field in the 'Rows' shelf and select 'Show Mark Labels'. This will display the sales amount for each category. To make these labels more informative, you can right-click on them and select 'Format'. Here, you can change the font, size, and color of the labels, among other things.

You can also add a percentage label to show the proportion of each category's sales relative to the total. To do this, right-click on the 'Sales' field in the 'Rows' shelf and select 'Quick Table Calculation' > '% of Total'. This will add a percentage label to each slice of the donut chart.

Adding a Center Object

One of the unique features of donut charts is the empty center. You can use this space to add a text object or a chart, providing additional context or insights. To add a text object, right-click in the empty space on the worksheet and select 'Add Text'. You can then format the text as desired.

To add a chart to the center, you can use the 'Floating' option. Right-click on the chart you want to add and select 'Floating'. This will allow you to place the chart anywhere on the worksheet, including the center of your donut chart.

Creating and customizing multiple donut charts in Tableau can help you gain deeper insights into your data and communicate those insights effectively. With a bit of practice, you'll be creating engaging and informative donut charts in no time. Happy visualizing!