Data visualization techniques in Tableau and Excel

Technical guides explore different methods for data visualization using Tableau and Microsoft Excel.

In Tableau, users can create small multiple charts to transform complex line charts into organized grids. This process involves using custom date fields truncated to months and converting them into attributes to prevent the table calculation engine from slicing data incorrectly. A dynamic grid can be established using formulas involving the square root of the total number of items to determine column counts.

In Microsoft Excel, sparklines serve as mini-diagrams contained within a single cell. Unlike standard charts, sparklines lack axes, legends, and titles, focusing instead on showing data trends rather than exact values. The concept was originally coined by information designer Edward R. Tufte, who advocated for data-intense, design-simple graphics that provide high information density with minimal graphical effort.