Detail level of marks in Tableau - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Detail level of marks

Dashboard Goal

Understand how adding detail to marks in Tableau changes the visualization and insights by showing sales data by category and sub-category.

Sample Data

Category	Sub-Category	Region	Sales
Furniture	Chairs	East	200
Furniture	Tables	West	450
Office Supplies	Paper	East	150
Office Supplies	Binders	West	300
Technology	Phones	East	500
Technology	Accessories	West	350

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Total Sales
  Formula: SUM([Sales])
  Result: 1950
• Bar Chart 1: Sales by Category
  Detail Level: Category only
  Bars show total sales per category:
  - Furniture: 650
  - Office Supplies: 450
  - Technology: 850
• Bar Chart 2: Sales by Category and Sub-Category
  Detail Level: Category + Sub-Category
  Bars show sales per sub-category:
  - Furniture - Chairs: 200
  - Furniture - Tables: 450
  - Office Supplies - Paper: 150
  - Office Supplies - Binders: 300
  - Technology - Phones: 500
  - Technology - Accessories: 350
• Table: Sales Detail by Region
  Columns: Category, Sub-Category, Region, Sales
  Shows all rows from sample data

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+-----------------------------+
|      KPI Card        |      Bar Chart 1             |
|  Total Sales: 1950   |  Sales by Category          |
+----------------------+-----------------------------+
|      Bar Chart 2                         | Table |
|  Sales by Category + Sub-Category       | Sales |
|                                        | Detail|
+----------------------------------------+-------+

Interactivity

A filter on Region allows users to select East or West. When a region is selected:

• The KPI Card updates to show total sales for that region.
• Both Bar Charts update to show sales only for the selected region.
• The Sales Detail Table filters to show only rows for the selected region.

Self Check

If you add a filter for Region = East, which components update and what do they show?

• KPI Card: Shows total sales for East region (200 + 150 + 500 = 850).
• Bar Chart 1: Shows sales by category for East:
  - Furniture: 200
  - Office Supplies: 150
  - Technology: 500
• Bar Chart 2: Shows sales by category and sub-category for East:
  - Furniture - Chairs: 200
  - Office Supplies - Paper: 150
  - Technology - Phones: 500
• Sales Detail Table: Shows only rows where Region = East.

Key Result

Dashboard showing total sales and sales breakdown by category and sub-category with detail level control and region filter.

Practice

1. What does adding a field to the Detail shelf on the Marks card in Tableau do?

easy

A. It increases the granularity of data shown inside each mark without changing the axes.

B. It changes the axes to include the new field.

C. It filters the data to only show that field.

D. It removes all other fields from the view.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of Detail on Marks card

   Adding a field to Detail increases the data granularity inside each mark but does not affect the axes.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from axis changes

   Changing axes would require dragging fields to Rows or Columns, not Detail.

3. Final Answer:

   It increases the granularity of data shown inside each mark without changing the axes. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Detail adds granularity without axis change [OK]

Hint: Detail adds data inside marks, not on axes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Detail with Rows or Columns shelf
• Thinking Detail filters data
• Assuming Detail changes axis labels

2. Which of the following is the correct way to add a field to increase detail level in Tableau?

easy

A. Drag the field to Rows shelf

B. Drag the field to Color on the Marks card

C. Drag the field to Detail on the Marks card

D. Drag the field to Filters shelf

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct shelf for detail level

   The Detail shelf on the Marks card controls granularity inside marks.

2. Step 2: Understand other shelves' roles

   Rows changes axes, Filters limit data, Color changes mark color.

3. Final Answer:

   Drag the field to Detail on the Marks card -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Detail shelf controls mark granularity [OK]

Hint: Detail shelf is for granularity, not Rows or Filters [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Dragging fields to Rows instead of Detail
• Using Filters to add detail instead of limit data
• Confusing Color with Detail

3. Given a scatter plot with Sales on Columns and Profit on Rows, what happens if you drag Category to Detail on the Marks card?

medium

A. The color of marks changes based on Category.

B. The axes change to include Category as a dimension.

C. The plot filters to show only one Category at a time.

D. Each mark now represents a unique combination of Sales, Profit, and Category, showing more detailed points.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand effect of adding Category to Detail

   Adding Category to Detail breaks marks into more granular points by Category without changing axes.

2. Step 2: Confirm axes remain Sales and Profit

   Axes remain unchanged because Category is not on Rows or Columns.

3. Final Answer:

   Each mark now represents a unique combination of Sales, Profit, and Category, showing more detailed points. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Detail adds granularity inside marks, axes unchanged [OK]

Hint: Detail adds granularity, axes stay same [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking axes change when adding to Detail
• Assuming filter or color change happens
• Confusing Detail with Color or Filter shelves

4. You added Region to Detail on the Marks card but the marks did not change. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. Region has the same value for all data points, so no new detail is added.

B. Region was added to Filters shelf instead of Detail.

C. You need to add Region to Rows or Columns for it to affect marks.

D. Detail shelf only works with numeric fields.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check data uniqueness of Region

   If Region has the same value for all points, adding it to Detail won't change marks.

2. Step 2: Understand Detail shelf behavior

   Detail adds granularity only if the field has multiple distinct values.

3. Final Answer:

   Region has the same value for all data points, so no new detail is added. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Detail needs distinct values to change marks [OK]

Hint: Detail needs varied values to affect marks [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming Detail only works with numeric fields
• Confusing Detail with Filters or Rows
• Not checking data uniqueness

5. You want to create a tooltip that shows Customer Name details on a sales scatter plot without changing the axes. How should you use the Detail shelf?

hard

A. Drag Customer Name to Rows shelf to add it to the axes.

B. Drag Customer Name to Detail on the Marks card to add granularity and enable detailed tooltips.

C. Drag Customer Name to Color to differentiate marks by customer.

D. Add Customer Name to Filters to limit data shown.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how to add detail without changing axes

   Dragging Customer Name to Detail adds granularity inside marks without changing axes.

2. Step 2: Understand effect on tooltips

   Adding Customer Name to Detail enriches tooltips with that information.

3. Final Answer:

   Drag Customer Name to Detail on the Marks card to add granularity and enable detailed tooltips. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Detail adds granularity and tooltip info without axis change [OK]

Hint: Use Detail for tooltips without axis change [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding Customer Name to Rows changes axes
• Using Color instead of Detail for tooltips
• Filtering data instead of adding detail