Dashboard sizing options in Tableau - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a business intelligence analyst at a retail company.

📋 Request: Your manager wants a sales performance dashboard that looks good on both desktop monitors and tablets without scrolling.

📊 Data: You have monthly sales data by region and product category for the past year.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a Tableau dashboard with appropriate sizing options to fit desktop and tablet screens, showing total sales by region and category.

Sample Data

Month	Region	Category	Sales
Jan	North	Electronics	12000
Jan	South	Furniture	8000
Feb	East	Electronics	15000
Feb	West	Furniture	7000
Mar	North	Furniture	9000
Mar	South	Electronics	11000
Apr	East	Furniture	6000
Apr	West	Electronics	13000
May	North	Electronics	14000
May	South	Furniture	7500
Jun	East	Electronics	16000
Jun	West	Furniture	6800

1

Step 1: Connect the sales data to Tableau and create two worksheets: one showing total sales by Region, another showing total sales by Category.

Drag 'Region' to Rows, 'SUM(Sales)' to Columns for first worksheet; Drag 'Category' to Rows, 'SUM(Sales)' to Columns for second worksheet.

Expected Result

Two bar charts showing total sales by Region and by Category.

2

Step 2: Create a new dashboard and add the two worksheets to it.

Open Dashboard tab, drag both worksheets onto the dashboard canvas.

Expected Result

Dashboard displays both sales charts side by side.

3

Step 3: Set the dashboard size to 'Fixed size' with width 1000 pixels and height 600 pixels for desktop viewing.

In Dashboard pane, under Size, select 'Fixed size', enter Width=1000, Height=600.

Expected Result

Dashboard fits well on desktop monitors without scrolling.

4

Step 4: Create a duplicate of the dashboard and set its size to 'Range' with minimum width 700 pixels, maximum width 900 pixels, and fixed height 600 pixels for tablet viewing.

Duplicate dashboard, under Size select 'Range', set Min Width=700, Max Width=900, Height=600.

Expected Result

Dashboard adapts to tablet screen widths without horizontal scrolling.

5

Step 5: Test both dashboards by previewing them in Tableau's device preview mode for Desktop and Tablet.

Click 'Device Preview', select Desktop and Tablet to see how dashboards render.

Expected Result

Dashboards display correctly on both device types with no scroll bars.

Final Result

-----------------------------------------
|          Sales Performance Dashboard   |
|---------------------------------------|
| Region Sales   | Category Sales        |
|  North  35000  | Electronics 81000     |
|  South  26500  | Furniture 44300       |
|  East   37000  |                       |
|  West   26800  |                       |
----------------------------------------- 
(Size: Desktop 1000x600 or Tablet 700-900x600)

✓East region has the highest total sales.

✓Electronics category outsells Furniture overall.

✓Dashboard sizing ensures good viewing on desktop and tablets without scrolling.

Bonus Challenge

Add a device-specific filter that shows only top 3 regions on tablets to simplify the view.

Show Hint

Use Tableau's device layouts and apply a filter action or calculated field to limit regions when viewed on tablets.

Practice

1. Which Tableau dashboard sizing option automatically adjusts the dashboard size to fit the screen of the device viewing it?

easy

A. Range sizing

B. Fixed sizing

C. Automatic sizing

D. Custom sizing

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Automatic sizing

   Automatic sizing lets Tableau adjust the dashboard size dynamically based on the device screen.

2. Step 2: Compare with other sizing options

   Fixed sizing uses a set size, Range sizing allows a size range, and Custom sizing is not a standard option.

3. Final Answer:

   Automatic sizing -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Automatic sizing = fits screen automatically [OK]

Hint: Automatic means it fits any screen size by itself [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Fixed sizing with Automatic
• Thinking Range sizing adjusts automatically
• Assuming Custom sizing is a Tableau option

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set a Fixed dashboard size in Tableau?

easy

A. Select 'Fixed size' and enter width and height values

B. Choose 'Automatic' and specify minimum and maximum sizes

C. Pick 'Range' and leave width and height blank

D. Set 'Floating' objects to fixed size

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify Fixed size setting

   Fixed size requires selecting 'Fixed size' and entering exact width and height.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Automatic does not require fixed dimensions, Range needs min and max sizes, Floating relates to objects, not dashboard size.

3. Final Answer:

   Select 'Fixed size' and enter width and height values -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Fixed size = set exact width and height [OK]

Hint: Fixed size means typing exact width and height numbers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Automatic with Fixed size
• Leaving width and height blank for Fixed size
• Mixing Floating object size with dashboard size

3. If you set a Tableau dashboard size to Range with minimum width 800px and maximum width 1200px, what happens when viewed on a 1000px wide screen?

medium

A. Dashboard width adjusts to 1000px

B. Dashboard width stays fixed at 800px

C. Dashboard width expands to 1200px

D. Dashboard does not display properly

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Range sizing behavior

   Range sizing allows dashboard width to adjust between minimum and maximum values based on screen size.

2. Step 2: Apply screen width to range

   Since 1000px is between 800px and 1200px, the dashboard width will be 1000px.

3. Final Answer:

   Dashboard width adjusts to 1000px -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Range sizing fits screen width within min and max [OK]

Hint: Range sizing picks screen width if between min and max [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming dashboard stays at minimum width
• Thinking dashboard always expands to max width
• Believing dashboard breaks if screen size is in range

4. You set a dashboard to Fixed size 1000px by 800px, but on a small laptop screen it appears cut off. What is the best fix?

medium

A. Set Range sizing with smaller minimum width

B. Change sizing to Automatic

C. Increase Fixed size dimensions

D. Use Floating layout for all objects

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify problem with Fixed size

   Fixed size does not adjust to smaller screens, causing cut off on small laptops.

2. Step 2: Choose best sizing option to fix

   Automatic sizing adjusts the dashboard dynamically to fit the viewing screen, eliminating the cut off.

3. Final Answer:

   Change sizing to Automatic -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Automatic sizing = fits screen automatically [OK]

Hint: Automatic adjusts to fit the screen [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Increasing Fixed size makes problem worse
• Setting Range sizing but not small enough minimum
• Confusing Floating layout with dashboard sizing

5. You want a dashboard that looks good on desktop and tablet but never smaller than 900px wide or larger than 1400px wide. Which sizing option and settings should you choose?

hard

A. Fixed sizing at 900px width

B. Fixed sizing at 1400px width

C. Automatic sizing with custom device layouts

D. Range sizing with min width 900px and max width 1400px

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze sizing needs

   You want the dashboard width to vary but stay between 900px and 1400px for desktop and tablet.

2. Step 2: Match sizing option to requirements

   Range sizing lets you set minimum and maximum widths, exactly fitting the requirement.

3. Step 3: Eliminate other options

   Fixed sizing locks width, Automatic may go smaller than 900px, custom device layouts are more complex and not needed here.

4. Final Answer:

   Range sizing with min width 900px and max width 1400px -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Range sizing controls min and max dashboard width [OK]

Hint: Range sizing sets min and max width limits [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing Fixed sizing which is not flexible
• Assuming Automatic respects min width
• Overcomplicating with custom device layouts