Filled maps (choropleth) in Tableau - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

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

📋 Request: Your manager wants to see how sales vary across different states in the USA to identify strong and weak markets.

📊 Data: You have monthly sales data by state, including State name and Sales amount.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a filled map (choropleth) in Tableau showing total sales by state with color intensity representing sales volume.

Sample Data

State	Month	Sales
California	January	120000
Texas	January	95000
New York	January	87000
Florida	January	65000
California	February	130000
Texas	February	98000
New York	February	90000
Florida	February	70000
Illinois	January	55000
Illinois	February	60000

1

Step 1: Open Tableau and connect to the sales data source containing State, Month, and Sales columns.

Connect to your data file or database with the sample data.

Expected Result

Data is loaded and visible in Tableau's Data pane.

2

Step 2: Create a new worksheet for the filled map visualization.

Click on 'New Worksheet' icon.

Expected Result

A blank worksheet is ready for building the map.

3

Step 3: Drag the 'State' field to the 'Detail' mark on the Marks card to define geographic locations.

Drag 'State' to Marks > Detail.

Expected Result

Tableau recognizes states and prepares to plot them on a map.

4

Step 4: Change the Marks type from 'Automatic' to 'Filled Map' to enable geographic visualization.

Select 'Filled Map' from the Marks type dropdown.

Expected Result

A map outline of the USA appears with state boundaries.

5

Step 5: Create a calculated field to sum sales by state.

Create calculated field named 'Total Sales' with formula: SUM([Sales])

Expected Result

A new measure 'Total Sales' is available for use.

6

Step 6: Drag the 'Total Sales' measure to the 'Color' mark on the Marks card to color states by sales volume.

Drag 'Total Sales' to Marks > Color.

Expected Result

States are filled with colors; darker colors represent higher sales.

7

Step 7: Adjust the color palette to a sequential color scheme for better clarity.

Click Color > Edit Colors > Choose 'Red-Green Sequential' or 'Orange-Blue Diverging' > Apply.

Expected Result

Color gradient clearly shows sales differences across states.

8

Step 8: Add a tooltip to show exact sales when hovering over each state.

Ensure 'Total Sales' is in Tooltip on Marks card.

Expected Result

Hovering over a state shows its total sales value.

9

Step 9: Add a title to the worksheet describing the map.

Double-click the title area and enter: 'Total Sales by State - USA'.

Expected Result

The map has a clear, descriptive title.

10

Step 10: Publish or export the filled map dashboard for your manager.

Use Tableau's 'Export' or 'Publish to Tableau Server' options.

Expected Result

The filled map is ready to share and review.

Final Result

-----------------------------------------
|           Total Sales by State         |
|  -----------------------------------  |
|  | CA ██████████████               |  |
|  | TX ████████████                 |  |
|  | NY ██████████                   |  |
|  | FL ██████                      |  |
|  | IL █████                       |  |
|  -----------------------------------  |
|  Color intensity shows sales volume    |
-----------------------------------------

✓California has the highest total sales among the states.

✓Texas and New York follow with strong sales but less than California.

✓Florida and Illinois have lower sales compared to the top states.

✓The filled map visually highlights sales concentration by state.

Bonus Challenge

Add a filter to the map to allow your manager to select and view sales by specific months.

Show Hint

Use the 'Month' field as a filter on the worksheet and show filter control on the dashboard.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a filled map (choropleth) in Tableau?

easy

A. To color geographic areas based on data values

B. To display detailed street-level maps

C. To show individual data points as dots

D. To create 3D maps with elevation

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand filled map concept

   A filled map colors entire geographic areas (like states or countries) based on data values.

2. Step 2: Compare with other map types

   Unlike dot maps or 3D maps, filled maps focus on coloring regions, not points or elevation.

3. Final Answer:

   To color geographic areas based on data values -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Filled maps = color areas by data [OK]

Hint: Remember: filled maps color regions, not points or lines [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing filled maps with point maps
• Thinking filled maps show street details
• Assuming filled maps create 3D effects

2. Which of the following is the correct way to create a filled map in Tableau?

easy

A. Drag a geographic field to Filters and a measure to Size

B. Drag a measure to Rows and a geographic field to Tooltip

C. Drag a geographic field to Rows and a measure to Color on the Marks card

D. Drag a measure to Columns and a geographic field to Detail

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how to build filled maps

   In Tableau, dragging a geographic field (like State) to Rows or Columns creates the map base.

2. Step 2: Add color by measure

   Placing a measure on Color in the Marks card colors the geographic areas based on data values.

3. Final Answer:

   Drag a geographic field to Rows and a measure to Color on the Marks card -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Geo field + Color measure = filled map [OK]

Hint: Put geography on Rows/Columns and measure on Color [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Putting geographic fields in Tooltip instead of Rows/Columns
• Using Size instead of Color for data values
• Not dragging any measure to Color

3. Given a filled map showing sales by state, what will happen if you drag the Sales measure to the Color shelf and set the aggregation to SUM?

medium

A. Each state will be colored based on total sales in that state

B. The map will show individual sales transactions as dots

C. The map will display sales as labels on each state

D. The map will become blank because SUM is invalid here

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand SUM aggregation on measure

   SUM aggregates all sales values per state, giving total sales per state.

2. Step 2: Effect on filled map coloring

   Coloring by SUM(Sales) colors each state area based on its total sales amount.

3. Final Answer:

   Each state will be colored based on total sales in that state -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   SUM(Sales) colors states by total sales [OK]

Hint: SUM on measure colors areas by total values [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking dots appear instead of colored areas
• Expecting labels instead of colors
• Assuming SUM aggregation causes errors

4. You created a filled map but the colors do not change when you drag your measure to Color. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. The measure is not numeric

B. The map type is set to Symbol Map instead of Filled Map

C. You forgot to add the geographic field to Detail or Rows/Columns

D. The geographic field is not recognized correctly

Solution

1. Step 1: Check map type setting

   If the map type is Symbol Map, colors apply to points, not areas, so filled colors won't appear.

2. Step 2: Confirm filled map selection

   Switching to Filled Map enables coloring of geographic areas by measure values.

3. Final Answer:

   The map type is set to Symbol Map instead of Filled Map -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Symbol Map ≠ filled colors; choose Filled Map [OK]

Hint: Check map type: must be Filled Map for area colors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming measure type causes no color change
• Not verifying map type in Marks card
• Ignoring geographic field placement

5. You want to create a filled map showing population density by US state, but your data only has total population and land area separately. How should you prepare your data in Tableau to color states by population density?

hard

A. Use total population as Color and filter states by land area

B. Drag total population to Color and land area to Size

C. Create a parameter for land area and use it to filter states

D. Create a calculated field dividing total population by land area, then drag it to Color

Solution

1. Step 1: Calculate population density

   Create a calculated field: Population Density = Total Population / Land Area.

2. Step 2: Use calculated field for coloring

   Drag this new field to Color on the Marks card to color states by density.

3. Final Answer:

   Create a calculated field dividing total population by land area, then drag it to Color -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Calculated field = density, use on Color [OK]

Hint: Calculate density first, then color map by it [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using raw population without area for color
• Using Size for land area instead of calculation
• Filtering states instead of calculating density