Filled maps (choropleth) in Tableau - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

Sales data by US state used to create a filled map showing sales distribution.

Cell	Value
A1	State
B1	Sales
A2	California
B2	50000
A3	Texas
B3	30000
A4	New York
B4	20000
A5	Florida
B5	15000
A6	Illinois
B6	10000

Formula Trace

Assign color intensity to each state based on Sales value for filled map visualization

Step 1: Read Sales value for California (B2)

Step 2: Read Sales value for Texas (B3)

Step 3: Read Sales value for New York (B4)

Step 4: Read Sales value for Florida (B5)

Step 5: Read Sales value for Illinois (B6)

Step 6: Normalize sales values to color scale (0 to 1)

Step 7: Assign fill color to each state based on normalized sales

Cell Reference Map

    A          B
1 | State    | Sales  |
2 | California -> 50000 |
3 | Texas      -> 30000 |
4 | New York   -> 20000 |
5 | Florida    -> 15000 |
6 | Illinois   -> 10000 |

States in column A and their sales values in column B are used to assign colors on the filled map.

Result

California

↓

Texas

↓

New York

↓

Florida

↓

Illinois

The filled map colors each state with shades of red. Darker red means higher sales, lighter red means lower sales.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

Which state has the darkest color on the filled map?

A Texas

B California

C Florida

D Illinois

Key Result

Filled maps assign colors to geographic areas by normalizing measure values to a color scale.

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