Maps are handy for visualizing geographical data, and in this section, we show how to create them in Tableau with an example. For this demo, we will use the SQL Server Data Source.
How to Create a Map in Tableau?
Double-click on any Geographic field such as City, Postcode, Country, or State will automatically create a Map. In this example, we will double-click on the State Province Name dimension. The desktop added the Latitude value to the Row shelf, the Longitude value to the Column shelf, and the State province Name to the Details field in Marks Shelf.
Refer to the Connecting to SQL Server and SQL for this Desktop report.
The second approach to Creating a Symbol Map in Tableau
Drag and drop any Geographic field such as City, Country, Postcode, or State on the Details field will automatically create a Map.
Here, we will drag the State Province Name dimension to the Details field in Marks Shelf.
Now you can see the auto-generated one.
You can also add the geographical hierarchy, as well. For example, we have added the Stateprovince hierarchy (province Name, City) to the details card.
The third approach
Please drag and drop any Geographic field to the Column or Row shelf, and selecting the Map from the Tableau Show Me window will automatically create it for you. Let’s drag the State Province Name dimension to Columns Shelf. Next, choose the dotted one present in the Show Me card.
That will automatically create the United States data points
Add Sales Amount Measure to the Colors field in the Marks Shelf. It will add color to each state on a Map based on the sales amount.
Create Basic Maps in Tableau
Tableau Maps are convenient for visualizing geographical data. This section will show you how to Create regular Maps with an example. For this Maps demo, we will use World Indicators data sources that come with the desktop.
There are multiple ways to create Maps in Tableau. And in this article, we will explain all of them. Drag and drop any Geographic field to the Row or Column shelf, and selecting the icon in the Show Me window will automatically create a Map. In this example, we will drag the Country dimension to the Columns Shelf.
Next, Drag and Drop the Total Population from Tableau Measures Region to the Rows Shelf. Since it is a Measure value, the Total Population will aggregate to the default Sum.
Let me change that Bar Chart into a World. To do so, Please expand the Show Me window and select the marked option.
Tableau Map will be displayed once you choose this from the Show Me window. From the screenshot below, you can see the Row and column Shelf filled with generated Latitude and Longitudes. And Country will be added to the Detail Card, and Total Population will add to Columns Card.
You can highlight any country to see that Country’s population
Second Approach
Double-click on any Geographic field such as Postcode, City, State, or Country will automatically create a Tableau Map. In this example, we will double-click on the Country dimension. From the below screenshot, you can see that the desktop has created a Symbol for you. Here, it added the Latitude to Row shelf, Longitude to Column shelf, and Country Name to Details Card in Marks Shelf.
To convert the Symbols, you can either click on the marked one from the Show Me window or change the Marks type from Automatic to Map.
Either way, it will generate the below for you.
Let us add Population Total to the Colors card in Marks Shelf. It will add color to every country based on its Population.
Create Maps in Tableau – Third Approach
Drag and drop any Geographic field on the Details card will automatically create a Map. In this example, we will drag the Country Name dimension to the Details card present in Marks Shelf.
Now you can see the auto-generated symbol. Use either of the approaches mentioned above to convert the Symbol to Map.
Add Data labels to Maps in Tableau
To add data labels to Maps, Click the Show Mark Labels button in the Toolbar. Though it looks odd, you get the idea of adding data labels.
Change Colors
Until now, you saw the Tableau Maps with the default colors, but you have the option to change the default colors. To do so, click the drop-down menu beside the SUM(Population Total) color legend or right-click on the Color bar. Both of them will open the below-shown context menu. From that, please select the Edit Colors… option.
The following window will open once you choose the Edit Colors… option. Click the drop-down arrow under the Palette and select the color as per your specification. For now, we are choosing Gold-Purple Diverging. Remember, by clicking the Advanced button, you can specify the Start Point, End Point, and Center as well.
Now you can see it with the Gold-Purple Diverging color schema.
