Tableau Bump Chart

Tableau Bump Chart compares one Dimension against another Dimension using one of the Measure value. Bump Charts in Tableau is useful for exploring the changes in Rank over some time or region, etc. The custom SQL Query for this Tableau Bump Chart demo is

SELECT ProdSubCat.EnglishProductSubcategoryName, 
       Tery.[SalesTerritoryCountry], 
       Prod.EnglishProductName, 
       Prod.Color, 
       Fact.OrderQuantity, 
       Fact.TotalProductCost, 
       Fact.SalesAmount, 
       Fact.TaxAmt, 
       Fact.OrderDate
FROM DimProductSubcategory AS ProdSubCat
   INNER JOIN
     DimProduct AS Prod 
        ON ProdSubCat.ProductSubcategoryKey = Prod.ProductSubcategoryKey 
   INNER JOIN
     FactInternetSales AS Fact 
        ON Prod.ProductKey = Fact.ProductKey 
   INNER JOIN
     [DimSalesTerritory] AS Tery 
        ON Tery.[SalesTerritoryKey] = Fact.[SalesTerritoryKey]

Create a Tableau Bump Chart

Before we start creating a Bump Chart in Tableau, Let us create one calculated field to rank the Dimension members based on the Measure value. To do this, Please select the Create Calculated Field option from the Analysis Menu

Once you select the Create Calculated Field option, a new window will be opened to write the Custom Expression. For now, we are using the Build-in function called INDEX() and named it as Rank

Next, we converted the newly created calculated field to Discrete by right-clicking on the Rank filed and selected the Convert to Discrete option

To create a Tableau Bump Chart, Drag and Drop the Product Sub Category Name from Dimension Region to Columns Shelf. Next, Sales Territory Country to Color Field present in Marks Shelf.

Next, Drag and Drop the newly created Tableau calculated field Rank from Measures Region to Rows Shelf

From the above screenshot, you see that the Rank field is ranking as first come first serve. It means the First product marked as Rank 1, the second product as rank 2, and the Last product ranked as Rank 17. Because by default, Rank filed is computing using the Table Across option.

However, our intention was to Rank the Product Subcategory Name against Country Name using Sales Amount Measure. Before we start changing the calculated field, Let us change the Mark type from Automatic to Line Chart

After the completion, the following screenshot will appear

In order to alter the table calculation of the Rank filed, Please click on the Rank field on Column shelf and select the Edit Table Calculation..

Once you choose the Edit Table Calculation.. option, a new window will open. From the below screenshot, you can observe that Rank filed is calculating the rank using Table (Across) option. That’s why the First product marked as Rank 1, the second product as rank 2 so forth.

In this Tableau Bump Chart example, Our intention is to Rank the filed by Sales Amount. To achieve the same, Please select the Advanced option from the Compute Using the drop-down menu

Once you choose the Advanced option, a new window opens. Please transfer the Product Subcategory Name and Sales Territory Country fields from Partitioning to Addressing pane. Next, Change the Sort option from Automatic to Filed. Next, select the filed name and aggregate field from the drop-down menus.

In this Tableau Bump Chart example, we want to rank the fields by Sales Amount. So, we are selecting the Sales Amount as Filed Name, Sum as Aggregated filed and Sort order as Descending.

Click OK and change the Restarting Every option from None to Product Subcategory Name. It means, Table calculation (for Rank) will check for every new product and Rank them using its Sales Amount. Then, Click OK to finish assigning the Table Calculation to our Tableau Bump Chart.

Let us see our final Tableau Bump Chart preview

If you are not comfortable with the Rank field in separate Row. Please click on the Rank filed on Column shelf and unchecked the Show Header option from the drop-down menu.

We successfully created Tableau Bump Chart