Tableau Scatter Plot is useful to visualize the relationship between any two sets of data. In this article, we will show you how to Create a Scatter Plot in Tableau with an example.
For this scatter plot in Tableau example, we are going to write the Custom SQL Query against the SQL Server Data Source.
I suggest you to refer Connecting Tableau to SQL Server article to understand the configurations. The custom SQL query that we are going to use for this report is:
-- SQL Query to create a Scatter Plot in Tableau
SELECT Geo.EnglishCountryRegionName,
Geo.StateProvinceName,
Geo.City,
Geo.PostalCode,
Fact.OrderQuantity,
Fact.TotalProductCost,
Fact.SalesAmount,
Fact.TaxAmt,
Fact.OrderDate
FROM FactInternetSales AS Fact
INNER JOIN
DimCustomer AS Cust ON Fact.CustomerKey = Cust.CustomerKey
INNER JOIN
DimGeography AS Geo ON Cust.GeographyKey = Geo.GeographyKey
How to Create a Scatter Plot in Tableau
In this example, we are going to create a Scatter plot in Tableau. For this, first, drag and drop the Order Quantity from Measures Region to Rows Shelf and Sales Amount from Measures region to Columns Shelf.
Tableau intelligence will automatically select the scatter plot, and if it does not case, please select the Scatter plot option from the Show Me window as shown below
From the above screenshot, you can observe that it is showing the aggregated data.But, we require to see the detailed information. So, let me drag and drop the Postal Code from Dimensions Region to Details field present in Marks Shelf as shown below
Add Linear Progression to Scatter Plot in Tableau
This example shows how to add the linear progression to the scatter plot. Tableau provides two different ways to add linear progression.
First Approach: You can add the progression, or Trend lines using the Trend Line option available in the Tableau. To access this option, Please navigate to the Analytics tab as we have shown below
Next, Drag and drop the Trend Line to the Plotting area.
Second Approach: Right-click on the Plotting area will open the context menu. Please select the Trend Lines, and click on the Show Trend Lines option.
Once you click on the Show Trend Lines option, Tableau will show the Trendline, along with the confidence bands.
By default, Tableau will add the confidence bands to the Trendline, but you can alter these default settings as per your requirement. To do so, right-click on the Plotting area and select the Trend Lines, and click on the Edit Trend Lines …option from the context menu.
It will open a new window called the Trend Lines Options. Here you can change the default Linear Model to Logarithmic, Exponential, Polynomial, etc. In this example, we will remove the Confidence bars. To do this, please uncheck the Show Confidence bands option.
It removes the Tableau confidence bars
Remove Tableau Scatter Plot Trend Line
Right-click on the Plotting area will open the context menu. Please select the Trend Lines, and uncheck the Show Trend Lines option from that context menu.
Add Colors to Tableau Scatter Plot
This example shows how to add colors to the scatter plot. For this, drag and drop the English Country Region Name from Dimensions Region to Color field in Marks Shelf. It means each country has its own color
Add Multiple Trend Lines to a Scatter Plot in Tableau
In this example, we will show you how to add the trend line for each region in a scatter plot. Right-click on the Plotting area will open the context menu. Please select the Trend Lines, and click on the Show Trend Lines option.
It will create the Tableau Trend Line for each country.
Change the Size of a Tableau Scatter Plot
Let me show you how to change the size of a dot. For this, drag and drop the English Country Region Name from Dimensions Region to Size field in Marks Shelf, as shown below. It means each country has its own size
Change the Scatter Plot Shape of a ring
In this example, we will show you how to change the Tableau scatter plot default ring shape. For this, click on the Shape field in Marks Shelf. It will open the list of available shapes. Please select the shape as per your requirement
From the below screenshot you can observe that we change the default ring shape to star
Create Category wise Scatter Plot in Tableau
In this example, we will show how to create a scatter plot in Tableau for each region. For this, drag and drop the English Country Region Name from Dimensions Region to Rows Shelf, as shown below.
Add Labels to a Scatter Plot
This example shows how to add labels to each dot in a Tableau scatter plot. For this, drag and drop the Order Quantity from Measures Region to Label field in Marks Shelf
