Charting Project Flow via Multiple Data Densifications

Note first that here I loosely define data densification as what includes both interpolation and extrapolation of data marks as well as their associated values.

Below is a charting example in Tableau with a particular interest in using multiple data densification techniques.

The use case

I was given a minimum data set such as a series of task-date pairs.

In its Tableau visualization, we used 4 densification techniques:

1.Densification of dates

The dates of tasks in the data table are discrete. Many dates in between are missing. By turning on Show Missing Dates, we are able to view all the dates. This way we densified the dates to be contiguous. We added a lot of extra data marks to the original 4 marks.

2.Densification of task names

For those newly added data marks, their values are NULL. We need to add task names to those new data marks for coloring and tooltips. Here is the formula for adding new task names to the new data marks.

This way, those NULL values are replaced by Task New which is the same as what is preceding them.

3.Densification of mark size

Note that we are using Gantt Bars as mark type. Each bar in a day will have size 1 in our case. To densify the data marks with NULL attribute, we use this simple formula.

Size = Window_Max(1)

4.Densification beyond data set

This is more like extrapolation. This can be simply achieved by using a new feature in Tableau: Extend Date Range by a week or more.

Here is the final view. Feel free to download the workbook.

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Jake and I collaborated on a dashboard. He told me that he learnt a way to create an in-place help page in Tableau. He first saw it at a conference somewhere and couldn't recall who the speaker was. So I am blogging here about it but the credit goes to somebody else. If anyone knows who the original creator is, leave a comment below.

The key idea is to float a semi transparent worksheet on top of the dashboard, where a help text box is strategically placed on top of each chart. This way, we can explain how to view each chart and what data points are important, etc. This worksheet is collapsible by a show/hide button.

Below I would like to show how this worksheet can be constructed.

1. Sheet with a single data mark.

Double click the empty space in Marks panel and add two single quotes. Make the null pill a text label. This creates a single null mark.
Set the view as "Entire View"

2. Create an show/hide button

Go to the target dashboard
Drag a floating vertical container to the dashboard, making it cover all the area of interest.
Drag the Single Null Mark sheet and drop it into the above container. Hide the sheet title.
Create an open/close button for the container and place the button at the top-right corner.

3. Add annotations

Format the sheet background opacity as 70% in the layout manager
Select area annotations and place them anywhere of interest.
Write help text and format it to highlight important messages.
The text can serve as functional guide and/or insight guide.

Here is an example. Feel free to download the workbook and explore. Click the "i" button at the top-right corner to view the in-place help.