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.

Leave comment or contact me at https://twitter.com/aleksoft 



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[Forward: I asked ChatGPT o1-mini who then wrote this. Hope it helps. All the credit and the blame go to ChatGPT.

I went over the plan and it looked decent. Whether it can be done in 30 days or not, it depends on the person and the time he spends on it.
Just came back from Tableau Conference 2022 at Las Vegas. What an exciting event! The most exciting thing is reuniting with old friends and meeting with the datafam people known online for years.

Attended first time the Tableau Visionary summit.
A little enhancement in the formula editor can make a big difference for whose who create formula all the time in Tableau. Here are my wishes for a future editor. 

Highlighting Syntax Words

Currently a formula in Tableau can look plain and a bit uninspiring.
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