Explore Data with Map Charts

Maps in Tableau

Tableau creates beautiful maps automatically when you have location data.

Geographic Data Types

Tableau recognizes:

• Country
• State/Province
• City
• Zip Code
• Latitude/Longitude

Creating Your First Map

Method 1: Automatic

1. Double-click a geographic field (like Country)
2. Tableau creates a map!

Method 2: Manual

1. Drag Country to Detail
2. Click Show Me
3. Select "Symbol Maps" or "Filled Maps"

Map Types

Symbol Map

• Dots on locations
• Size shows values
• Best for: Individual points

Filled Map

• Colors fill regions
• Best for: Country/State comparisons

Adding Data to Maps

Color by Measure

1. Create your map
2. Drag a measure to Color
3. Regions colored by value

Size by Measure

1. Drag measure to Size
2. Bigger dots = Higher values

Customizing Maps

Change Map Style

1. Go to Map menu
2. Select "Map Layers"
3. Choose style (Streets, Satellite, etc.)

Zoom and Pan

• Scroll to zoom
• Click and drag to pan
• Double-click to zoom in

Common Map Issues

Setting Geographic Role

If Tableau doesn't recognize your location:

1. Right-click the field
2. Go to Geographic Role
3. Select correct type (City, State, etc.)

Tips for Better Maps

1. Use clear color scales
2. Add labels for key areas
3. Include a legend
4. Filter to focus on regions

Example: Sales by State

1. Connect your data with State and Sales
2. Double-click State
3. Drag Sales to Color
4. Green = High sales, Red = Low sales

Summary

Maps are easy in Tableau! Double-click a location field, and you have a map. Add color and size to show your data.