Introduction to Tableau - Communicating Data with Tableau - page 31

Figure 2-12. Creating a simple column chart in Tableau
Show Me
Another way to create a visualization in Tableau is to use the Show Me card. Show Me indic-
ates which chart types are applicable based on the fields selected. Select multiple fields by
holding the Control key. For example, if you select County , hold the Control key, and then
select Population Density , the Show Me card will show a number of possible visualiza-
tions. Selecting the filled map icon in the top right results in the choropleth map of New York
counties shown in Figure 2-13 .
This simple user interface allows for fast visual analytics. Users can explore their data in a
visual way, creating various chart types and encoding variables like size and color based on
the different data fields themselves.
In Chapter 1 , I made the point that in an age of increasing information, it's critical to choose
a message from the information set that is both meaningful and impactful. Finding a compel-
ling message is the critical first step in communicating data well. By facilitating the data ex-