The Mark type

The menu, highlighted in the following screenshot, allows you to choose the Mark type:

By default, the Mark type is set to Automatic. This means that Tableau chooses the best visualization based on the fields (that is, which data types you use and where).

Of course, you can change the Mark type and use any type you want. For example, if you put Order Date in Columns and Profit in Rows, Tableau displays a Line chart because it's the best way to visualize an evolution. However, by using the Marks shelf, you can select the one you prefer (for example, a bar chart, an area chart, or whatever you think is best).

Let's explore what you can build with the different Mark type. For almost every type, there is an example that you can reproduce with Sample - Superstore.

Note

You can also download the Mark Types ZIP file from my website (https://tableau2019.ladataviz.com) in Chapter 6, Design Insightful Visualizations section, or click on this direct link: http://ladataviz.com/wp...