From branding your company to distinguishing the data, custom mark shapes can help in customizing the visualization. Once you have the desired shape of files, you can easily use them instead of using Tableau's standard mark shapes.
This recipe requires modifying the custom shape image files, which could be of the JPG, BMP, and GIF formats. Specifically, it makes the background transparent while keeps the original size of 32 by 32 pixels. The tutorial given at http://www.interworks.com/blogs/iwbiteam/2012/01/27/using-custom-shapes-tableau explains in detail how to modify the shape properties. For this recipe, you can choose to create and modify your own shapes or download the ones used in this recipe.
Let's use the sample file Sample – Coffee Chain (Access). Open a new worksheet and select Sample – Coffee Chain (Access) as the data source.
Once the data is loaded on the worksheet, perform the following steps to use the custom shape marks:
- Create a folder called
dollarin theShapesfolder inMy Tableau Repository. - Copy the
single.pnganddouble.pngimages in thedollarfolder. - Drag-and-drop Product from Dimensions into the Columns shelf.
- Drag-and-drop Sales from Measures into the Rows shelf.
- From the Marks dropdown, select Shape.
- Drag-and-drop Market Size from Dimensions into the Shape box.
- Drag-and-drop Market Size from Dimensions into the Color box.
- Hover your mouse over the Market Size legend shelf, click on the small drop-drown arrow, and select Edit Shape... as shown in the following screenshot:
- In the Edit Shape [Market Size] dialog box, hit the Reload Shapes button.
- In the Select Shape Palette dropdrown, select dollar as shown as in the following screenshot:
- Select Major Market under Select Data Item, and select the double dollar sign.
- Select Small Market under Select Data Item, and select the single dollar sign.
- Select OK and the final visualization should look like the following screenshot:
