Using the Path Shelf for From - To Pattern Analysis

This kind of path analysis requires a specific data structure and uses the Path shelf.

To create a view like this in Tableau Desktop, you need to first make sure you data source has the right data structure.

Step 1

Create two rows of data for each path you want to trace-the "From" row and the "To" row. For example, when showing the path of a flight from Berlin to Chrast, you need a row for Berlin and a row for Chrast.

Step 2

For each data pair, create a unique key that identifies them as a pair. In this example, there is a column called Path ID. For the two Berlin to Chrast rows, the Path ID is "Berlin to Chrast."

Step 3

Create a column to define the path order: the direction in which the line is drawn.

For example, the row for Berlin has a path order of 1 and the row for Chrast has a path order of 2, which indicates that the flight was from Berlin to Chrast.

Now that you have your data source set up, connect to it in Tableau Desktop and build the view.

Frequently, a path analysis is geographical and is best shown as a map view.

Step 1

From the Measures pane, drag Longitude to the Columns shelf and Latitude to the Rows shelf.

Step 2

On the shelves, right-click Longitude and Latitude and select Dimension.

The view looks like this. You can select different color settings for the dots from the Color menu on the Marks card.

Step 3

Add the marks by dragging the unique key that identifies From-To pairs to the Level of Detail shelf on the Marks card (in this example, the Path ID field is used).

Step 4

On the Marks card, in the list, select Line.

Step 5

From the Dimensions pane, drag Path Order to the Path shelf.

Note: If you are trying to see a path over time (such as for weather patterns), you can put the Date field on the Path shelf instead.

Note: You can further refine the analysis by adding fields to the Size, Color, and Label shelves.