When creating your dashboard, you may find that you have a lot that you want to show and find that your dashboard is looking a little crammed. For example, the dashboard below is something I whipped up to demonstrate how easy it is to fall into the trap of cramming. If I were to ask you what the dashboard’s story is, I think you might have some trouble following it through as everything is so crammed.
It is important to remember when building that white space is your friend. As, it gives the user’s eyes a break; and allows them to take a second to retain the knowledge they have learnt before moving onto the next chart.
Therefore, show and hide containers are so important. It allows the user to filter out specific containers (charts) to condense the dashboard and balance the white space ratio. There are two ways in which we can use hidden containers:
- With Parameter Actions
- With Set Actions
Parameter Actions
Let’s go through an example where we can use Parameter Actions to show or hide a chart. For this demonstration, we will be using the sample superstore dataset.
Now we create our charts, let’s start off by creating a map view. Double click on region to bring it onto the sheet. Then Drag Sales to colour. Next, on a new sheet we want to create a bar chart, so drag region to columns and sales on rows.
Now that we have our charts, we want to create a parameter, this will allow our users to select their view. Add a parameter, ensure the data type is on string and add the names ‘Map’ and ‘Chart’ as these will be the options for our users will select.
Next, we want to create a calculated field and we just want to put the parameter you created in that field as we want to use this parameter as a filter. After you have created this filter, then show your parameter and make sure that the parameter is showing the map for the map sheet, and bring the calculated field to filter, and it should display map- click that.
Now follow the filtering process for the chart, just go to the chart sheet and drag the calculated field into filter, make sure you change the parameter shown to chart.
Then compile your dashboard. Make sure to drag in a tile from the objects menu and drag your charts inside them. It’s simple and super effective.
Set Actions
Create a map and chart similar to the parameter actions example and drag these to sheets into a dashboard, then we want to hide the titles.
In this particular example we want to select a bar and then drill down to a map view.
Click on the chart and you will see the little menu on the side of the sheet, click on the 3rd icon down which is called the filter option.
Then we want to select the dashboard tab and then scroll down to the actions, click on the filter that has been created by selecting the filter icon.
Change the clearing the selection will: to exclude all values and make sure the source sheet is the chart as we want to click the chart to drill down to the map. Our target sheet will be the map, so make sure to uncheck the chart sheet.
There you have it!
