In this blog you will learn about how to create Butterfly chart in Tableau. A butterfly chart (also called a tornado chart) is a bar chart used to easily compare two sets of data in similar categories. The chart gets its name from its butterfly-like shape, where bars extend horizontally on either side of a central axis, showing the data for each category. This type of chart is great for comparing things like male and female populations, age groups, or any two variables in similar categories.
Components of a butterfly chart in Tableau:
- Categories: These are the items you’re comparing, such as age groups, products, or regions. They’re listed vertically along the y-axis in the center of the chart.
- Bars: The bars show the data values for each category, with one set of data on the left and another on the right.
- Central axis: This is the dividing line between two data sets, often representing zero. The bars extend in opposite directions, either to show positive and negative values or to compare magnitudes.
- Labels: Labels help by showing the value for each bar, making the data easier to understand.
Use Case of Butterfly chart in Tableau:
- Population pyramids: Commonly used in population studies, they compare male and female populations across age groups, helping to understand demographic trends and plan resources.
- Marketing and customer segmentation: In marketing, they can compare preferences or buying habits between different customer segments, such as millennials versus baby boomers.
- Election results: It is useful for comparing election results across regions or demographics, showing how different groups voted.
- Sales performance: In sales, they compare performance between products, regions or time periods, helping to make strategic decisions.
- HR analysis: In HR, they analyze workforce structure, such as comparing the number of employees by gender across departments or job levels.
Steps to create Butterfly Chart in Tableau
Step 1: Open Tableau
Step 2: Click on Text file to connect with Tableau
There are lots of data sources that you can use in Tableau such as Microsoft Excel, JSON file, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL
Step 3: Browse csv file (or other file format as your need) and click on Open
Step 4: Click on Sheet 1 (Worksheet) to make visual (Doughnut)
Step 5: Drag Age Group in Rows; drag Male Population and Female Population in Columns
Step 6: Click on Dropdown with Standard and select Entire View
Step 7: Right click on Male Population measure in Columns field and select Measure (Sum) to select Average
Step 8: Right click on Female Population measure in Columns field and select Measure (Sum) to select Average
Step 9: Right click on x-axis in Male Population section and select Edit Axis…
Step 10: check on Reversed in Scale Section and rename it
Step 11: Right click on x-axis in Female Population section and select Edit Axis…
Step 12: Rename Axis
Step 13: Click on descending order icon
Step 14: Click on Analysis tab and select Create Calculated Field…
Step 15: Name it and initialize with 0
Step 16: Drag create field in between Male Population and Female Population
Step 17: Drag Age Group on Label in created Field section under Marks Card
Step 18: Click on Automatic dropdown and select Text
Step 19: Right click on x-axis of created field (Mid-Label) and select Edit Axis…
Step 20: Clear Text for Title
Step 21: Select Tick Marks; select None in Major Tick Marks
Step 22: Right click on y-axis and select Show Header to deselect it
Step 23: Drag Male Population over Label under Male Population Measure
Step 24: Drag Female Population over Label under Female Population Measure
Output:
Conclusion:
The butterfly chart is a great way to see how two sets of data in the same area compare to each other. Because it is symmetrical, it is great for drawing attention to differences, trends, and inequalities. Butterfly charts are useful for making better decisions and coming up with new strategies. They can be used to look at population studies, marketing data, election results, or sales success. It’s easy to make a butterfly chart in Tableau, and the program’s advanced features let you change and improve the chart to meet the needs of your business. Tableau is great for butterfly chart visualization because it lets you easily filter data, use parameters, and make your own calculations. This helps businesses make smart choices and succeed.
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